This weekend, between September 26 and 28, L.A. Comic Con returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California for its fourteenth anniversary, and I AM HYPED!
As L.A.’s largest celebration of comics, gaming, anime, pop culture, and more, L.A. Comic Con will be bringing some of the most sought-after celebrity guests for panels, photo and autograph opportunities, and main stage Q&As. For example, the cast of the American slasher franchise Scream will be reuniting on the main stage of the South Hall on Saturday, September 27, between 2-2:50 PM. As a long-time horror fan, I am especially excited to see actors Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, David Arquette, and Jamie Kennedy together on stage! Marvel Cinematic Universe actors Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, the cast of the hit video game Baldur’s Gate 3, and the cast of the surreal, psychological comedy The Amazing Digital Circus will also be present, but click here to learn who else will be guest-starring at LACC this year.
If YOU already plan on going to L.A. Comic Con this weekend and love horror, you may also want to explore the 35,000 square feet Horror activation area and meet Mr. Floats, the Ringmaster of the CarnEvil of Souls, Keeper of the Faded, Finder of the Lost Souls, and CEO of the Mr. Floats Meat Packing Company. Horror fans and LACC attendees can also expect brand-new additions to the Concourse Hall, such as the Museum of Monsters, Jack The Ripper Encounter, and a Haunted Car Wash. Attendees can also enjoy exploring an inflatable blackout maze and face their fears in the Scare Zone Gauntlet!
Like previous years, L.A. Comic Con has promised dozens of exciting and insightful panels that delve deep into aspects of pop culture for attendees to enjoy. As a philomath, aka a massive lover of learning, I love adding a variety of panels to my annual LACC adventure! Click here for more information on the panels and other activities set for this weekend! If you’re like me and love making panels part of your annual LACC adventure, I would definitely advise uploading the official LACC app, available to download for free via the App Store, for the most up-to-date information! The app will also help you navigate the convention, build a customizable schedule, see if any panels conflict, and locate specific creators scattered throughout Artists Alley! This year, Artists Alley will host over a thousand artists and vendors set to share and sell their work. Among the key exhibitors, attendees can expect the presence of Glitch Productions and Toei Animation. Consider uploading the app to better navigate LACC and locate and support your favorite creators!
For the twelfth time, LACC attendees can anticipate the Cosplay National Championships on Saturday, September 27, starting at 6 PM. With three divisions and a cash prize of 25,000 USD, cosplayers of all genres are welcome to enter, come on stage, and show off their handmade costumes, but only one will be awarded “Best In Show!” On the other side of the spectrum, the Kid’s Costume Contest will be held on Sunday, September 28, starting at 2:30 PM. Kid attendees who are 12 years old or younger are welcome to participate, but registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, and no more than 50 applicants will be accepted, so if you are a parent attending with your young kids, and they want to get involved, register your kids by noon on Sunday!
Anime fans and LACC attendees can also anticipate a brand-new addition this year. In collaboration with the curated marketplace Otaku Collectives, LA. Comic Con will be introducing the Akiba Station, an entirely new immersive experience inspired by Tokyo’s Akihabara district, to the West Hall. As LACC’s biggest anime area and most authentic Japanese pop culture live experience, the Akiba Station will offer 40,000 square feet of immersive exhibits, themed food, interactive zones, panels, and photo opportunities with anime voice actors. Among the actors, attendees can look forward to the One Piece cast making an appearance for an on-stage Q&A. Luci Christian (English dub voice of Nami), Sonny Strait (English dub voice of Usopp), and Ian Sinclair (English dub voice of Brook) will be set to answer questions about the OP anime series and their careers as voice actors on the Gaming Stage of the West Hall on Saturday, September 27, between 12-1 PM. With Brook as my favorite member of the Straw Hat Pirates, I am especially excited to see the Soul King on stage!
Last but not least, Chris DeMoulin, the CEO/GM of Los Angeles Comic Con parent company ComiKaze Entertainment, promises that “L.A. Comic Con has always been about the fans [and] this year, we’re going bigger and broader than ever, welcoming top talent from across pop culture, leveling up our anime programming, and creating even more immersive experiences for every kind of fan. Whether you’re into comics, sci-fi, horror, or gaming, there’s no better place to celebrate your fandom than our show.” As an attendee of thirteen years, I agree with Chris and have seen this convention evolve consistently over the years. As a “nerd,” I was never popular and often considered very socially awkward, but when I attended this convention for the first time way back when as a teenager, I never felt more excited to be surrounded by people who shared my interests in anime, cartoons, and comics. And as a very proud “adult who simply refuses to grow up,” I greatly look forward to attending L.A. Comic Con this year and many more years to come!
If YOU want to attend, after reading this, click here to purchase your ticket(s) for L.A. Comic Con 2025 coming up this weekend, and tell us in the comments what you are looking forward to most!
