MagicCon: Las Vegas Black Lotus VIP
MagicCon: Las Vegas
Black Lotus VIP
MagicCon: Las Vegas 2026 Black Lotus VIP General Schedule
Event locations will be announced closer to the event. Schedule subject to change.
- 12:00 PM – Lounge Opens - Welcome to MagicCon First Look Thursday!
- 12:00 PM - Black Lotus MagicCon: Las Vegas Sealed Event League Product Pick-up and Play begins
- Black Lotus Progressive Sealed Event: Starting on Thursday, pick up 4 packs of Secrets of Stixhaven play boosters and build a 40-card deck. Play at least 2 games each day, Friday through Sunday, to add an additional Secrets of Strixhaven Collector Booster to your pool the following day. The final chance to claim any booster prizes earned is Sunday at 5:00pm. Look out for Wizards staff and Special Guests, playing and defeating them in the lounge could earn you additional prizes!
- 1:00 – 11:00 PM Black Lotus First Look Thursday Activities
- Please Note: All activities are first come first served and may be limited by room capacity or materials.
- Welcome to Behind the Card Frame – A content series for Black Lotus VIPs
- 1:00 – 1:30 Orientation: Welcome to Las Vegas and the First Look Thursday
- 1:45 – 2:30 Pro Tour 1 – A Look Back
- Pro Tour 1 was held 30 years ago at the end of February in New York City. Originally titled the Black Lotus Pro Tour, this is the event that started the Pro Circuit. Take a walk down memory lane with Brian David Marshall and a panel of other guests who were in the room and hear some of the stories from the early days of competitive Magic, see historic artifacts, as well as sorceries, instants, and creatures!
- 3:00 – 3:45 The Multiverse’s Scariest Cards
- Join the Magic Rules Management team for a dive into ten of the weirdest cards we've ever printed! Peek behind the curtain, discover why these cards work (or perhaps don't work) the way you think they should, and learn wild Magic trivia and rules esoterica you can use to impress your friends and Magic judges alike.
- 4:15 – 5:15 Design the Unknown Planechase Card
- Join the Casual Play Design team to create a new plane for this exclusive Black Lotus VIP event that will debut at a future MagicCon. Bring your ideas and hone your design skills in this interactive session!
- 5:45 – 6:30 Creative Text 101: Expanding Strixhaven – A look at the Names and Flavor behind Secrets of Strixhaven
- Class is in session! Join members of the Magic IP Worldbuilding team for a behind-the-scenes look at creative and flavor text for Secrets of Strixhaven. Uncover old secrets, discover new lore and revisit your favorite schools as you journey through Strixhaven campus as seen through the lens of its card names, flavor, and creative text.
- Flavor Text Theater - Bonus credits for joining the “Flavor Text Theater” group for a select, 1-time performance of some of SOS’s creative text highlights.
- 6:45 – 7:45 ‘Paint & Sip’ with AD Brittney Irving & Guest
- Join Magic Art Director Brittany Irving and a renowned Special Guest Magic Artist for a Bob Ross-style paint along and create your own Magic inspired masterpiece while enjoying themed cocktails*. This immersive event is designed for Magic fans of all artistic backgrounds. Special Guest Artist to be announced soon.
- Ongoing Throughout the Weekend
- Secrets of Strixhaven Concept Art Gallery hosted by Magic Creative Design Team members Deborah Garcia (AD), José Vega (Principal Concept Artist), and Gray Highsmith (Concept Artist). Stop by throughout the weekend to see how the set came together and ask questions of the concept team. Gallery opens Thursday 4/30 @ 1:30pm.
- Open Game Play – You’ve got your decks, now make some new friends, grab a chair and sling spells throughout the weekend in the Lounge.
- Time Walk with Magic Studio X – join members of Studio X to test your knowledge of Magic history, lore, and much more. Tables run on demand in the lounge each morning prior to show open.
