We’re thrilled that Willie Jenkins, aka Knewbettadobetta, has joined the merry band here at TORn as one of our volunteer staffers. We’re always delighted when he’s able to join us on panels at events, and now from time to time we’ll also be sharing his thoughts here on our homepage. (Of course, you can always find all his reels on his own Tiktok any time you want to hear more from him!) Knewbetta joined us at Dragon Con this year – and he shares here his thoughts on the convention, and the fandom in general.
I’m Willie Jenkins, better known online as **Knewbettadobetta**, a *Lord of the Rings* content creator, lore enthusiast, and now a staffer for **TheOneRing.net**. This year, I came to Dragon Con 2026 with a particular mission: to do press for TheOneRing.net and to observe, experience, and better understand the connection—the symbiotic relationship, really—between the Tolkien fandom and Dragon Con.
What I found was something I already suspected, but seeing it firsthand made it impossible to ignore – and man was I hype.
Knewbettadobetta at Dragon Con
The Lord of the Rings community is at the heart of the fantasy community, and Dragon Con has become one of the places where that heart beats loudest.
There is something uniquely special about Dragon Con. It is enormous, chaotic, colorful, weird, welcoming, exhausting, exhilarating, and deeply communal. It feels less like a convention that you attend, and more like a temporary world that you enter. And in that world, The Lord of the Rings has a place that feels almost foundational.
Dragon Con itself is, in many ways, the heart of the “con” experience. It is a fan-made convention built around the idea that fandom belongs to the fans. You can find almost anything you could possibly be interested in somewhere within its sprawling ecosystem. Every interest has a home. Every niche has a gathering. Every kind of nerd has a place to lock in and be unapologetically themselves – and this is evident from the number of POC attendees each year growing and growing, who sometimes are scared to show that side of themselves. But news reaching back each year that this is a safe and fun space has reached far and wide. Dragon Con is one big fellowship!
And that is exactly why Tolkien fits here so beautifully.
Knewbettadobetta joins a Fellowship of fans
The Heart of Fantasy
Fantasy has evolved tremendously since Tolkien introduced generations of readers to Middle-earth, but The Lord of the Rings remains one of its great foundational works. You feel that at Dragon Con.
You see it in the costumes. You hear it in conversations. You find it in panels where people can spend an hour dissecting lore, languages, adaptations, characters, mythology, and the smallest details of Tolkien’s world. You see people gathering for photographs, marches, meetups, games, and themed events.
And then, just when you think you have seen every possible version of Tolkien fandom, another Aragorn walks by.
Or a Gandalf.
Or a Nazgûl.
Or an elf.
Or an entire Fellowship.
That is part of what makes Dragon Con so much fun. It has its own culture layered over all of these individual fandoms. There are the ribbons that people collect and trade, the infamous **Cult of the Carpet**, enormous group photos, spontaneous gatherings, parties, elaborate cosplay, and the wonderfully strange moments that can only happen when thousands of passionate people are packed into the same convention ecosystem.
Yet the Tolkien fandom doesn’t simply exist alongside Dragon Con’s culture. It participates in it, it contributes to it, it becomes part of the fabric. And this year, I got to experience that from an entirely different perspective.
The High Fantasy Track and TheOneRing.net
One of the things that stood out most to me was Dragon Con’s dedication to the High Fantasy Track and, specifically, its willingness to give High Fantasy a dedicated space where TheOneRing.net could join our fellow fans as part of Tolkien-focused programming. That matters. The Tolkien fandom is enormous, but depending on the convention, it can sometimes feel like the presence of The Lord of the Rings doesn’t match the size or passion of the fandom itself.
Dragon Con feels different. Here, Tolkien has room. And when you give Tolkien fans a room, they fill it.
This year’s panels on all things Middle-earth were amazing and, for me personally, deeply fulfilling. As a POC content creator, being given a space to stand in front of a large, engaged audience and talk about something I genuinely love was meaningful on a personal level.
But what made it even more special was the audience itself.
I was surrounded by some of the smartest, most knowledgeable, and most dedicated people in the fandom. The panel I participated in on ‘Delving into the Dwarves’ really stood out for me, with how many people were interested in the lore of the dwarves – and the love they had for the dwarves over even the elves (who tend to get most of the shine!). Being able to answer questions about peoples’ loves and validate their thoughts on their favorite characters, and give new insight, knowledge and perspective on a lesser known race in the fandom, was exhilarating.
These weren’t people simply showing up because The Lord of the Rings happens to be popular (although of course there is room for those folks, too!). These were people who care. People who know the lore. People who have spent years thinking about Middle-earth, discussing Tolkien’s work, debating interpretations, studying adaptations, and keeping the fandom alive. Being able to contribute to that conversation was an honor.
