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Las Vegas is no stranger to spectacle.
Known for its neon lights and a certain unapologetic swagger, the city felt like a natural extension of ComplexCon – a cultural zeitgeist that has become synonymous with streetwear, hip-hop, food and cutting-edge art.
Making its Vegas debut last weekend, November 16 and 17, ComplexCon didn’t just land in the desert – it owned it. From the moment you step into the Las Vegas Convention Center, it’s clear that this isn’t just another trade show. It’s a celebration, a bender, and a meeting of minds together.
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Newsweek must attend the celebration, and the sprawling venue is a maze of exclusive drops, immersive brand experiences, and panels featuring some of the most influential voices in culture. Think of it as a utopia for the obsessed style.
This year, Travis Scott and his visionary collective, Cactus Jack, are upping their game with the launch of CactusCon – an innovative and immersive experience that defines creativity, collaboration, and cultural engagement. As Creative Director and headliner of ComplexCon 2024, Scott introduced more than 35 exclusive collaborations and installations, working with some of the world’s most creative designers, artists, and brands.
At its core, ComplexCon has always been about fashion, and the Las Vegas edition takes it to another level. It featured booths from must-have brands like Nike — with 3d-printed Air Max 1000s available by winning a slot machine on the premises. Other favorites like Ohana Hatake, Feature, Saucony, sit next to smaller labels like Pizzaslime. The NLE Choppa x FCTRY Lab Duckboot collab is headlining, along with the Ed Hardy x Ken Carson collab.
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The crowd is a mix of hypebeasts, fashion insiders, and curious creatives, all looking for the next thing to do. Long lines and high energy are not only desirable; it’s part of the experience. Celebrities and music heavyweights were seen around the festival, in addition to Scott, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Playboi Carti, Machine Gun Kelly, Offset, 2 Chainz, Lil Yachty, Metro Boomin, Gunna, Xzibit, Sheck Wes, Cody Rhodes , FUTURA, Big Sean, Angel Reese, Big Boy, and FaZe Banks make appearances, among others.
But the real heart of ComplexCon is discovery. Strolling through the aisles, attendees stumbled upon custom designers from around the world — the kind of labels you’ll be rooting for in six months when the pieces start popping up on your Instagram feed.
Music isn’t just an accessory at ComplexCon; it is the soul. The Vegas lineup pulls no punches, with performances from Scott, Don Toliver, Metro Boomin and Playboi Carti, each bringing their own flavor to the event. Scott’s set was, as expected, pure adrenaline, proving his influence unmatched.
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ComplexCon’s dedication to culinary culture shines through with Family Style, an outdoor food festival that highlights some of today’s most popular restaurant brands. Newsweek can savor mouthwatering bites from Trill Burgers (the line does not seem to stop all day), Big B Texas BBQ, Sorry Or Sorry Creamery, and Camel Coffee adds a delicious finish to the day.
The collaboration does not stop in the fashion aspect, it also goes to culinary. Vegas favorite Lotus of Siam collaborates with Billionaire Boys Club, while Howlin’ rays combine with Hellstar with some fire chicken and fashion.
ComplexCon’s Las Vegas debut isn’t just a western move; that’s a bold statement. The city’s ethos of reinvention and larger-than-life ambition aligns with the event’s mission to advance culture. Las Vegas, the place where dreams are made and broken in the same night, felt like an ideal home for an event that thrives on risk and creativity.
If ComplexCon Las Vegas proved anything, it’s that the intersection of culture, fashion, and music isn’t a trend — it’s the future. And the winter looks very, very bright.
