Complexcon 2025:
The Culture Comes Alive
ComplexCon returned to Las Vegas on October 25 and 26, turning the Las Vegas Convention Center into a two-day collision of fashion, music, art, sneakers, and the personalities shaping culture in real time. From exclusive drops and immersive installations to packed panels and performances from Clipse, Peso Pluma, Yeat, Central Cee, Ken Carson, and Young Thug, the weekend felt like a living snapshot of culture in motion.
From the moment doors opened Saturday, the energy was unmistakeable. Lines wrapped around the convention center as thousands of attendees arrived in their sharpest streetwear. Rhinestone pants, statement sunglasses, Labubus, limited-edition sneakers, and grail-level Jordans turned the entrance into its own fashion show. ComplexCon’s crowd came to shop and to be seen.
That energy extended into the convention floor, where artist Daniel Arsham’s creative direction gave the entire weekend a surreal, post-futuristic identity. Fractured walls opened into a reflective pool, massive inflatable sculptures towered over the crowd, and a weathered, patina-blue “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign greeted attendees at the entrance. Arsham’s own “Carsham” booth took the form of a conceptual gas station, completed with Porsches and collaborations with Hidden NY and Malbon.
Of course, the drops remained the major draw. Day 1 saw highly anticipated releases including the Hellstar x Adidas Superstar, Year’s Nike Air Max Goadome, and the return of the Ice Cream Boardflip, limited to just 500 pairs. Collaborations from Peso Pluma and Umbro, MAXXX and Timberland, and Sukii Baby and Crooked Mouth brought even more attention to the floor.
Celebrity appearances kept phones raised throughout the weekend. Peso Pluma stopped by RIF LA to film a sneaker-shopping segment with Joe La Puma, while Lil Yatchy surprised a fan at the SNKRS booth with a pair of Forces. Central Cee’s Syna World activation, designed as an airport security checkpoint and luxury lounge, became one of the weekend’s standout installations. Chino Pacas, Keith Lee, Waka Flocka, Quavo, and others were also spotted throughout the convention.
By Sunday, the crowd came back with a plan. Lines grew longer as attendees chased the final drops and experiences, while activations continued to evolve. Mitchell & Ness hosted a jersey customization station, Joe Freshgoods and Patta Neighborhood brought a full barbershop experience to the floor, and Salehe Bembury’s Spunge booth drew crowds for a new sneaker color way. Zellerfeld even brought actual baby goats to the convention floor, proving that at ComplexCon, the unexpected is part of the experience.
Arsham returned Sunday for a signing of his latest Hot Wheels collaboration, while additional releases from Vans, Hidden NY and ASICS, MRBAILEY and Adidas, and Bored Ape Yacht Club kept sneakerheads and collectors moving.
The weekend’s programming extended beyond the booths, with panels that brought together figures from different corners of culture. One of the most talked-about conversations featured WWE legend Rey Mysterio and Quavo for a “Goat Talk” session, while Cole Bennett joined Noah Callahan-Bever for an Idea Generation conversation about creativity and building modern media empires.
But if the convention floor was where culture connected, the stage was where it exploded.
The first night opened with Clips, as Pusha T and Malice reunited onstage to a roaring crowd. Their set balanced classic cuts with new material, connecting longtime fans with a younger generation discovering their music in real time.
Peso Pluma followed with a full-band performance that became a celebration of Mexican pride and global influence. Hits including “AMG” and “Lady Gaga” ignited the crowd before he brought out Neton Vega and El Alemán, blending regional Mexican, trap, and reggaeton into one of the weekend’s biggest moments.
Yeat & Friends closed the first night with a festival-sized performance of its own. Joined throughout the set by Che, Xaviersobased, Sheck Wes, Quavo, BNYX, Sexyy Red, Lil Yatchy, and Don Toliver, Yeat delivered a chaotic finale from a towering platform above the crowd.
Sunday brought another wave of energy. 2Hollis performed his viral hit “Jeans” twice at the crowd’s demand and even jumped into the pit while livestreaming. Central Cee followed with pyro-heavy production, while Ken Carson turned the floor into a sea of most pits.
Young Thug ultimately closed out the weekend as a headliner, bringing out Quavo and Ty Dolla $ign for their respective collaborations and commanding the stage through a mix of fan favorites and deeper cuts.
Across two days, ComplexCon proved that there is no single definition of modern culture. Fashion, sneakers, art, music, sports, internet culture, and community all existed under one roof, often overlapping in unexpected ways.
By the time the lights went down Sunday night, ComplexCon had become more than a convention. It was a snapshot of the people, ideas, and creativity shaping what comes next.
Words by Ana Oquendo
Photographed by Ana Oquendo & Steven Esperanza