And it reminded me of one of the most beautiful things about fandom: You can be the person standing on the stage, but you are still one of the people in the room. You’re still a fan.
A Place to Lock In
That is another thing I love about Dragon Con.
You can spend one night completely losing yourself in the experience, and then somehow wake up the next morning, find your coffee, put yourself together, and lock right back into your niche. That’s Dragon Con.
The nightlife is vibrant, energetic, and incredibly freeing. There is something about being surrounded by thousands of people who are also temporarily stepping outside the normal rules of everyday life. You can dance – and you better believe I danced lol, being from New York and the hip hop culture I loved the vibes at night, and the willingness of everyone to let loose and dance the night away.
You can dress up. (I’m still working on this – lmao my inner cosplay self has yet to come out!)
You can be ridiculous.
You can be dramatic.
You can be weird.
You can be your entire self.
And for a lot of us, that freedom is more important than we realize.
Life accumulates stress. Work accumulates stress. Responsibilities accumulate stress. The little frustrations and anxieties of an entire year can pile up until you don’t even realize how badly you need to exhale. Trust me, this has been one hell of a year for me – but while I was a Dragon Con I was totally free.
Dragon Con gives you a place to exhale.
The closest we’ve got Knewbettadobetta to cosplay – so far…
Then, somehow, the next morning, you wake up and do it all again. Except now you’re sitting in a panel listening to someone explain an obscure piece of fantasy lore that you have been thinking about for months.
Or you’re raising your hand to ask a question.
Or you’re sitting in the audience completely enthralled by somebody else’s passion – which is one of the most refreshing things about the whole con.
If you’re lucky enough to be a panelist, you’re standing in front of a room trying to articulate why the thing you love matters so much.
That duality is one of Dragon Con’s greatest strengths – you can play hard, nerd harder.
And then there is An Evening at Bree
If you want to understand the love the Tolkien community has for this fandom, spend a night at Bree.
The annual High Fantasy Track party, hosted by TheOneRing.net, has become one of the highlights of Dragon Con’s Tolkien experience – for some, a highlight of the whole convention – and this year’s event was no exception.
Dragon Con provides a phenomenal ballroom, security, crowd management, and line organization that allows an event like this to operate smoothly despite the sheer number of people who want to attend. The result is a party that feels both massive and intimate at the same time.
And the attendees bring it.
People show up in full Lord of the Rings attire. Costumes range from recognizable characters to wildly inventive interpretations of Middle-earth. You see the creativity and craftsmanship of the fandom everywhere you look. The ‘sexy’ versions of these characters are quite the sight! Then you can turn around and see a cosplay that took the wearer months to make, and might be some of the most complex and beautiful and thoughtful cosplays you ever seen in your life; and the beauty of it is that they both are just as valid as the other.
A fabulous Barad-dûr cosplay at the Evening at Bree
Then the music starts. People dance, sing, laugh. For a few hours, everyone gets to forget about whatever is waiting for them outside the convention.
You don’t just feel like you’re attending a party with a Tolkien theme. You feel like you’ve stepped into The Prancing Pony.
The bands who played throughout the evening (The Brobdingnagian Bards, Landloch’d, and Beth Patterson) delivered infectious songs, sometimes directly inspired by the world and themes of Lord of the Rings, reinforcing that strange and wonderful feeling that the ballroom had somehow transformed into Bree.
This year’s cosplay contest was particularly fun, refreshing, and beautifully hosted by TORn’s own greendragon! And then, an Elf Choir performed.
It was mesmerizing.
For a moment, the party became something else entirely. The noise and excitement gave way to voices coming together, and the result felt almost reverent.
It was a beautiful reminder that fandom isn’t only about consuming stories. Sometimes it’s about creating something together – and I felt right at home. Leaving the event, a couple of fans cosplayed as the Argonath – and stood by the steps leading away from the ballroom, on either side, arms outstretched. The sight left me in awe – and brought so much weight and magic to the night. These are the special little things that make Dragon Con different.
Cosplayed Argonath
Tolkien Belongs Here
One of the most encouraging things about Dragon Con is seeing how naturally Tolkien fandom fits into the larger convention culture.
The same people collecting Dragon Con ribbons are wearing Hobbit costumes. The same people participating in giant convention photo shoots are organizing Tolkien group photos. The same people attending parties until the early hours of the morning are showing up the next day for lore-heavy panels.
There are Tolkien meetups. There are marches. There are games. There are cosplay gatherings.
