L.A. Comic Con Celebrates Its 15th Anniversary This Halloween!

Launched in 2011 as the city of Los Angeles’ first multi-media pop culture convention, L.A. Comic Con will celebrate its 15th anniversary this year. Created to celebrate and showcase local Los Angeles talent, event producer and entrepreneur Regina Carpinelli and her co-founders wanted an inclusive pop culture hub “by fans, for fans.” Honoring that, LACC persists as a convention crafted “by fans, for fans” 15 years later.

From its humble beginnings in the Los Angeles Convention Center’s basement, L.A. Comic Con now takes over nearly the entire convention center to accommodate over 130,000 attendees. With support from comic book legend Stan Lee, an active partner and headliner until his passing in November 2018, L.A. Comic Con has grown exceptionally, drawing in first-time attendees and enticing returning attendees each year. This year, L.A. Comic Con will return to the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California from Friday, October 30, to Sunday, November 1, 2026, Halloween weekend. Weekend and One-Day Passes for this year’s show are currently on sale and going fast! Let me, a longtime returning LACC attendee, tell YOU what to expect at this year’s show and why you should buy your ticket now before it’s sold out!

Looking to shop and support local and out-of-state talent? More than 1,000 independent artists, creators, vendors, and exhibitors will be gathered to showcase their work and sell their wares. Attendees can browse and purchase handmade creations and fan-made merch from independent artists in Artist Alley, and encounter multitalented creative minds, avid cosplayers, and accomplished industry professionals throughout the convention center. Ready your wallets and show your appreciation for the arts!

Excited to meet and greet celebrities? LACC has announced its full 2026 talent lineup, and fans will be incredibly excited to learn who will be appearing in Los Angeles. American actor and Hollywood icon Nicolas Cage, best known for his lead roles in Ghost Rider, National Treasure, and Spider-Noir, will be a major headliner and appear on the Main Stage for a special panel spotlighting Spider-Noir and his extensive career. American actor and screenwriter Bob Odenkirk, best known for his roles in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, will make his first-ever convention appearance, and American actor Christopher Lloyd, best known for his role as Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown in Back to the Future, will be returning to LACC as a special guest. Actresses Arden Cho, May Hong, and Ji-young Yoo, the voices behind the Huntrix trio of pop culture phenomenon Kpop Demon Hunters, will unite for a cast panel on the Main Stage. Attendees can also anticipate the cast of Breaking Bad, Outlander, Star Wars: Ahsoka, and Futurama as Main Stage panelists. Photo ops and autographs with select special guests are available for pre-purchase, so consider scoring a meet-and-greet with your favorite big screen icons!

Eager for some Halloween and horror-themed fun? As of 2019, L.A. Comic Con has added a Horror Hall, brimming with horror vendors, live performers, and scare actors ready to test your nerves. Based on previous shows, 2026 attendees can expect Horror Hall to be packed with epic scare attractions, eerie photo-ops, and cosplayers dressed as sinister clowns and slashers. What a way to spend Halloween weekend!

Got a knack for games? LACC’s Gaming Hall will offer a free-play area, a TCG area, and a chance to compete in gaming tournaments and demo upcoming and in-development indie games. Seasoned and first-time players are all welcome to flex their skills, socialize, and compete! Game on, Comic Con!

Got an interest in anime? Last year, Akiba Station debuted as L.A. Comic Con’s immersive anime and Japanese pop culture destination. This year, Akiba Station will expand to 50,000 square feet, making room for more memorable fan experiences. Attendees can expect interactive activations, photo-ops, cosplay meet-ups, a stamp scavenger hunt, and an exciting lineup of voice actors from Dragon Ball, Black Clover, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and other beloved anime. For example, American voice actress Sarah Natochenny, best known for voicing Ash Ketchum in the English dub of Pokémon, and German-born American voice actor and sketch comedian Damien Haas, best known for voicing Laios Touden in the English dub of Delicious in Dungeon, will be present for all three days of LACC. The veteran voice actors behind the popular American web series Critical Role will also be present for Halloween weekend. Meet the voices behind your all-time favorite animated characters!

Considering bringing your kids to Comic Con? Family-friendly fan conventions like L.A. Comic Con are a great way for parents to introduce their kids to fandom favorites and encourage them to explore their own interests in nerdy pop culture. With plenty of all-ages attractions and diverse programming, LACC is full of family-friendly fun, and this year, kids 12 and under get FREE admission with an adult ticket. On Saturday, October 31, fandom-loving parents can also treat their kids to early indoor trick-or-treating to kick off Halloween. Starting at 12 PM PST, participating exhibitor booths throughout the convention center will distribute free candy to young costumed attendees while supplies last. On Sunday,November 1, attendees 12 and under can show off their Halloween costumes and creativity on the Main Stage during the Kids Costume Contest. The contest starts at 1 PM PST, but registration begins at 10 AM PST and will be first-come, first-served. Show the next generation how fun it is to geek out!

As of now, the 2026 LACC Programming has not yet been made public, so I advise readers to stay tuned to the official L.A. Comic Con website and social media platforms for further announcements. In the meantime, I highly recommend downloading the official Los Angeles Comic Con app. Closer to showtime, the app will provide access to the 2026 programming schedule, floor map, and more. This’ll be an incredibly helpful tool when navigating the convention center and finding exhibitors and talent. To learn more about the convention itself, dive deeper into its history, and get advice directly from the source, stay tuned to The Game of Nerds for my interview with the L.A. Comic Con CEO!

Fans can still purchase L.A. Comic Con Weekend and One-Day Passes, and kids 12 and under can attend FREE accompanied by a badge-holding adult. Weekend Passes are recommended for attendees who want to explore the convention center and experience all three days of Comic Con. But One-Day Passes can suffice for fans who feel one day can be well spent with the right planning. There is no wrong way to enjoy Comic Con, so get your ticket and get hyped! Comic Con is coming back to Los Angeles!