ComiCon Erie 2026: A Flagship Fan's Guide
Celebrating nine years at the Bayfront Convention Center
BEGINNING FRIDAY SEPT. 18
ComiCon Erie returns to the Bayfront Convention Center in September, marking its ninth year as the Flagship City's celebration of fandom and pop culture. From John Totleben's iconic inking on Stephen Bissette and Alan Moore's The Saga of the Swamp Thing to the contemporary work of local artists – comic book art has a rich history in Erie. In the same way Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster looked to their Cleveland roots on the shores of Lake Erie to help shape their vision of Superman's Metropolis – con attendees can look up, up, and away to Presque Isle bay and ComiCon Erie for inspiration.
"I feel like we have really taken the last few years to make this its own standalone con," Ali DeSanti, tradeshow manager for Erie Events, described. "Our con is a good size for Erie. We're not as large as San Diego Comic Con or SteelCon, but we still offer a great atmosphere for people to enjoy."
This year's scheduled slate of celebrity guests will be available for both autographs and photo ops. Guests are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes ahead of their scheduled time, as ComiCon Erie's official Celebrity Photo Op Group will take the photo with a professional studio backdrop and print it on-site.
DeSanti discussed the excitement for new celebrity guests while also balancing expectations. "Going from where we started year one to this year, we're just growing slowly. It's a budgetary challenge to bring in bigger and bigger guests, but sometimes we take chances."
Creature actor Doug Jones serves as this year's headliner, who is well known for his numerous collaborations with Oscar-winning director Guillermo Del Toro. "You may not notice him if he's just in his regular face. But he's the man behind the mask, and I know that there are a lot of people who are excited to see him. I think he's one of our bigger guests that we've had over all of our years." Jones is also known for his roles in Hellboy, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, What We Do in the Shadows, and Star Trek: Discovery.
Additional celebrity appearances include Olivia Olson, voice actor and singer-songwriter, known for her roles as Vanessa Doofenshmirtz in Phineas and Ferb and Marceline the Vampire Queen in Adventure Time. Additionally, expect appearances from Sean CW Johnson, Misty Rosas, Chester Rushing, Selwyn Ward, Rena Owen, Michelan Sisti, and Dave Sheridan.
It wouldn't be ComiCon without cosplay and Erie's cosplay contest is divided into two competitions. The adult competition for ages 16+ runs on Saturday, Sept. 19 and the kids competition for ages 3-15 runs on Sunday, Sept. 20. Judging for the two competitions is based on presentation, craftsmanship, originality, and creativity. The cosplay guests for this year include Monster Lab Cosplay, Western New York (WNY) Guardians, Icons Unlimited, Maiacat Cosplay, the 501st Legion, The Dwight Knight, Erie Ghostbusters, and Big League Pro.
Additionally expect local artists, vendors, and authors across a variety of genres and artistic styles to be selling their work within the convention center. Eerie Horror Fest, Whitethorn Games, Anderson Toys, Andora's Bubble Tea Shop, Flagship City Games, Erie Distillery, Gold Star Anime, and IronStone Meadery will all have booths. The complete list of artists and authors, along with the convention floor plan, can be found on the ComiCon Erie website.
This year also marks a bittersweet experience for many artists and attendees, as it is the first ComiCon Erie without community mainstay Books Galore, a local comic and used book store that recently closed after 43 years. "We were definitely sad to see them go," DeSanti said. Free-to-play arcade cabinets and consoles from Next Level Gaming, along with tabletop gaming sessions from In The Zone Gaming, are also featured attractions. Brick Erie returns this year in collaboration with the con as the go-to attraction for Erie-based Lego fans of all ages, bringing regional fans together to share their creativity and practical knowledge. Hundreds of one-of-a-kind builds will be on display, showcasing the work of Lego User Groups from across the country, including Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Families can expect educational and fun activities, including a play area, scavenger hunt, building bracelets, and stepping onto pieces in a "brick walk."
Friday from 2 to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. // Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier // $20 Friday or Sunday, $25 Saturday, $50 Geekender pass, $85 VIP pass // For tickets and info: eriepromotions.com