There are discussions that go deep into the mythology and history of Middle-earth.
There are people who have spent years studying Tolkien’s writings, sitting alongside people who just discovered the world through an adaptation.
And somehow, it works. That’s fandom at its best.
Dragon Con understands that a convention doesn’t have to choose between being broad, and giving individual fandoms meaningful space. You can have thousands of different interests under one roof, while still allowing communities to develop their own identities. You don’t feel tied down or forced into a time slot, or forced to pick a fandom. Any and everything goes here and all are welcome – no matter your level of knowledge of a thing. If you like it, they love it for you, and let you into the fold.
That is particularly important for Tolkien fandom – because The Lord of the Rings isn’t simply another fantasy property. It is one of the pillars upon which modern fantasy fandom was built. So when Dragon Con gives Tolkien fans a home, it isn’t merely acknowledging a popular franchise. It is nurturing one of the traditions that helped make the fantasy community what it is.
The Symbiotic Relationship
That was ultimately what I came to Dragon Con to examine: What is the relationship between Tolkien fandom and Dragon Con?
After experiencing this year’s convention as a TheOneRing.net staffer and content creator, I would describe it as symbiotic.
The Tolkien community – like many other fandoms represented there – brings knowledge, creativity, cosplay, scholarship, humor, passion, and history to Dragon Con.
Dragon Con provides the infrastructure, audience, space, and community for that passion to thrive.
Each benefits from the other. Dragon Con gives Tolkien fandom a platform; Tolkien fandom gives Dragon Con another deeply passionate community that contributes to the larger culture of the convention.
Middle-earth cosplayers for Dragon Con’s annual ‘Bunny Hutch’ party
That relationship becomes especially important as new Tolkien media – and new generations of fans – continue to emerge. Fandom doesn’t stay alive simply because a story was popular decades ago. It stays alive because people keep talking about it.
They keep creating.
They keep dressing up.
They keep writing.
They keep making videos.
They keep hosting panels.
They keep asking questions.
They keep arguing about lore.
They keep singing.
They keep dancing.
They keep showing up.
Dragon Con creates a place where all of that can happen, in one long weekend.
The Heart Still Beats
My time at Dragon Con 2026 left me with a pretty simple conclusion:
The Lord of the Rings community is the heart of the fantasy community, and Dragon Con is one of the places where that heart can beat loudly, proudly, and freely.
There is something incredibly powerful about seeing Tolkien fandom represented alongside the countless other communities that make Dragon Con what it is: the Klingons, the Whovians, the robot builders, the horror lovers…
The ribbons, the giant photoshoots, the meetups, the panels.
The late nights and the early mornings!
The bizarre conversations with strangers that somehow become friendships. (We literally found another group from asking about their Dungeon Crawler Carl attire and boom! – we were inseparable the entire con!)
Friends old and new
The moments where you realize you have been standing in a hotel hallway for forty-five minutes talking about a fictional language.
That’s Dragon Con. And that’s Tolkien fandom.
Both are built around the same fundamental idea: people who love something coming together and turning that love into a community.
Dragon Con is a fan-made convention where you can find a place for almost anything you love. It is wonderfully expansive without losing the intimate feeling of fandom. I was proud to be there this year representing TheOneRing.net, not just as a content creator, but as a fan. And it is good to see Dragon Con continue to show focus and dedication to one of fantasy’s great mainstays.
Because Middle-earth isn’t going anywhere.
The fans aren’t going anywhere.
And as long as there are places willing to give that fandom room to gather, create, celebrate, debate, dance, sing, dress up, and tell stories of its own, the heart of fantasy will keep beating.
Whispers and rumours were heard a couple of weeks ago; and now the way is open at last! The shiny new Lord of the Rings Official Fan Club from Middle-earth Enterprises is here. And what’s more, one of TORn’s own Four Founders, Calisuri, is building it! We’re feeling like it’s those early days of online fandom all over again, seeking out friends on the internet and geeking out together. There are quests to be fulfilled and mathoms to be collected – some of which will be found at San Diego Comic Con this weekend! So get your questing boots on! Head on over to LOTR.com to join the fun.
Here’s what the official press release tells us:
Middle-earth Enterprises Announces the Official Fan Club for The Lord of the Rings ™
Free to join at LOTR.com, the new official community opens in early access this July with Quests, Fellowships, collectible Mathoms, daily games, and a shared San Diego Comic-Con program
LIVERMORE, CALIF. — Middle-earth Enterprises today announced the official fan club for The Lord of the Rings ™ , a free community opening in early access this July at LOTR.com.
