Echo by MelaninCon is our year of giving back and building community as we prepare to bring MelaninCon fully in person again in 2027. Echo is a space for us to connect, learn, and grow together. It’s where our culture is celebrated, our voices are heard, and opportunities are shared. Building on this energy, MelaninCon 2026 will be a hybrid conference with both virtual and in-person events across six cities: Louisville, Baltimore, Atlanta, Nashville, Houston, and Philadelphia. We’re doing this because our successful 2025 installment of MelaninCon was deeply affected by DEI challenges, and we wanted a year of purposeful building to make sure our impact is multiplied, our mission stays intact, and we can really hone in on the work that matters most. This approach gives more ways for our community to come together, keep the conversations alive, and grow the movement.

To lead up to the conference, we’ve planned a full year of virtual panels covering topics across multiple areas:

Business and Entrepreneurship
Scaling Black-Owned Businesses in a Digital Age
Funding the Future: Venture Capital and Alternative Financing for Black Entrepreneurs
From Hustle to Enterprise: Building Systems That Last
Breaking into Global Markets as a Black Business Leader
E-Commerce Excellence: Selling Smarter Online

Tech and Innovation
Black Women Leading the Tech Revolution
Web3, AI and The Future of Black Innovation
Cybersecurity in Our Communities: Protecting Our Digital Spaces
Tech Careers Without Coding: Breaking Into the Industry Differently
From Idea to App: Launching Black-Owned Startups in Tech

Branding and Creativity
Authenticity Wins: Building a Brand That Resonates
The Creator Economy: Monetizing Black Creativity
Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle: The Future of Black Influence
Storytelling for Impact: Media and Representation That Shifts Culture
Podcasting, YouTube and Beyond: Building Digital Empires

Health, Wellness and Mindset
Mind Over Matter: Prioritizing Mental Health in Entrepreneurship
Breaking Generational Trauma While Building Generational Wealth
The Balance Blueprint: Thriving Without Burnout
Black Men and Mental Health: Breaking the Silence
Wellness as Wealth: Investing in Our Bodies and Minds

Community, Power and Legacy
Building Black Power Through Business and Collective Action
The Future of HBCUs in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
From Protest to Policy: Turning Advocacy into Real Change
Collaboration Over Competition: Building Ecosystems That Work
Leaving a Legacy: Estate Planning, Wealth Transfer and Community Impact

Politics and Civic Engagement
Know Your Power: Understanding the Black Vote and Why It Matters
Ballots and Barriers: Tackling Voter Suppression in Our Communities
The Local Impact: Why City and State Elections Shape Our Daily Lives
First-Time Voters: Navigating the Process from Registration to the Polls
Beyond Election Day: How Black Communities Hold Leaders Accountable

With our mix of virtual panels and in-person events in six cities, Echo by MelaninCon in 2026 give people real ways to connect, learn, and grow together. This year is all about giving back, building community, and keeping the conversation alive as we get ready to come back fully in person for MelaninCon 2027.