As one of the most-attended fandom conventions in the country, MEGACON Orlando delivered four days of celebrity panels, cosplays, and more — it truly had it all.

Walking through the MEGACON Orlando convention halls, it’s more unusual to see someone in jeans than to see them in costume.

At MEGACON, panels are the main draw for many attendees as they get to hear from and often ask questions to the actors and creators behind their favorite fandoms. 

MEGACON Orlando took over all three floors of the Orange County Convention Center, transforming the space.

Announced on day three of MEGACON Orlando 2026 by Universal Orlando Resort, Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) 35 is Infernal Carnival of Nightmares (ICON), featuring the return of Jack “The Clown” Schmidt and Dr. Oddfellow. 

MEGACON Orlando is back, and the annual convention opens its doors on March 19, 2026. The convention promises to be larger than in previous years, and that’s not exclusive to MEGACON.

Mardi Gras returns to the Universal Orlando Resort, and The Minaret was invited to cover it!

Sinners set an Oscars record with the most nominations in history, with the results to be decided March 15, 2026, at the 98th Academy Awards on ABC, hosted by Conan O’Brien.

In Jenkins Hall, Kaylee ​​Priest, a freshman business information technology major at The University of Tampa, is painting her third set of nails in three days. 

For nearly a century, the Tampa Theatre has been Tampa’s own movie palace.

The Minaret was able to interview hosts of Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, James and Oliver Phelps, as well as one of the show’s competitors, to discuss the second season.

The Minaret was given behind-the-scenes insights by the stars of the film on the process of making it. 

Jimmy Kimmel Live was suspended by ABC on Sept. 17, 2025, and was reinstated a few days later. This caused an uproar over whether it was a violation of the First Amendment. How did we get here?

Jess Wombles ‘28 competed on American Ninja Warrior seasons 14, 16 and 17, as well as American Ninja Warrior Junior Season 3. She’s become a three-time veteran of the show, now known as the ‘Sky Ninja.’

This summer, through UTampa’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, Gabriella Buice ’26 is researching with her mentor, Kalpana Makhijani, on two genes in fruit flies that may be connected to Alzheimer’s.

Have you ever wondered what it would take to live to be 100 years old?

This summer, Michael Flynn, sport management internship coordinator, road-tripped nearly 18 hours across New England to visit students on the job. 

The Spartan Alliance Program, introduced in 2023, promised to be more than a full-ride scholarship for select Tampa high school graduates.

When Gerardo Rosa ’25 and Celindalis Batista ’25 were selected for the Army’s Green to Gold program, they came to the University of Tampa’s ROTC program with one goal in mind: furthering their education. In the end, they left with both a degree and a spouse.

As museums and galleries continue to showcase the works of diverse artists, the growing scrutiny of their personal beliefs raises the question: Can we truly separate an artist’s work from their ideology?

Ever since she was a little girl, Faith Dodge had dreamed of performing at Walt Disney World, and last Christmas, that dream became a reality.

Black and Hispanic students in Pasco County face higher rates of disciplinary action than their white peers, resulting in long-term consequences for their academic success and future opportunities.

A car caught fire inside the Rick Thomas Parking Garage around 8 p.m. on Wednesday night, causing students to evacuate the structure and drawing a swift response from local authorities.

At schools like UTampa, young people are moving beyond just talking about politics; they’re getting actively involved.

As a SAG-AFTRA actress and University of Tampa student, Alyssa Soleil Rivera is making her dreams a reality.

Remote internships provide flexibility but lack in-person learning opportunities.

The Skyway exhibit opened on May 25, 2024, and features diverse artists from all over the Tampa Bay area. The exhibition is meant to commemorate the diversity of artist’s practices.

A veteran of attending Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, Alyssa Cortes details her experience of attending the 2024 editions.

A Very Potter Musical is an “unofficial, fan-made, parody show” of the Harry Potter series and was sponsored by Alpha Psi Omega (APO) and put on in a short span of 17 days.

Is the rise of reboots, sequels, and nostalgia-driven content a good thing for the entertainment landscape?

The Straz Center located just across the Hillsborough River from the University of Tampa campus offers an easy outlet for Tampa Bay to see broadway shows.

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” has seen two previous adaptations, with the recent Netflix series marking the second attempt to translate the beloved animated series into live-action.

Percy Jackson’s journey to the screen has seen two prior adaptations, making the recent Disney Plus series the third attempt to bring the beloved book series to life.

In the unpredictable landscape of social media, Gypsy Rose Blanchard is a stark example of how social media can catapult someone into overnight celebrity status, only to see that attention fade away just as quickly.

The top-selling book of 2023, Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare,” is not actually written by the author whose name is credited on the cover; instead, it is penned by ghostwriter J. R. Moehringer.

Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) has kicked off its 2023 season, marking 32 years of frightful fun.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) reached a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) after 148 days on strike, posting on X, “And we won. #WGAStrong.” 

On July 14, 2023, the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) initiated a strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) companies. This move came after contract renegotiations failed, as the union fought for the protection and interests of its members. 

“Crochet gave me a space to create art that reflected how I wanted to express myself,” Picarelli expressed.

Political leaders undermine American education when they institute book bans.

The significance of “Wakanda Forever”.