Even before any official public announcement, fans around the world had already discovered the hidden entry at LOTR.com and joined the waitlist, underscoring the demand for a welcoming official home for Middle-earth fandom.
Built for fans of The Lord of the Rings ™ , The Hobbit ™ , and the wider world of Middle-earth, the fan club is designed to give members an active role in a new official community at LOTR.com. Members will be able to complete Quests, earn digital keepsakes called Mathoms, form Fellowships, play daily games, follow official brands and creators, and keep a personal record of their fandom journey.
The fan club is also being built to support the fan groups, creators, channels, and websites that already make Middle-earth fandom so strong. Known inside the club as Heralds, they will be invited to create their own spaces within LOTR.com. The goal is to lift up what already exists, help more fans find it, and give those groups new ways to gather followers, share updates, and create experiences inside the official fan club.
“For decades, fans have built extraordinary communities around Middle-earth with creativity, care, and remarkable commitment,” said Jay Komas, General Manager of Middle-earth Enterprises. “LOTR.com is an opportunity to recognize that passion, support the communities that have helped carry it forward, and create an official space where fans, creators, licensees, and community leaders can participate together.”
“Quests” are one of the main ways members can take part in fan club experiences. A member might scan a code at a convention booth, check in at a panel, answer a lore question, enter a secret phrase, complete an online challenge, or help unlock part of a larger shared adventure. Completing Quests can earn members “Mathoms,” digital keepsakes named after the term for a treasured object in the world of Middle-earth. In the fan club, Mathoms are not simply points or badges. They are a record of participation: a show attended, a creator discovered, a fan group joined, a challenge completed, or a moment shared with fellow fans. Some Mathoms will be common, while others will be genuinely rare, giving each member’s collection its own history and character over time.
The first major community program, Gather the Fellowship, will launch this July around San Diego Comic-Con. Fan Club members will be able to form or join Fellowships and collaborate across online and in-person activities. Attendance at San Diego Comic-Con will not be required to participate. A fan at the convention may complete part of the adventure from the show floor, while another member joins from home. Together, the Fellowship moves forward.
Members will also find games with a Middle-earth twist, including a daily riddle and a palantír-inspired lore challenge, giving fans a reason to return, play, and build their Fan Club record over time.
Official licensees, known inside the club as Merchants, will have a place within LOTR.com to build a page, post announcements, offer rewards, run promotions, and create co-branded Mathoms tied to events, products, booths, packaging, and other fan experiences.
The club will also recognize members of the early 2000s fan club whose names appeared in the Extended Edition film credits, allowing them to search for their name in a special archive and claim a commemorative keepsake. A launch campaign, Give Us a Gold Ring, will invite members to support a formal proposal for a plain gold ring emoji, to be submitted to the Unicode Consortium by the close of San Diego Comic- Con.
A NEW COMMUNITY STANDARD
Everyone is welcome, as long as they welcome everyone.
Newcomers and longtime fans, readers and film fans, gamers, collectors, creators, and community leaders will participate on equal footing.
As part of its commitment to genuine fan engagement, Middle-earth Enterprises brought on longtime community builder CHRIS PIRROTTA as VP Marketing & Fan Experience. Pirrotta co-founded TheOneRing.net in 1998 and helped grow it alongside a global volunteer community that has supported Middle-earth fandom for nearly three decades. He also spent 25 years at Sideshow, where he helped grow one of the world’s leading collector-focused fan businesses. TheOneRing.net continues to operate independently through its volunteer team, while Pirrotta’s day-to-day focus is now on building the official fan club at LOTR.com.
“When we started TheOneRing.net in 1998, the internet still felt like a place you went to find your people,” said Pirrotta. “A lot has changed since then. Too much of the modern internet rewards outrage, pile-ons, and the loudest voice in the room. LOTR.com is being built for something different, inspired by the community at the heart of Middle-earth: a place where everyone has a part to play, whether they arrive as royalty, a seasoned Wizard, a loyal gardener, or someone taking their first step out the door. No one is above anyone else here. That is what makes this work with the Middle-earth Enterprises team so meaningful. This is not just about opening an official site. It is about opening the door wider, with a welcome to all.”
The official fan club for The Lord of the Rings will be free to join. Early access invitations will begin ahead of San Diego Comic-Con, with additional members welcomed in over time as the community grows. New licensees, creators, Heralds, Merchants, and fan groups will be added on an ongoing basis. Fans can visit LOTR.com now to join the early access waitlist.
ABOUT MIDDLE-EARTH ENTERPRISES Middle-earth Enterprises owns exclusive worldwide rights to motion picture, merchandising, stage, and other rights in certain literary works of J.R.R. Tolkien, including The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Middle-earth Enterprises works with partners around the world to support high-quality films, games, merchandise, stage productions, location-based entertainment, events, and other experiences inspired by these works.
