MAGWest 2026 has ended

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MAGWest 2026

MAGWest is a music and gaming festival featuring a 24-hour gaming hall, at least three stages of planned concerts, video game community guests/VIPs, and community-run panels. The festival runs from Friday, August 14 to Sunday, August 16. Buy your badge today!

***The schedule is subject to change!***
Make sure you check back to get the most accurate info!

PLEASE PLAN AHEAD FOR PARKING - NON-HOTEL GUESTS SHOULD PURCHASE PARKING AT PARKWHIZ PRIOR TO COMING TO THE EVENT.

Safety Issues, stop by Event Safety in the Silicon Valley Room or contact 1-833-FEST-SEC or [email protected]. Don’t forget to review our Code of Conduct.

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10:00am PDT

VHMess: Saturday Morning Madness

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm PDT

CurtDogg, aka the host of Double NintenDare, double-dips his toe into classic 80s and 90s television with some cheesy cartoons and tapes from his childhood, while riffing on them with friends. Hop in your PJs and grab a bowl of cereal and be ready to be taken back to a simpler time... for better or worse.

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Panels 2 San Juan / San Carlos

Audience 15+
Subject Panels

12:15pm PDT

Video game production - The challenges facing AAA game dev and fun developer stories about your favorite games

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:15pm - 1:15pm PDT

(Can be the same as panel description but would prefer to write something up once ive finished the presentation)

Panelists: Andrew Sipotz [Producer - Video Games, www.gamekatsu.com]

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:15pm - 1:15pm PDT
Panels 2 San Juan / San Carlos

Audience 15+
Subject Panels

1:30pm PDT

Getting Real About Fiction Writing

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Bring your writing! Charles Barouch is a writer and developmental editor, he's had decades working with experienced and new writers. You read, he'll offer specific feedback and guide the audience to do the same. Sign-ups will be handled in the room. We'll get to as many of you as possible.

Panelists:
Charles Barouch, Horrorwords.com [Writer/Editor/Developmental Editor/Publisher, hdwp.com]
Dani Barouch [hdwp.com]

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Panels 2 San Juan / San Carlos

Audience 15+
Subject Panels

2:45pm PDT

Journey into Voice Acting

Saturday August 15, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm PDT

Come try your hand at voice acting with Preston Yeung local voice actor. It's a safe room to come out and just have some fun reading lines from some of your favorite anime and games.

Panelists: CINEPRESTO [Voice Actor]

Saturday August 15, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm PDT
Panels 2 San Juan / San Carlos

Audience 15+
Subject Panels

4:00pm PDT

The Music Theory of Sick Beats

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

Every wanted to know the secrets behind odd time signatures? The hidden realities of metric modulation? Or just how to make a sick drum beat? In this panel we'll be going over everything rhythm related from beginner to advanced!

Panelists: Cassidini [Composer / Academic Advisor, https://www.cassidini.com/]

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Panels 2 San Juan / San Carlos

Audience All ages
Subject Panels

5:15pm PDT

Double Nintendare: A Retro-Fueled Nintendo Game Show!

Saturday August 15, 2026 5:15pm - 6:45pm PDT

On your mark... get set... GO!! Double NintenDare is a Nintendo-themed throwback to the classic kids' game show of a similar name. Put your knowledge and skill of classic and current Nintendo games to the test by answering tricky trivia questions or taking on our special 'Digital Challenges' and finishing the dreaded Mario Maker Obstacle Course! Each player will receive fabulous prizes whether you win or lose, and we'll take you back in time with classic commercials in between rounds.

Saturday August 15, 2026 5:15pm - 6:45pm PDT
Panels 2 San Juan / San Carlos

Audience All ages
Subject Panels

7:00pm PDT

How to Find Your HADOUKEN

Saturday August 15, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT

Join Ricco Fajardo as he guides you though a combination tai chi, fight choreography, and acting & movement class. No previous skill or experience required, moderate activity level

Guests

Ricco Fajardo

Voice Actor (anime, videogames)

We’d like to welcome Ricco Fajardo to MAGWest 2026! A San Jose native and massive video game nerd, you may know him best as the voice behind Isagi in Blue Lock, Mirio in My Hero Academia, and Pandreo in Fire Emblem: Engage. Ricco will be hanging out, doing content and signing autographs... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Panels 2 San Juan / San Carlos

Subject Panels

8:15pm PDT

The Rise and Fall of Guitar Hero from Those Who Were There

Saturday August 15, 2026 8:15pm - 9:15pm PDT

Join billyjr82 and Lennon Lange as they talk about what it was like to work on Guitar Hero from start to finish.

Panelists:
billyjr82
Lennon Lange [Executive Producer, www.playsoundsystem.com]

Saturday August 15, 2026 8:15pm - 9:15pm PDT
Panels 2 San Juan / San Carlos

Audience All ages
Subject Panels

10:15pm PDT

Why Hackers (1995) is Queer Culture

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:15pm - Sunday August 16, 2026 12:15am PDT

If the creators didn't intend for <redacted> to be trans, why did they put all those trans scenes in?? Experience the absurdity of Hackers (1995) and decide what flavor of queer each of the main characters are, and why we should never deadname The Plague (no matter how much of a weenie he is). Plus learn about this movie's VERY impressive soundtrack given it's from 1995!! Missed it last year? Now's your chance! CW content containing light transphobia and racism.

Performers

Adora Blue

Adora Blue (yes, that's adorable + u ;3) is a Seattle-based DJ (and producer, activist, tiktoker, etc) you won't soon forget!

Mainly playing eurobeat and VG remixes, she also branches out toward breakcore, kawaii future bass, hhc, and j-core, and no set of hers is complete without... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:15pm - Sunday August 16, 2026 12:15am PDT
Panels 2 San Juan / San Carlos

Audience 15+
Subject Panels