Mattel and Mischief Management Join Forces for Barbie Dream Fest
Attendees can expect themed play zones, collector showcases, conversations with inspiring women from a wide range of fields, interactive activations, and exclusive programming with creators, innovators, and Barbie experts. Whether you grew up with a Barbie DreamHouse™ or built your own adventures in your backyard, Barbie Dream Fest welcomes you to be part of something unforgettable.
'We are thrilled to announce Barbie Dream Fest, as a new offering designed to delight the brand's growing fandom,' said Julie Freeland, Vice President of Global Location Based Entertainment, Mattel. 'It's incredibly exciting to provide fans, families, and collectors with a curated and unique space to gather, learn, and create all while celebrating the iconic Barbie brand.'
For more than four decades, Barbie has inspired a vibrant community of fans and collectors. This passion gave rise to the National Barbie ® Doll Collectors Convention in 1980. Each year, Barbie devotees from around the world gather to celebrate the brand through exclusive dolls, panels, fashion shows, auctions, and exhibits that honor the cultural impact and enduring legacy of Barbie.
Building on this powerful fandom, Barbie Dream Fest—created by Mischief Management in partnership with Mattel—invites families, pop culture enthusiasts, fans, and everyone who's ever dreamed big to step into the world of Barbie like never before. Featuring immersive exhibits, inspirational guest speakers, hands-on creative workshops, and nostalgia-fueled installations, the festival offers an unforgettable journey through six decades of the brand's legacy for fans of all ages.
With a proven track record of bringing fandoms to life, Mischief Management will produce the event in partnership with Mattel. Known for beloved experiences like BroadwayCon and EnchantiCon, Mischief brings storytelling, interactivity, and heart to every event they touch.
'Barbie has always empowered fans to dream big and express themselves boldly,' said Melissa Anelli, CEO of Mischief Management. 'We're honored to partner with Mattel to bring that spirit to life in a fully immersive way. Barbie Dream Fest will be joyful and filled with unforgettable moments.'
Fans can sign up now for exclusive event updates, early ticket access, and guest announcements at www.BarbieDreamFest.com. Follow @BarbieDreamFest on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to join the conversation.
About Mattel
Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie ®, Hot Wheels ®, Fisher-Price ®, American Girl ®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO ®, Masters of the Universe ®, Matchbox ®, Monster High ®, Polly Pocket ®, and Barney ®, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world's leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us at mattel.com
Mischief Management produces fan conventions focusing on community, content, and creativity. Since 2009, it has served over 200,000 fans, providing a fun, vibrant, and safe space to enjoy the things they love. Mischief Management's event lineup includes BroadwayCon (for fans of theatre and Broadway) and EnchantiCon (for fans of fantasy and magical worlds). More information about each of Mischief Management's events can be found at MischiefManagement.com.
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Laird Jimenez, the director of video content for Alamo, thinks of their preshow as continuing the older tradition, rarely practiced now, fed by the online libraries of archival footage and original video floods that the 21st century has been awash with. (Alamo gets permission, though does not pay, the creators of any material it pulls from YouTube or elsewhere.) But Jimenez also admits, they're leaving money, a lot of money, on the table in the service of a theater experience. '(The preshow) is probably not the economically best decision considering the labor hours it takes to make them and the fact it's screen time we could use — that's money we're losing, not running Chrysler ads.' A recent poll of theater owners, reported by Variety, and conducted by analyst Stephen Follows and the online trade publication Screendollars, found that more than 55% of movie exhibitors believe the movie theater, as an institution, has maybe 20 years left. 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