ABOUT EMBRACER GROUP Embracer Group is a global group of creative and entrepreneurial businesses in PC, console and mobile games, as well as other related media. The Group has an extensive catalog of over 400 owned or controlled franchises. With its head office based in Karlstad, Sweden, Embracer Group has a global presence through its operative groups: THQ Nordic, PLAION, DECA Games, Dark Horse, Freemode and Crystal Dynamics – Eidos. The Group includes 53 internal game development studios and engages over 6,000 talents across nearly 30 countries.
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
– a final thought from Thorin Oakenshield
For many of us Children of the Kindly West, these early weeks of 2026 have been less than kind. Whether it’s weather that has been especially challenging, or news stories more reminiscent of Mordor than Michel Delving, perhaps your thoughts have begun to turn toward seasons of respite and restoration, ideally ones reminiscent of a “proper 1420” in the Shire filled with food, cheer, and friendship.
And we have some options for you! Consider laying out that hoarded gold for one or more of a myriad of opportunities for Tolkien-themed gatherings and events that are richly decorating the 2026 calendar. What better way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that culture-shaping event of the 2001 release of Peter Jackson’s The Fellowship of the Ring than finding a Fellowship of your own?
All you have to decide is what to do with all the options that have been given to you. Here are some 2026 gatherings in the US to get you started.
Following a successful inaugural event in May 2025, our friends at The Tolkien Society are assembling a host of speakers, activities, entertainment, and other Middle-earth goodness for their second annual gathering this spring in Minneapolis. Happening at the Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown, the Moot will feature the Tolkien Society’s classic array of talks, quizzes, lectures, workshops, performances, papers, and discussions. Featured guests already include Signum University’s Sara Brown, an active scholar and podcaster, as well as scientist and writer Kristine Larsen. Making a special appearance will be cartoonist and Edward Gorey fan Tom Racine. Here’s your chance to get an autograph for your copy of his recently published Doomed to Die: An A to Z of Death in Tolkien! Attendees will also have an opportunity to take in a private showing of The Theater in the Round’s new and unique adaptation of The Hobbit. Full conference registration for Tolkien Society members is $350, and $375 for non-members. Virtual participation will also be an option.
This annual gathering of uber-fans hardly needs an introduction. Those Middle-earth mavens fortunate enough to have snagged their badges last fall are now left to speculate: just how much Tolkien content can they expect. Will we see a Rings of Power panel in Hall H should season three be a 2026 possibility? What might we see in the way of unique collectibles, first glimpses and show exclusives during this 25th anniversary of the PJ films? Who knows what untold discoveries are in store for those wandering among artists and exhibitors (like last year’s Middle-earth Enterprises and Weta booths, not to mention our own booth!)? Here’s our recap from last year’s SDCC to whet your appetite.
Our colleagues at The Mythopoeic Society are offering an opportunity to “get your fantasy kicks ” at their 54th more-or-less annual conference, this year held in Weatherford, Oklahoma and taking particular inspiration from the state’s centennial celebration of the famed Route 66. Hosted at the Stafford Air and Space Museum, this year’s Mythcon will feature the Society’s classic combination of scholarship, literary exploration, local color, and cordial common interest in themes fantastic and mythic. As such a classic “Mother Road” might suggest, you can expect discussions revolving around quests and traveling adventures, written and oral traditions, and archived memories worthy of the Great Library of Minas Tirith. Featured guests include author David R. Slayton (White Trash Warlock, which is not about Saruman, and Dark Moon, Shallow Sea); and scholar Dr. Joe R. Christopher, a retired professor of English at Tarleton State University and a prolific essayist with a particular focus on Inklings studies. Mythcon typically attracts 100-200 attendees, and registration is now open, with the full conference set at $110 for Mythopoeic Society members and $125 for non-members. Virtual attendance is also possible.
