Jump To: Event Schedule & Location | What To Expect | Celebrity Guests | Highlights | Plan Your Visit
There’s a moment each year when downtown Houston becomes a whole other universe where superheroes walk the streets, fandoms collide, and creativity takes center stage. That moment is Comicpalooza 2026, a massive, multi-fandom celebration that transforms Houston into a full-blown pop culture playground.
As the largest event of its kind in Texas, Comicpalooza brings together a mix of Hollywood A-listers, comic book legends, professional gamers, and world-class cosplayers. Some guests come to collect, some come to meet their heroes, and others just come for the atmosphere, but everyone finds something worth showing up for.
Find all the important details for the event below.
Editor’s Note: Our staff works hard to bring you the most up-to-date information. However, all information is subject to change! As always, please verify with the organizer before heading out!
Event Schedule & Location
Image credit: Comicpalooza
Circle the dates! Comicpalooza 2026 is back for a three-day run filled with nonstop programming, fan meetups, and show floor discoveries in Houston.
The convention runs from May 22–24, 2026, at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Expect a lively mix of entertainment, interactive programming, and plenty to explore across the show floor.
Dates and hours:
- Friday, May 22, 2026: 2:00 pm – 12:00 am (Show Floor closes at 8:00 pm)
- Saturday, May 23, 2026: 10:00 am – 12:00 am (Show Floor closes at 7:00 pm)
- Sunday, May 24, 2026: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tickets:
Admission options range from single-day passes to full weekend access, with standard adult tickets starting at around $63 for Friday and $114 for a weekend pass, depending on how early you buy.
Premium upgrades, including Speed Passes and VIP access, can go up to about $295+, offering perks like early entry and exclusive extras.
Children 5 and under are free, while discounted passes are available for kids aged 6-12.
Get more details and book your tickets to Comicpalooza 2026!
Attendees can also purchase photos and autographs with their favorite celebrity through Epic Photo Ops, linked here: Epic @ Comicpalooza 2026
Headline Celebrities & Big Guests
This year’s lineup features some of the biggest names in film, television, and literature. All Comicpalooza pass holders can sit in on these celebrity panels and hear from their favorite stars at no additional cost.
The Matrix Reunion
Fans of the simulation can rejoice as key stars from The Matrix franchise descend on Houston. Catch Laurence Fishburne (Morpheus), Joe Pantoliano (Cypher), and Marcus Chong (Tank) as they discuss the legacy of the groundbreaking sci-fi series.
The Streets of Hell’s Kitchen: Daredevil
The “Man Without Fear” is taking over the George R. Brown. Meet the stars of the hit series Daredevil and the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again, including Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock), Vincent D’Onofrio (Kingpin), Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones), and Wilson Bethel (Bullseye).
Rick and Morty
Get schwifty with the voices behind the multiverse. The main cast of Rick and Morty will be in attendance, featuring Ian Cardoni (Rick), Harry Belden (Morty), and Spencer Grammer (Summer).
Literature Spotlight: Matt Dinniman
For the readers and lit-fandoms, Matt Dinniman, the creative mind behind the hit Dungeon Crawler Carl series, will be appearing for signings and panels to discuss the wild world of LitRPG.
What to Expect: A Universe of Fandoms
Comicpalooza 2026 will be packing your entire Memorial Day weekend with activities across a wide range of fandoms. Here’s what you can look forward to.
Anime
Image credit: Comicpalooza
Anime fans, this one’s for you. Browse artwork from local and national artists, jump into fan panels, and geek out with people who love the same series you do.
Get ready to see these amazing voice actors for panels, photos, and autographs:
- Greg Chun (Demon Slayer, One-Punch Man)
- Stephen Fu (My Hero Academia, Street Fighter 6)
- Allison Keith-Shipp (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
- Rino Romano (The Batman, Sailor Moon)
- Michelle Ruff (Bleach, Persona 5)
YouTube creators Death Battle, Geekdom101, and Team Four Star are joining them all weekend, too.
