New York Comic Con is the East Coast's largest pop culture convention, covering comics, film, TV, anime, gaming, and cosplay at the Javits Center. The 2026 edition marks the event's 20th anniversary, celebrated with a Coney Island-inspired theme and a record-stacked guest and panel lineup.
Show floor daily 10am–7pm; Panels: Thu 10am–10pm, Fri–Sat 11am–11pm, Sun 10am–5pm
34th Street–Hudson Yards (7 train)
New York Comic Con is the East Coast’s largest pop culture convention, a four-day sprawl of comics, film, TV, anime, gaming and cosplay that takes over the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center every fall. The 2026 edition runs Thursday, October 8 through Sunday, October 11, and it is a big one: the show’s 20th anniversary, dressed up in a Coney Island-inspired theme. Badges are officially sold out, so if you are holding one, this guide is for you.
What is New York Comic Con?
The first New York Comic Con took place in February 2006, and two decades later it has grown into the largest pop culture convention on the East Coast. Run by ReedPop, it fills the Javits Center on the far West Side of Manhattan with a show floor of publishers, studios, toy makers and artists, plus a panel schedule that runs from morning into the night.
What sets NYCC apart from the other big cons is the city around it. Guests fly in for a weekend in New York, the crowd skews local and loud, and the cosplay has a distinctly five-borough energy. Over the years the show has become a launchpad for trailers, cast reunions and comic announcements that ripple through the rest of the industry.
That is why the 20th anniversary matters. The official site frames 2026 as a celebration of two decades since that inaugural 2006 event, and the Coney Island theme is a nod to the city’s own amusement history. Expect the branding, the show floor and the programming to lean into it.
What’s on this year
The headline draw is the guest list, which the organizers describe as record-stacked. Announced film and TV guests include Hayden Christensen and Ian McDiarmid from Star Wars, Nicolas Cage, Matt Smith, Lena Headey, Jamie Campbell Bower, Tyler Hoechlin, Bitsie Tulloch, Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich. A Smallville reunion brings Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Erica Durance and Michael Rosenbaum together, which should be a hot ticket for anyone who grew up on the WB.
Comics fans get a heavy lineup too. Frank Miller, Jim Lee, Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV and Tom King are all scheduled, and authors Rick Riordan and R.L. Stine round out the literary side. The full and current guest roster lives on the official site, and it is worth checking again before you go since names get added and occasionally dropped.
On the panel front, one confirmed highlight is an Arrowverse reunion. Screen Rant and Pop-Culturalist reported that Grant Gustin, Melissa Benoist, Carlos Valdes, Danielle Panabaker and John Wesley Shipp will share the Empire Stage on Thursday at 2:30 PM. If you have a Thursday badge, plan your day around it and get in line early.
There is also a change to how professional programming works. Variety reported that ReedPop has introduced a new Aspiring Professional Program for 2026, opening select professional panels to fans holding single-day or 4-day badges on Saturday and Sunday. If you have ever wanted to sit in on the industry-side sessions about breaking into comics or working in the business, this is the year to try.
Show floor hours are 10am to 7pm every day. Panels run later: Thursday 10am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm, and Sunday 10am to 5pm. Full panel and signing schedules beyond what is listed here have not been detailed in the announcements we are working from, so treat the official schedule as your source of truth.
Tickets and how to go
Here is the short version: the official NYCC website says tickets are sold out. Friday, Saturday, 4-Day, VIP and Sunday kids badges are all gone. As of early October, only Thursday and Sunday adult single-day badges were still showing on the official site, and inventory can change quickly. Check the official site before you make any plans.
For reference, single-day badges were priced at $103.98 for Thursday, $109.42 for Friday, $114.86 for Saturday and $109.42 for Sunday. The 4-Day badge was $359.28 and VIP was $990.75. Kids badges were $38.65 for Thursday and $54.98 for Sunday. If someone is offering you a badge at a steep markup, be careful. Buy only through the official site.
Getting there is easy if you take the subway. The Javits Center sits at 429 11th Avenue between 34th and 40th Streets, and the closest stop is 34th Street-Hudson Yards on the 7 train. From there it is a short walk west. Driving into Midtown on a con weekend is a bad idea, and parking near the Javits is both scarce and expensive.
A few practical tips from people who have done this more than once. Arrive before the show floor opens at 10am if you want a shot at exclusives or a decent spot in a panel line. Bring a refillable water bottle and snacks, because food inside is pricey and the lines are long. Wear shoes you can stand in for ten hours. If you are cosplaying, check the official site’s prop rules before you build anything with a blade or a long staff.
Thursday is traditionally the lightest day on the floor, and it happens to be the day the Arrowverse reunion lands. If you still manage to find a Thursday badge, that is not a bad consolation prize.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dates for New York Comic Con 2026?
New York Comic Con 2026 runs Thursday, October 8 through Sunday, October 11, 2026, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 429 11th Avenue, New York, NY 10001.
Is New York Comic Con 2026 sold out?
Mostly, yes. Friday, Saturday, 4-Day, VIP and Sunday kids badges are all sold out. As of early October, only Thursday ($103.98) and Sunday ($109.42) adult single-day badges remained available through the official site. Inventory can change quickly, so check the official site for the latest.
What date is Comic Con 2026?
New York Comic Con 2026 takes place October 8 to 11, 2026, Thursday through Sunday, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.
Who is coming to New York Comic Con 2026?
Announced film and TV guests include Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Nicolas Cage, Matt Smith, Lena Headey, Jamie Campbell Bower, Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Erica Durance, Michael Rosenbaum, Tyler Hoechlin, Bitsie Tulloch, Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich, among many others. Comic creators include Frank Miller, Jim Lee, Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV and Tom King. Authors Rick Riordan and R.L. Stine are also scheduled to appear. Check the official site for the full and most current guest list.
Who will be at New York Comic Con 2026?
Highlights include Star Wars stars Hayden Christensen and Ian McDiarmid, Nicolas Cage, a Smallville reunion with Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Erica Durance and Michael Rosenbaum, plus comic legends Frank Miller and Jim Lee. Authors Rick Riordan and R.L. Stine are also on the guest list. The full roster is on the official NYCC site.
What day is Comic Con in NYC?
New York Comic Con 2026 spans four days: Thursday, October 8 through Sunday, October 11, 2026, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.