For any elves, dwarves, hobbits, or humans who happen to reminisce fondly about their summer camping days, this may be exactly the gathering you’re looking for. Brought to us by the same planning team behind the sesquiennial celebration of “A Long-Expected Party” (ALEP), the first ever Camp Eledhrim stays in the Harrodsburg, Kentucky area, but will shift from ALEP’s traditional Shaker Village setting to the new environs of “Camp Horsin’ Around”. This five bunkhouse complex will offer communal (non-private) living arrangements for 140, with dedicated air-conditioned cabins for each of your favorite Tolkien-inspired races (presumably excluding orcs). The classic ALEP offerings of fully catered and Middle-earth-themed meals, immersive decor, lore-driven programming, contests of Third Age skill (including Elvish canoe races), and campfire gatherings will all be available. The new venue will also expand these ALEP traditions to a swimming pool, a rope obstacle course, and – brace for it – Hobbit mini-golf (surely ‘Hobbit-sized-golf’?). A “Bullroarer Memorial Open” seems somehow appropriate. Join and then stay tuned on the ALEP Facebook page for developing details. Having experienced an ALEP event for the first time last September, I can attest that the Fellowship is restorative, the welcome for newcomers as genuine as any Hobbit could wish, the lore conversations deeply satisfying, and the shared merriment infectious. It’s encouraging that our ALEP friends are experimenting with new opportunities to gather more frequently!
Held every Labor Day weekend, Atlanta’s mega-fan gathering is celebrating its 40th year of gathering gamers and geeks, cosplayers and comics enthusiasts, partygoers and patrons of the fantasy arts. And this includes, of course, fans of that great-grandfather of modern fantasy, J.R.R. himself. Dragon Con is a collection of more than 30 mini-conventions, or “tracks” designed to appeal to the full spectrum of interest in fantasy, science fiction, gaming, and fandoms of the fantastic. Across its five downtown host hotels and the Atlanta Merchandise Mart, attendees have the challenge of prioritizing over 1,000 panel offerings, a “Walk of Fame” offering signature opportunities from more than 100 celebrity guests, a four-floor vendors hall and artists market, and themed parties lasting into the wee hours every night. For Tolkien fans, official programming falls under the “High Fantasy” track, and includes everything from a dance party in Bree, to costume contests, to scholarly panels, to creative content like trivia contests and Hobbit drinking songs, to speculation about what we’ll see in upcoming movie and television releases along with other pending Middle-earth fun, all straight from TORn staffers greendragon, deej, and MadeyeGamgee. Beyond the programming, Dragon Con also offers a stunning array of cosplay craftsmanship and photo ops, elven choirs wandering the halls between hotels, and an opportunity to march with fellow Tolkienites in the annual parade down Peachtree Street, an event that attracts many additional thousands. You can purchase passes that cover all five days of the convention, and also individual day passes.
The inaugural Brandywine Festival in October 2025 introduced a completely new North American experience for those wishing to deeply embed themselves in the Hobbit lifestyle through Live Action Role-Playing. Specializing in producing medieval and fantasy-inspired clothing and equipment, the Burgschneider Group is also one of the world’s premier producers of large-scale LARP events. Burgschneider and Middle-earth Enterprises established a licensing arrangement last year that saw a successful Kickstarter campaign mobilizing roughly 1200 Hobbit-hued LARPers, most of whom had never before participated in this kind of event, to assemble for Buckland’s 259th annual Brandywine Festival. It is an astonishing thing to take up residence amongst so many excellent and admirable Hobbits, each with their own backstories, and each fully committed to engage with one another entirely in the spirit and attire of the Shire. A merrier world indeed. Burgschneider’s Chief Creative Officer, Thomas “Beol” Miller, along with the Group President Markus Böhm, describe last year’s Brandywine Festival as a “pilot” event, one offering substantial opportunities for learning and improvement, while also reflecting a spirit and array of fan experiences that was so encouraging that the second annual event this October was automatic. Having been part of that Hobbit throng last year, nearly everyone I spoke with was heartily hoping to be able to return in 2026, from LARP newbies to the few with deep experience at other role-playing events.
The 2026 challenge for Burgschneider will be to apply important lessons learned – improved load-in logistics, a more confined footprint for LARP challenges and game play, some alterations in the camping layout to enhance community interaction, and a better approach to the celebratory banquet toward the end of the event. Simultaneously, they’ll be seeking to preserve those magical elements that so many participants enjoyed – a spontaneously effusive talent show, lore-driven story-lines and non-player characters (we see you, Nerd of the Rings!), and above all the rich array of opportunities to become a part of a thriving Hobbit community, surrounded by feasting and dancing, storytelling and generosity, mathoms and memorable moments. As the on-site lead “Beol” remarked, “Brandywine is providing a Shire sandbox, not an amusement park.” And it’s a wonderful sandbox, indeed. For a firsthand account of the 2025 Brandywine experience, see our very own Happy Hobbit’s (or “Thistle’s”) report here.
