Tennessee is known for a lot of things, but it’s quietly building a reputation as a haunt and horror convention destination — and ShudderCon is the event doing most of the work. Returning to Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge on April 25–26, 2026, ShudderCon is the South’s premier gathering for horror lovers, haunt industry professionals, scare actors, and Halloween obsessives who’d rather be at a horror convention than anywhere else on a weekend in late April.

What Is ShudderCon?

ShudderCon rose from the horror track of Con Nooga, a broader multi-genre fan convention that had long been a fixture in the Chattanooga area. As the horror programming grew — in attendance, in vendor floor size, in programming depth — it made sense to let it stand alone. ShudderCon launched as an independent event and has steadily grown into a standalone destination for the haunt and horror community across the Southeast and beyond.

The event occupies Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge, Tennessee — directly adjacent to Chattanooga — putting it within reasonable driving distance of major population centers across Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina. For anyone based in the Southeast who has been looking for a horror convention that understands the haunt industry specifically (not just horror film fandom), ShudderCon is the event built for that audience.

ShudderCon 2026: Event Details

ShudderCon 2026 runs Saturday, April 25 from 10 AM to 7 PM and Sunday, April 26 from 10 AM to 4 PM at Camp Jordan Arena, 321 Campbell St, East Ridge, TN 37412. The venue is approximately five minutes from downtown Chattanooga and easily accessible from I-75 and I-24.

Tickets: Genuinely Accessible Pricing

One of ShudderCon’s most consistent strengths is its ticket pricing. A two-day pass runs $25 — a figure that makes it easy to bring the whole horror crew without the financial anxiety that accompanies major convention attendance. Single-day passes are $15 for those who can only make one of the two days. The VIP tier at $75 includes admission for both days, a ShudderCon T-shirt, and exclusive merchandise — a reasonable premium for convention regulars who collect convention apparel or want the full experience.

At $25 for a full weekend of panels, vendors, and haunt community networking, ShudderCon is priced closer to a regional horror film fest than to the large national conventions that can run $80 to $200+ for general admission.

What to Expect: Panels, Vendors, and Haunt Programming

ShudderCon’s programming covers the full spectrum of horror and haunt culture. Attendees can expect:

• Panels and seminars covering horror film, haunted attraction design, scare acting techniques, makeup and prosthetics, and haunt industry business topics
• A vendor floor with haunt industry exhibitors, prop makers, costume suppliers, Halloween merchandise vendors, and horror film/media sellers
• Contests — ShudderCon has historically run costume and design competitions that draw serious entries from the haunt and cosplay communities
• Celebrity and industry guests — the Southeast horror convention circuit attracts both genre film talent and haunt industry names

The convention’s core identity sits at the intersection of horror entertainment fandom and working haunt industry. That’s a different crowd than a pure film convention or a pure trade show — and the mix produces programming and networking that neither type of event delivers on its own.

Why ShudderCon Matters for the Haunt Community

The haunted attraction industry has a handful of regional conventions that matter beyond their local markets, and ShudderCon has been steadily building that case for the Southeast. The event draws haunt operators, prop vendors, makeup artists, and scare actors from across the region — making it a genuine networking event for anyone involved in the regional haunt business.

It also serves as an early-season calibration point. By April, the industry’s pulse for what the 2026 haunt season will look like is already audible — prop trends emerging from TransWorld are filtering into regional conversations, new talent is looking for opportunities, and operators are finalizing their 2026 builds. ShudderCon happens at exactly the right moment to catch that conversation in person.

For enthusiasts who visit haunted houses every October and want a deeper understanding of how those experiences are built, ShudderCon is a genuinely educational weekend. The vendors, panels, and casual conversations with industry professionals provide context that no amount of YouTube watching fully replaces.

Planning Your Visit: Getting There and What to Bring

Camp Jordan Arena sits in East Ridge — a city that effectively functions as Chattanooga’s eastern suburb. The venue is easily accessible from I-75 (Exit 1) and offers ample parking. Chattanooga has a solid range of hotel options across price points, and the Lookout Mountain and Tennessee Aquarium areas make the city worth a longer trip if you’re driving from out of state.

A few practical notes for ShudderCon first-timers:

• Arrive early on Saturday — the vendor floor sees the heaviest traffic in the first few hours, and popular vendor tables sell through quickly
• VIP tickets are worth considering if you’re serious about the convention — the exclusive merch and prioritized entry make a real difference in crowd management
• Check the official ShudderCon site at shuddercon.com for the final panel schedule, which typically drops a week or two before the event
• The haunt industry vendor floor is worth dedicated time — this is where you discover brands and prop makers you won’t find at general Halloween retailers

For anyone building a haunt calendar around the 2026 season, professional haunted houses in the Southeast will be represented in various forms across ShudderCon’s vendor floor and programming — a useful preview of what’s coming this fall.

ShudderCon is one of the most accessible horror and haunt conventions on the 2026 calendar — and at $25 for a weekend pass, there’s no real excuse not to go if you’re within driving distance of Chattanooga. Check shuddercon.com for the full schedule, and browse our haunted house directory to plan the rest of your 2026 haunt season around the Volunteer State’s best fall experiences.