New York Comic Con turned 20 in the biggest way possible! From October 8-11, 2026, the Javits Center in New York City became the nexus point of all things comics & pop culture with four days chock-full of special guests, larger-than-life brand activations, exciting programming, and endless amounts of art & collectibles. Not to mention 600+ creators and 600+ exhibitors to discover and shop… it was a momentous weekend for fans of every fandom!
This year’s guest lineup included celebrities like Nicolas Cage, Idina Menzel, and Ian McDiarmid, plus surprise appearances by William Shatner and Rob Gronkowski. KPop Demon Hunters’ Arden Cho also appeared at KAYOU’s 1 year anniversary celebration (below). On the comic book side, fans could meet superstars Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, Frank Miller, Peach Momoko, Stephanie Phillips, Nick Dragotta, and more. Plus in-booth appearances throughout the convention that might not have been officially scheduled with NYCC, so you never know who you’ll meet while exploring!
From autographs & photo ops to panels & livestream stages, there is a plethora of ways to see your favorite movie stars, comic book creators, and television voice actors. How about a mini Arrowverse reunion featuring some of the cast of The Flash (below): Grant Gustin, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, and John Wesley Shipp, with Supergirl’s Melissa Benoist joining later in the weekend? Be a part of the conversation with Q&As and meet fellow fans of your favorite franchises. From Gundam to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and everything in between, NYCC never fails to provide outlets for all kinds of fans.
And there’s no fan service quite like walking the New York Comic Con Show Floor. There are, of course, plenty of reputable comic book sellers, but if you’re looking for niche and interesting collectibles, you won’t believe what you’ll find here. The hobby has become so much more than just comics, or even a single hobby. We’re talking about 3D-printed Dungeon Crawler Carl Donuts, custom apparel, comic book characters engraved on precious metals, exclusive trading cards, and so many convention exclusives that even the official NYCC app can’t keep track of them all!
Among the standouts were Whatnot‘s Spawn x Diablo Immortal crossover comics with Todd McFarlane (above), Magic: The Gathering Star Trek promo cards, PSA’s Chainsaw Man metal card blind bags, VeeFriends’ Annual Jump, DC’s MAD Magazine #1 facsimile, Bandai’s new Naruto Card Game reveals, and so much more, including this year’s activations: the return of the Topps Mint Experience, a close-up look at Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, Peacock’s Crystal Lake experience, a personalized Yu-Gi-Oh! Token with Konami, Walmart’s daily signings & giveaways, a giant One Piece photo op, and an epic 10/10 giveaway with CGC x JSA (below) who was on the Show Floor and in Artist Alley accepting grading submissions and offering Signature Series witnessing.
Meanwhile in Artist Alley, hundreds of industry names as well as up & coming artists were sketching, signing, and selling art prints & other works. Meet creators who rarely make appearances like Pepe Larraz & Stan Sakai, and pick up exclusives you can only find at NYCC to get signed, like Creees Lee’s Terminal #1 cover from Unknown Comic Books (below). And because Artist Alley stays open one hour later than the Show Floor, you’ll have even more time to explore and walk away with some one-of-a-kind art!
And as if all that weren’t enough already, New York Comic Con 2026 also saw the return of the most off-site pop-ups we’ve seen in years. An interactive Blade Runner activation, a temporary Chiikawa shop, a Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping experience featuring a surprise appearance by the cast, and Marvel’s VisionQuest Collection… just to name a few! These pop-ups don’t even require a badge for entry, making them great options for those who couldn’t get tickets to the completely sold-out NYCC!
Every year at New York Comic Con feels like the first time all over again, so you won’t want to miss out on the excitement for 2027! The dates have already been announced: October 7-10, 2027 and it’s never too early to start planning!