For any wondering, the Brandywine Festival 2026 will once again be set in the fall of SR 1418, shortly after one Frodo Baggins has left Bag End, presumably to take up residence in Crickhollow. Every player is invited to develop their own unique character and backstory, and named LotR characters are excluded. While the Shire timeline and venue settings in 2026 repeat last year’s, the LARP story-line and challenges will draw from different elements of Tolkien’s legendarium. We can expect variations on last year’s Ruffians and Spiders and Rangers and Elves (oh my!). Tickets are still available, but being claimed rather rapidly.
Should the San Diego version not be an option, you might consider joining its East Coast cousin for their 20th anniversary this October in the Big Apple! (And yes, that was a subtle second breakfast allusion.) Similar in design to the California convention, NYCC is promising to “pull out all the stops” this year. In addition to all the nerdy goodness you’ll find at the Javits Center in Manhattan, from programming to LotR-focused vendors on the show floor, you’ll also be close to, well, everything else Manhattan has to offer. That includes the classic annual TORn NYC Gathering, which will take place on the Friday evening of the Con. Here’s a reminder of some of the Tolkien fun which was on offer at last year’s event!
Of course, this list is just a sampling of possibilities! There are many other events we could have mentioned, both in the US and internationally: such as WonderCon in Anaheim next month (TORn staffers will be there!); Orlando’s Mega Con in late March, with MANY LotR movie guests; Oxonmoot in Oxford in early September; or the Deutsche Tolkien Gesellschaft’s mid-October Tolkien Seminar 2026 in Augsburg. While Fathom Event’s January theater screenings of the PJ trilogy are now behind us, many other theaters are now following suit as we press deeper into this 25th anniversary year. Or you may wish to take in one or more of the movies accompanied by a live orchestra, with a number of European and North American options already scheduled. And of course in September we’ll host our annual Baggins Birthday Bash on the West Coast – which is always a gathering of special magnificence.
We wish you all the best as you seek your 2026 Fellowship(s)! May they bring you joy and hope! And may the hair on your toes never fall out!
I learned something important from my daughter’s first-grade teacher that has stayed with me: “Don’t yuk someone else’s yum.” Our moms might have said it differently: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” It’s simple, but there’s wisdom in it that the online, and particularly social media, world of fandom could use. Just because you don’t love something doesn’t mean someone else can’t find joy in it. Even worse, your ‘yuk’ hot take may stifle content creators’ ability to bring out content you might end up loving.
(Let’s address the elephant in the room: Yes, I know this is my hot take—but hey, mine’s aimed at you, the fan, not the content creators.)
After what seems like a lifetime at TheOneRing.net (Has it really been 25 years?!), I’ve seen every possible reaction to new Tolkien content. From diehard fans reveling in every second of a new adaptation to those who can’t wait to point out what went “wrong.” It’s predictable and, frankly, exhausting. Every time something new comes out, it’s like clockwork: a flurry of love, a tidal wave of hate, and everyone shouting into the social void.
The truth is, not every story needs to be made for you, and that’s okay. I promise. 🤗
Critique? Sure, it has its place. But what’s happened is we’ve confused having an opinion with needing to broadcast it. Tolkien’s world is vast. It can hold different visions and interpretations from both filmmakers and fans. We don’t need to take sides in an imaginary battle over what’s “right.”
But why even bring this up? Because the casual social user, or even the casual internet participant, sees that ‘yuk’ always rises to the top. Algorithms are designed to push controversy and conflict into our feeds, knowing that our human condition tends to lean toward drama over harmony. Negative opinions and arguments get engagement, and platforms thrive on that. But here’s the problem: content creators use those negative metrics to gauge the success or failure of their work. And often, they make decisions—like canceling a show—based on the loudest, angriest voices, even when there’s a quiet following that genuinely enjoys it. Yes, these entities might be large corporations with teams of data scientists, but don’t assume that they are fully exploring the data to avoid simplistic conclusions.
Don’t yuk someone else’s yum – Annonymous
And there’s another side to this. Fans who do love something often hesitate to share their enthusiasm. Why? Because they don’t want to deal with the trolls. The loudest voices—the bullies of fandom—are quick to tear down anything that doesn’t meet their personal standards. And just like in politics, where the conversation is dominated by those with the loudest, harshest opinions, fandom is too often steered by negativity. The result? Studios and creators miss out on hearing from those who love the content, because those voices are drowned out.
Take the trailer for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew as an example. When it dropped, my fellow over-40 male demographic flooded my feed with waves of negativity. But here’s the thing: I’m secretly loving the idea of mixing Star Wars with The Goonies and Stranger Things. I want creators to take those kinds of risks with our beloved franchises. And if it turns out to be something I don’t enjoy, I’ll just quietly move on; no need to let folks know I wasn’t into it.
