Wizards funds ten underrepresented MagicCon attendees with Black Lotus VIPs, $2,000 each

Wizards of the Coast has expanded access to MagicCon by selecting ten recipients per cycle for its New Perspectives Grant Program, each receiving a Black Lotus VIP Package and a $2,000 stipend to help cover travel and accommodation. The program aims to reduce financial barriers for Magic enthusiasts from historically underrepresented groups and puts full-event access within reach for players who might otherwise sit out convention season.

The award package combines a three-day MagicCon badge with cash support. “The New Perspectives Grant Program invites applications to help attend MagicCon: Amsterdam. Ten recipients will each receive a Black Lotus VIP Package (three-day MagicCon badge) plus a $2,000 stipend to cover travel, accommodation” reads the program announcement for the Amsterdam cycle. For a prior cycle, Magic.gg lists the same essentials for MagicCon: Las Vegas: “One (1) Black Lotus VIP Package, including a three-day badge to MagicCon: Las Vegas” and “$2,000 stipend for travel, accommodations, and expenses related to MagicCon: Las Vegas attendance.”

The program includes explicit expectations and limits. Magic.gg makes clear that applicants worldwide may apply while excluding employees of Hasbro, Wizards of the Coast, their subsidiaries and immediate family: “Hasbro, Wizards of the Coast, and all subsidiary/affiliate employees, as well as their immediate family members, are not eligible for this program.” Recipients must book their own travel and handle entry requirements: “New Perspectives Grant Recipients are responsible for booking their own travel arrangements (flights, ground transportation, housing accommodations, etc.) to MagicCon: Las Vegas and are responsible for take care of any entry necessary requirements to Las Vegas and the United States.” Winners are also expected to attend the event, take part in select recommended activities, and complete a post-event survey: “New Perspectives Grant Recipients are expected to attend MagicCon: Las Vegas, participate in select recommended events, and complete a post-event survey.”

Financial and practical responsibilities land with recipients. “Wizards of the Coast is a for-profit company. Recipients are responsible for any applicable taxes and may need to claim their winnings with their local tax authority,” the program states, and grants “are not transferrable and must be used the year in which they are awarded.” Previous cycles demonstrate the program runs per-event; an October application window was listed for the Las Vegas cycle: “Application submissions will be accepted from October 27, 2025, through 8:00 a.m. PT, November 10, 2025.”

For players who have watched convention coverage from home, this is a real Black Lotus boost: VIP access plus funds to book travel makes panels, side events, and commander pod nights more achievable. If you plan to apply, verify visa requirements, tax implications, and the exact application window for the MagicCon you want to attend. The program has run for multiple cycles, and with its focus on inclusion it will likely remain a key route for underrepresented players to experience MagicCon in person.