Halo Fest Reveals Full Schedule, HCS Invitees and Mobile App Details

Halo Fest has released a comprehensive recap of its plans for the 25th anniversary celebration in Seattle this December, including the full event schedule, details on the Halo Championship Series Invitational, and a new mobile app.

The event kicks off with a 25th anniversary concert at Benaroya Hall on December 11, featuring a setlist spanning the franchise's music.

The concert will run from 7:00 PM PT to 9:30 PM PT with a 20-minute intermission.

VIP ticketholders will have access to an exclusive lounge and will receive a page of sheet music from the concert score as a collectible.

"Be sure to trade with others to find the part of the show that resonates with you the most!" the announcement said.

Attendees can pick up their convention credentials at the concert to skip lines the following day.

The organizers addressed conversations about attire, stating, "We’ve seen some conversations of folks thinking to 'dress up' for the concert, we think this is awesome! However, for those that want to show up in more casual attire then by all means, go for it."

The main convention will be held at the Arch Building inside the Seattle Convention Center, offering over double the square footage and capacity of last year's Halo World Championship.

Games Done Quick will host a speedrunning event described as the "Super Bowl" of Halo speedrunning, with travel support provided for runners.

"This event will have its stage within Halo Fest for fans to watch one run or all of the runs," the notes said.

The event will feature two full days of speedruns on a dedicated stage.

Four special guests and several authors from Halo novels will be present for panels, interviews, and meet-and-greets.

"We will have plenty of posters and cards with art exclusively made for Halo Fest that you can use to get signatures but feel free to bring your own things you’d like signed as well!" the announcement noted.

Details on a revamped Community Stage will be revealed next week.

The HCS Invitational tournament will feature the top eight teams competing for a $150,000 prize pool.

All eight invited teams have accepted, and their identities will be revealed in a blog post early next week.

Roster lock is set for October 26.

Every match from group play through the bracket stage will be broadcast on the HCS YouTube and Twitch channels from both a main HCS stage and a smaller featured stage at the venue.

An additional $50,000 in prizing will be available for attendees across various Halo titles in open tournaments, with organizers advising, "Don’t forget to bring your controller!"

Art will be a major focus, with newly commissioned works from two dozen artists and a small group of prior professional artists.

Next week, the commissioned art will be revealed before appearing on signs, banners, and postcards at the event.

An artist alley will feature four community artists creating and selling new art, and an art gallery will also be featured.

A Halo Fest mobile app will launch in late November for Android and iOS to help attendees handle the event.

The app will include a full floor plan, a customizable schedule, and a registration system for meet-and-greet timeslots with special guests.

"Rather than waiting in line for half a day, you can just register for a timeslot and show up for the block of time when it’s your turn," the notes explained.

It will also feature a challenge system to win prizes.

Cosplay and Maker's Contest registration is now open, and the submission window for the Short Film contest closes on November 2.