- 8:30 – 11:00 PM Welcome Reception with Wizards of the Coast Guests
- Join members of Wizards of the Coast & Special Guests during this casual mixer. Have a chat, grab a signature, or discuss game strategy and design. This is your time to socialize with the makers of the world’s best card game! Light food provided and a cash/no-host bar*.
- *Black Lotus VIPs will receive 2 complimentary drink tickets for use during ‘Paint & Sip’ and/or Welcome Reception.
- 11:00 PM Lounge Closes
- 8:30 AM Lounge Opens
- 8:30 – 11:00 AM Beverage Service
- 9:45 AM Priority Entry to the Show Floor
- 1:00 –3:00 PM Meet & Greet Stage: Black Lotus Exclusive Meet & Greet with Loading Ready Run**
- 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Mage Tower with Special Guests
- School is in session and the inter-college rivalries are getting intense! Join the fray and take to the intramural field to defend your college mascot in this 3-on-3 sealed deck format based on Emperor rules. Each team must safeguard their mascot within their own tower and stop it from being captured by their opponents. Skillfully shift your forces around the battlefield to infiltrate the opposing tower, capture the mascot, and gain campus-wide glory!
- 7:00 PM Lounge Closed
- 8:30 AM Lounge Opens
- 8:30 – 11:00 AM Beverage Service
- 9:45 AM Priority Entry to the Show Floor
- 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM WotC Casual Play Designers and members of the Commander Format Panel (CFP) present Planechase Unknown. Commander Deck required.
- Planechase Unknown: Inspired by Gavin Verhey’s Unknown sealed event, the Casual Play Design team continues to bring you wacky and fun MagicCon themed Planechase cards. VIPs will each take home 5 assorted playtest planes and a MagicCon themed planar die in addition to getting to play Planechase Commander with the aforementioned groups.
- 3:30 – 5:00 PM @ Meet & Greet Stage: Black Lotus Exclusive Meet & Greet with The Professor**
- 7:00 PM Lounge Closed
- 8:30 AM Lounge Opens
- 8:30 – 11:00 AM Beverage Service
- 9:45 AM Priority Entry to the Show Floor
- 11:00 – 12:30 PM @ Meet & Greet Stage: Black Lotus Exclusive Meet & Greet with The Professor **
- 2:00 – 3:30 PM @ Meet & Greet Stage: Black Lotus Exclusive Meet & Greet with LoadingReadyRun **
- 1:00 – 5:00 PM Mystery Booster 2 Drafts*
- *Maximize the Mystery and let chaos reign! Drafts will fire every time we reach 8 players starting at 1:00 PM on Sunday. Drafts will be limited to 2 per person. The last draft will fire at 4:00 PM Regardless of the number of participants. There are no pairings or prizes, but don’t miss your chance to play against Wizards for a chance at extra boosters.
- 3:00 – 4:00 PM Meet & Greet/Feedback Session with Wizards of the Coast Event Team
- 5:00 PM End of Term Graduation (details to be announced)
- 6:00 PM Lounge Closed
** Scheduled VIP-only Meet & Greets are on a first come, first served basis only, and require picking up a wristband in the Black Lotus VIP Lounge. If you would like to participate you will need the correct wristband distributed to you at the desk in the Black Lotus VIP Lounge.
You may request a wristband for one (1) scheduled VIP Meet & Greet with The Professor and one (1) scheduled VIP Meet & Greet with Loading Ready Run. You cannot request wristbands for all four (4) VIP-only Meet & Greets. Please specify your preferred scheduled time slot(s) at time of pick-up. Each time slot is on a first come, first served basis.
This process is only for Black Lotus VIP Meet & Greets that are part of your badge package. For general Meet & Greets that require a wristband, you will need to request one from the Meet & Greet distribution booth the morning of your desired Meet & Greet. More information on general Meet & Greet wristband distribution will be available closer to the show.
You may not request a wristband for any other Meet & Greet not listed above from the Black Lotus Lounge. You must enter the general Meet & Greet Wristband Distribution line for all other general attendee Meet & Greets. For more information on that process, please check MagicCon: Las Vegas for more Meet & Greet information coming soon .
