Why You Should Become a Dragonsteel Nexus Exhibitor in 2025

If you’ve ever wanted to share your work with one of the most passionate fandoms in speculative fiction, Dragonsteel Nexus 2025 might just be your dream venue.

Hosted in the heart of Salt Lake City at the Salt Palace Convention Center, Dragonsteel Nexus is a growing hub of creativity, community, and compassion. And if you’re a creator, artist, author, publisher, or vendor with something to share, becoming an exhibitor here is a golden opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

What is Dragonsteel Nexus?

We’re so glad you asked, since it’s one of our favorite conversations. Dragonsteel Nexus started very, very small—in the nooks and crannies of local bookstores across Utah Valley. When Brandon Sanderson was first starting out and trying to get his name out there, he would host regular release parties at local bookstores with his friends, family, and eventually his team members.

As you can imagine, Sanderson quickly grew out of those spaces and needed something larger for these book release events. As these events grew bigger and bigger, he knew he needed a space that could accommodate all the fans who wanted to join in, and it made sense to expand the offerings as well. A panel here and there, an exhibitor or two eventually, and before we knew it we had a full-blown convention.

Now this speculative-fantasy-fiction-community-extravaganza is affectionately known as Dragonsteel Nexus. We have three days of programming covering a variety of fun topics, such as:

• Cover Art in Fantasy: The Power of a First Impression
• How to Form (and Keep!) a Writing Group
• LARPing for Beginners
• The New Author Showcase
• Fantasy Content as a Business: Patreons, Merch, and More

Meet Your Audience

Dragonsteel Nexus attendees aren’t casual con-goers. They’re readers, collectors, cosplayers, RPG players, and creatives who live and breathe story. They care deeply about the worlds they love, and they’re always looking for the next brilliant artist, storyteller, or product to fall in love with. It’s one of our favorite things about our event and the community we’ve cultivated together.

By exhibiting at Nexus, you place your work directly into the hands of fans who are already invested (pun intended, IYKYK). These are people who value the handmade, the heartfelt, and the wildly imaginative.

If you’re passionate about what you create, this is your crowd.

You Don’t Have to Be a Giant Publisher to Make a Big Impression

One of the things that makes Nexus so special is its balance between professional polish and grassroots energy. You’ll find major publishers alongside indie authors. Large game companies just down the aisle from single-creator studios. And the fans? They stop at every booth. The community here doesn’t gatekeep—they champion. The energy of Dragonsteel Nexus is bright, lively, and deeply community driven. Our goal is to bring in exhibitors who vibe with that and greet our attendees with the same excitement they feel.

The show floor is curated to highlight a wide range of creators, and the atmosphere is intentionally warm, welcoming, and collaborative. You’re not just another booth. You’re part of the fabric of the event.

Programming That Pulls People In

Nexus, at its core, an experience. Panels, workshops, cosplay contests, and live recordings mean that foot traffic isn’t confined to a few hot hours a day. There’s a steady, enthusiastic stream of attendees exploring every corner of the floor.

And when they’re not sitting in on a Q&A with Brandon himself, they’re chatting with exhibitors, snapping selfies with stunning art displays, and—yes—buying books, prints, pins, shirts, games, and more.

Okay, I'm Sold. How Do I Sign Up?

Becoming an exhibitor is refreshingly simple—and applications are open now.

Here’s how it works:

• Head to dragonsteelnexus.com: From there, navigate to the “Exhibitor Application” section to access the form.
• Fill it out and hit submit: Share who you are, what you make, and what your setup would look like.
• Wait for approval: If accepted, you'll receive a link to register your exhibitor badge and purchase your booth. More detailed instructions will come from the Dragonsteel events team!
• Celebrate Nexus with us! 

Final Thoughts: Why Nexus?

The world needs more spaces where art, fandom, and storytelling collide. Dragonsteel Nexus is that space.

If you’ve got something to share—be it a novel, a card game, a comic series, or a TTRPG dice line—this is your stage. Come meet your people. Be part of the story.

Applications are closing soon, so apply now! We hope to see your name on the list!