The beauty of all fictional universes and our beloved Middle-earth is that they can mean different things to different people. If someone’s finding joy in a version of the story that isn’t your cup of tea, do you really need to jump in and let them know? Let them have their moment. There’s a quiet strength in stepping back and allowing others to enjoy what they enjoy.
At the end of the day, fandom is supposed to bring people together, not force everyone into corners based on whether they loved or hated the latest installment. Maybe, just maybe, we don’t need to weigh in on every adaptation. If you’re not feeling it, maybe scroll past, or better yet, log off and reread The Silmarillion. The stories aren’t going anywhere. There will always be space for your favorites and your least favorites in Tolkien’s world.
The next time you’re tempted to post your hot take, think back to my daughter’s first-grade lesson. It’s okay to stay quiet and let someone else have their yum.
In fact, it might be the best thing you can do—not just for them, but for the creators who need to hear the whole story, and for fandoms to enjoy a new risk here and there.
So, remember: Too much yuk, and the content you love might never get made.
The views expressed in this article are those of just me, but maybe a few other TORn staffers agree. 🤷🏻♂️
P.S. If you’ve got thoughtful critiques or just want to discuss all things Tolkien in a more welcoming, troll-free zone, there are safer places for that. Check out TheOneRing.net’s Discord or message boards, where you can share your thoughts without drowning in negativity. Let’s keep the conversation lively, but respectful—Middle-earth deserves nothing less. Feel free to email me as well
P.P.S.Hey Amazon – I couldn’t end this article without sharing some of my yum. I am LOVING Season 2 of ‘Rings of Power!’ Don’t let anyone yuk my yum! 😋
If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net. One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.
VentureBeat sat down with the head of Freemode Embracer, which in 2022 bought the swag of Middle-earth rights long-held by Saul Zaentz, in a wide-ranging conversation about the past, present and future of The Lord of the Rings. In recent weeks, it was announced that Embracer would be split into three companies with one of them temporarily called “Middle-earth Enterprises and Friends” — a nod to the importance of LOTR to this publicly traded standalone company.
Lee Guinchard is wide-eyed and excited about the future of Rings. In the interview he explains the combative legal history of Rings and TheHobbit, where nearly everyone was suing everyone else. But now that bad blood is settled and there is a business effort to allow everyone to play nice, collaborate and create adaptations of Tolkien that are premium.
Also, fans get a couple shout-outs! We here at TheOneRing.net are excited to be included in any discussions that bring the fan perspective to the table.
During the past 18 months or so, Guinchard started quietly talking to the different parties that matter for The Lord of the Rings franchise, including Peter Jackson’s team, the Tolkien Estate, Warner Bros./New Line and Tolkien fans themselves at places such as The One Ring. Guinchard felt a need to build bridges — as many of the parties fell out with each other at different times in the past — and do his own homework about the market.
He was always a Tolkien fan, but he dug deeper into it than ever before, looking at things Tolkien himself said. And he was not coming at it from the approach of a conglomerate.
“Part of the due diligence was understanding what the map was,” Guinchard said. “Once you get under the hood, the actual rights are easy to understand. I started thinking. Oh God. This opportunity is way bigger than people realize. But it’s not an instant opportunity. You’ve got to look at this for a long time. Look at who the players are. And what can we do, as stewards of it? I had to get my head around what people are playing in and around our sphere.”
– Excerpt from GamesBeat
Its a long and worthwhile read to get a sense of where adaptations of The Lord of the Rings could be headed. Read it at Venturebeat.
The upcoming new series is stirring up emotions across the Fandom. Some are positive and hopeful, while others are not. With so many quick judgements as to what Tolkien would have wanted abounding we think it is wise to take a moment to remember what Tolkien’s message actually was. It was never about hate or exclusion. It was about how even the smallest people could achieve great things and build a better world, even when up against incredible odds.
The novels themselves were written during a different era, but Tolkien’s spirit no doubt never intended for them to only live there. They are not historical. They are fantasy and lore. Created for us to see the best of ourselves in all times. As the different adaptions have come throughout the decades, they have all reflected the times in which they are created. This new series will be no different, and we are excited about that.
This is how a work lives and grows. The new series will bring in new people to the fandom and make it stronger, just like the Peter Jackson movies did. Not a few of us were brought into this fandom by those movies. They lead us to the wonderful books, and the great fellowship. The books are not changed by the new adaptations. They will always remain, but now new people will discover them.
With any fandom as strongly loved as ours, there will always be disagreement as to how things should have been done. There will be debate over storylines and new characters. Our hope is that through it all, we can all hold on to the Fellowship and belonging that Tolkien was trying to create. Good over Evil, united, Tolkien Forever.