In order to ensure all Black Lotus VIPs get a chance to meet with talent in the time allotted, photos and/or selfies are not allowed and you may request a maximum of two items to be signed
Please arrive at or prior to the start time of your scheduled Meet & Greet. Arriving any later may cause you to forfeit your session.
Las Vegas Black Lotus VIP 2026 Badge Details
- VIP Weekend Badge (Holo Treatment)
- 1x Branded lanyard
- 4x Traditional foil Wayfarer's Bauble promo cards
- 2x Magic: The Gathering | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Collector Boosters
- 3x Secrets of Strixhaven Collector Boosters
- 1x Secrets of Strixhaven Codex Bundle
- MagicCon: Las Vegas 2026 Black Lotus Exclusive Quiver Bolt
- MagicCon: Las Vegas 2026 Official Pin
- MagicCon: Las Vegas Official Staff Trader Pin
- Black Lotus Exclusive Playmat
- Black Lotus Exclusive Drinkware
- Black Lotus VIP Branded Bag
- 10% off Official Show Store merchandise
- Priority Entry to the Show Floor at 9:45 AM
- Black Lotus Progressive Sealed League Event - Weekend Long
- Black Lotus Play Events - Friday & Sunday
- Black Lotus Commander Unknown Planechase Event - Saturday
- Access to Thursday First Look Experiences + Welcome Reception
- Access to VIP Lounge
- Access to Exclusive Signing & Play Opportunities with Magic Personalities
- Access to Advanced Online Show Store with Onsite Pick-Up Concierge
- Access to Black Lotus VIP Discord
2026 BLACK LOTUS VIP PROGRAMATIC UPDATES:
We’re making your show smoother, faster, and more enjoyable! Here’s what’s changing for Black Lotus VIP badge holders in 2026.
NEW & IMPROVED:
Shop Early to Skip the Line!
The VIP/Fast Lane and Thursday shopping preview at the Show Store have been retired. As a Black Lotus VIP badge holder, you’ll now have exclusive access to an online early shopping window. Pre-order your favorite items before the show and we’ll package them for you for easy pick up onsite.
- Where product transaction limits per day are in place, Black Lotus VIP attendees will be able to purchase a full-weekend allocation of product at one time to remove the need to return to the store. Product limits will be communicated at a later date
- Enjoy your 10% discount as always
- For every $150 spent in a single transaction either during the new early shopping window online or on-site at the Official Show Store, Black Lotus VIPs attendees will receive a Forest promo card with art by John Avon while supplies last. Please bring your order receipt to the lounge to verify your orders and receive your promo cards
- You are still welcome to shop in-store via the GA line anytime during the show
Simplified First Look Experience
All First Look activities will take place right at the venue, no need to dash between locations! We loved trialing our Thursday Black Lotus VIP experience in 2025, and it is now a standard part of the badge package going forward.
Mythic VIP Bundle
We’ve been asked if there is a way to secure a Black Lotus VIP badge for all MagicCon events in a season. For the first time, we have been able to make that possible! The Mythic VIP bundle will be available for purchase on December 1 while supplies last.
NOTABLE CHANGES:
Due to set up needs, Black Lotus VIP early access to the show floor will change from 9:00 AM to 9:45 AM. You’ll still receive priority access to the show floor over other badge types and be among the first to experience the action. All vendors, exhibitors, etc. will be ready and waiting for you.
FAQ
More details will be available closer to the show.
Unfortunately, once badges are sold out, they are gone.
All your VIP Merch is available for pick up in the Black Lotus Lounge all weekend long.
Yes! You may pick up your 4 play boosters any time during MagicCon: Las Vegas show hours, including the Black Lotus early access on Thursday.
Access to any parties or other off-site/after-hour events, and ticketed play events is not included in your badge. You will be able to purchase these separately via your Leap account. More information regarding off-site/after-hour events will be available closer to the show.
Unfortunately, all badges are non-transferable. For additional questions about our badge policy, please check out our FAQ page.