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News Bite: NBDCC (National Barbie Convention) registrations on sale tomorrow.

Posted by Bethany in PA on 9/12/2025, 6:15 pm

Tomorrow, Saturday, 9/13, at 1pm Eastern, the Barbie convention will open its registration to the public. Availability is limited. The link will become active tomorrow:

https://bconventions.com/registration/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMxegVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHlnwWcmhgVpfzo1H7dCO8ozUVhtFyNE9azjlwcKHXBkPfoxE9_7XJRueAZys_aem_OKsr4ayg0p2lJjVrE8n5mw

The convention will be held in Austin, TX from July 7 - July 11 at the Hilton Downtown Austin.

I'm already registered so if you're thinking about it, I hope to see you there!

Bethany, I have a question, can not conventioneers visit the room sales or is it restricted?

Posted by Nilsa on 9/14/2025, 8:55 am, in reply to "News Bite: NBDCC (National Barbie Convention) registrations on sale tomorrow."

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Hi, Nilsa! I'm happy to say that non-conventioneers CAN visit the room sales (msg)

Posted by Bethany in PA on 9/14/2025, 10:11 am, in reply to "Bethany, I have a question, can not conventioneers visit the room sales or is it restricted?"

Since room sales aren't an official part of convention, they're open to anyone. Even this year in Louisville with the restricted elevators, there were so many people shopping (who had room key cards which made the elevators actually run) that it wasn't an issue.

I don't think the Austin hotel has that kind of restriction so you can just come in and wander the room sales. Which, if you haven't done it, is an experience like no other I've ever had in the Barbie world.

Generally room sales start small on Saturday night, expand on Sunday and by Sunday night are mostly in full swing. Any remaining rooms usually open on Monday.

Rooms are decorated, there's pink everywhere and just about every room that's open has something in the hallway to attract your eye. From lighting effects to bubble machines to garlands to large Barbie cutouts, I've seen just about everything.

Since the sales room opens on Thursday afternoon, Wednesday night is the last night for room sales and it's an all out party.

We walk the halls with our beverages (adult or otherwise), hopping from floor to floor, going back for "things we saw earlier and needed to think about" and making deals because a lot of sellers just don't want to take things home if they're not doing the official sales room. It's Barbie bargain hunting at its finest.

This year, I came home with things purchased on Wednesday night that, while not in the best condition, will make lovely display pieces once I'm done customizing. Not to mention that one seller didn't want to take the pink '57 Chevy back to New Jersey with her and explain to her husband why it didn't sell. So for $20, it came home with me!

For me, half the fun is getting there early and seeing old friends or meeting people for the first time that I've only ever interacted with online. Yes, I shop but I talk to my friends just as much. Scoop up an early deal if I find one or pick up something that I've already pre-bought and just need to pick up. There's just nothing else like it.

All of that is a long way of saying that yes, the room sales are open to anyone. As is the sales room on Saturday of convention week when it's the official "Public Day."

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Thanks Bethany - I hope to go to the sales rooms - I know some sellers personally and -msg>>>>.

Posted by Nilsa on 9/14/2025, 11:05 am, in reply to "Hi, Nilsa! I'm happy to say that non-conventioneers CAN visit the room sales (msg)"

… hopefully they will be there.

The best part will be to meet you and ant other Pinkers there!

Maybe Margie will go!

I envy you Nilsa. :)

Posted by ellen on 9/15/2025, 7:48 am, in reply to "Thanks Bethany - I hope to go to the sales rooms - I know some sellers personally and -msg>>>>. "

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… hopefully they will be there.

The best part will be to meet you and ant other Pinkers there!

Maybe Margie will go!

I have been lucky to personally meet some of the online friends!

Posted by Nilsa on 9/15/2025, 8:59 am, in reply to "I envy you Nilsa. :)"

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… hopefully they will be there.

The best part will be to meet you and ant other Pinkers there!

Maybe Margie will go!

Thank you for the update Bethany, sure wish it would come to PA on year.

Posted by Judy in Pa on 9/13/2025, 1:31 pm, in reply to "News Bite: NBDCC (National Barbie Convention) registrations on sale tomorrow."

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We keep trying..... (msg)

Posted by Bethany in PA on 9/14/2025, 10:24 am, in reply to "Thank you for the update Bethany, sure wish it would come to PA on year."

Unfortunately, the convention's needs are so specific (three ballrooms that we can occupy all at once - or one ballroom and multiple equivalent smaller rooms, room blocks, affordable pricing and ability to do room sales) we have a difficult time.

Dates and locations have been secured for 28 and 29 but beyond that? We just aren't sure. And the dates are far from ideal. However, we did what we had to do in order to keep convention alive.

Behind the scenes we have been trying for Denver, Pittsburgh, Boston and Philadelphia, among other locations. Unfortunately we aren't able to make it work.

The next step would be to move away from a summer event - which was more prevalent in the past. But that would bump into events like GAW and the international conventions.

The hope is that over the coming years everyone can work together to help this along. I, personally, am not hopefully, however.

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Thank you for your response Bethany, I keeping hoping, even a closer driving location would work.

Posted by Judy in Pa on 9/14/2025, 1:15 pm, in reply to "We keep trying..... (msg)"

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You're welcome, Judy. There are some cities that are out (msg)

Posted by Bethany in PA on 9/14/2025, 5:35 pm, in reply to "Thank you for your response Bethany, I keeping hoping, even a closer driving location would work."

Like NYC. Though conventioneers clamor for a con there, the truth is that even if we could find a hotel that meets the needs, it would be stupidly expensive. More than the average conventioneer wants to pay.

At $525 currently, we have A LOT of people complaining. That fee? Actually pays for very little. We are constantly looking for sponsors for the conventions to help offset the ever-rising costs.

We are also not Comic Con and, unfortunately, the popularity of shows like The Big Bang Theory helped to promote the rise of fan conventions, along with a very specific idea of what they should look like and function like.

Unfortunately, the NBDCC isn't anything like those. We are a different animal. You wouldn't believe how many people only want to go to one or two events. Or have "digital viewing." Unless we upend what convention is and change everything, that's just not possible.

So we keep trying. As I said, there is nothing proposed for 2030 and while it seems like a long way off, it really isn't.

I'm a chair for both Ken-vention 2026 and NBDCC 2027. I see behind the proverbial curtain. We are already deep into work mode for both. A chair team is being put together for 2028 even now. The clock is ticking. We need to nail down a location for 2030 soon. With luck? Maybe it can be a little closer to the east coast - or within driving distance anyway.

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PA is driving distance for me, Texas not so much.

Posted by Ivy in MA on 9/13/2025, 1:44 pm, in reply to "Thank you for the update Bethany, sure wish it would come to PA on year."

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Thanks Bethany.

Posted by Nilsa on 9/12/2025, 11:17 pm, in reply to "News Bite: NBDCC (National Barbie Convention) registrations on sale tomorrow."

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