On the show floor, the Itasha Showdown: A Car Runway Experience is returning with cars wrapped in anime and pop-culture artwork, custom Itasha bicycles, and Houston classic low riders making their debut.
And if you want to see fashion and fandom collide in the best way, check out Comic Couture. Here, you’ll see all kinds of fashion masterpieces inspired by anime and comics from Houston Community College and UH Downtown fashion students. You even get to pitch in your vote for the best ones.
Check out more details and stay up to date on the Anime track at Comicpalooza 2026
Cosplay
Image credit: Comicpalooza
Cosplay is one of the biggest parts of the Comicpalooza experience, and this year is no different.
Dress up and walk the floor, enter the cosplay contest, cheer on your favorite competitors, or head to the open cosplay meetup to swap tips and take photos with fellow fans. All fandoms and skill levels are welcome.
Guest cosplayers AlisonBirbz, Basically A Vampire, Exuberant Cosplay, Kaye Cosplay, and Noontime Shadows Cosplay will be around all weekend.
Exuberant and Kaye Cosplay are also leading educational panels if you want to level up your build skills seriously.
The little ones can also shine in their costumes at the Kids Cosplay Contest.
Check out more details and stay up to date on the Cosplay track at Comicpalooza 2026
Electronic Gaming
Gamers, the floor has a lot waiting for you. Comicpalooza Fight Club, run in collaboration with Turnip Café and Kaboom! Comics will be hosting competitive tournaments on Saturday and Sunday for Rivals of Aether 2, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and FC 26.
With 50+ setups and nationally ranked players like Marss, Lui$, Tea, Shinymark, Peabnut, CakeAssault, and Asimo competing, the level of play is going to be serious. Pre-registration is encouraged, but onsite sign-ups are available.
Not in it for the competition? The Free Play area keeps 50+ casual setups running all weekend. Retro fans can hop onto Mario Kart 64, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and Mario Kart: Double Dash!! at no extra charge.
Okashi Houston is also setting up their Japanese arcade experience on the floor, bringing over 40 authentic machines, including rhythm games like Project Diva Future Tone and Love Live, plus racing titles like Mario Kart and Initial D.
And Halo fans, the full franchise cast is reuniting to celebrate 25 years of the series. Steve Downes (Master Chief), Jen Taylor (Cortana), Tim Dadabo (343 Guilty Spark), Jeff Steitzer (the multiplayer announcer), and composer Marty O’Donnell will all be there for panels, photos, and autographs.
Check out more details and stay up to date on the Electronic Gaming track at Comicpalooza 2026
Tabletop Gaming
Pull up a chair, because the tabletop area is running all weekend and there’s always a seat open.
Dungeons & Dragons sessions will run on a scheduled basis, hosted by Dungeon Masters from Table Two Gaming, and newcomers are absolutely welcome.
The Game Tournaments area takes things up a notch with 10 competitions across the weekend: 6 Texas State Championships and 4 Road to Gen Con qualifying events. Win a State Championship, and you’re heading to CharCon 2026 in Charleston, West Virginia. Win a Road to Gen Con qualifier, and you’re going to the National Championships in Indianapolis.
In another corner, you can explore the Board Game Library and Open Play. There, you can find a huge game collection, jump into sessions already in progress, or crack open something you just bought from the exhibit hall.
Dagorath, a Houston-based live-action role-playing group, is also bringing fantasy medieval combat to the floor. Think war drums, battle horns, and foam weapons. It’s open to all ages.
Check out more details and stay up to date on the Tabletop Gaming track at Comicpalooza 2026
Special Attractions
Image credit: Comicpalooza
The show floor itself is packed with things that deserve their own spotlight. Here’s what’s set up and waiting for you:
- 13th Floor Haunted House — A full walk-through scare experience built right inside the convention center. Scares and surprises around every corner, running in the evenings.
- Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper — The only full-size replica of the classic spaceship in the United States. Yes, you can actually climb inside it.
- USS Zavala — A recreation of the Original Series Star Trek bridge with free uniform lending. Sit in the captain’s chair and live out your fantasy.
- FIRST Robotics — Student robotics teams bring their competition robots to demonstrate live and interact with the public.
- Full Steel Combat — Real armored knights in live melee combat on the floor all weekend. Hear the steel ring and pick your favorite knight to root for.
- Quadball — The sport inspired by Harry Potter‘s Quidditch, played in over 39 countries. Try chasing, beating, keeping, or seeking for yourself.
- Society for Creative Anachronism — Hands-on demonstrations of pre-17th century arts, combat skills, and culture.
- Houston Public Library Planetarium — An inflatable dome experience that takes you on a journey through the night sky.
- Houston Brick Club — Custom LEGO builds centered on Star Wars, comics, and pop culture, all on display for you to admire and photograph.
- The Inflatable — The fan-favorite oversized inflatable is back as the ultimate photo backdrop.
Can’t-Miss Highlights
Image credit: Comicpalooza
The whole weekend is worth your time, but these are the moments you’ll be talking about long after you leave.
- The Halo Cast Reunion: 25 Years of a Gaming Legend
This is a once-in-a-generation lineup. Comicpalooza is bringing together the full Halo voice cast to celebrate 25 years of the franchise. If you grew up with this series, you already know how big this is. Don’t sleep on this panel. - Miku LIVE! Palooza
Miku LIVE! Palooza is a fully fan-produced virtual idol concert celebrating Hatsune Miku, built from scratch with original custom animation, choreography, motion capture, character designs, and visuals created by a dedicated team of artists and performers. Every time it runs, it evolves with new creative elements. So, don’t miss it! - The Cosplay Contest
Competitors will go head-to-head on stage with their amazing costumes. Judges, including guest cosplayer Basically A Vampire, will be evaluating craftsmanship and stage presence. - The Itasha Showdown: A Car Runway Experience
Anime and pop-culture wrapped cars will cruise a dedicated runway right on the exhibition floor, joined by custom Itasha bicycles and Houston classic low riders. It’s a collision of car culture and fandom that you really have to see to appreciate. - Street Dancer 3rd Strike
This isn’t a casual dance showcase. It’s a full bracket competition. Sixteen Houston dancers will pair up into eight teams and battle through choreography, freestyle, and fandom-inspired character routines, hosted by J. Parker. The bracket runs from eight teams down to four, then a final head-to-head for the win - The Comicpalooza Party
The Comicpalooza Party brings DJs, a neon atmosphere, and a crowd still dressed in full cosplay. This is perfect for those who still want to ride the high of the day and cap the evening with a bang before going again the next morning. - Sassterpiece Theatre
A local comedy team live-riffs Star Trek V: The Final Frontier in real time. Think MST3K, but performed by people who clearly love and understand exactly what makes this particular film so gloriously strange.
Plan Your Visit
Now let’s make sure you actually get there without any hiccups. Here’s everything you need to know before you head to Houston.
Parking
Parking near the George R. Brown is easy to find. The closest walkable garages are Avenida North, Avenida Central, and the Toyota Tundra garage, all within easy walking distance of the convention center entrance.
To skip the stress of finding a spot on the day, book ahead through SpotHero. Comicpalooza also has its own dedicated page where you can reserve your spot in advance. It’s a quick, straightforward process and one less thing to worry about when you’re trying to get to the floor on time.
Download the App
Before you set foot on the floor, download the free Comicpalooza 2026 app. It puts everything you need right in your pocket: the latest news, real-time updates, and the full schedule so you can plan your day and not miss the events you came for.
You can download it for free on the Google Play Store or the iOS App Store before you head in.
Good to Know Before You Go
A few things that’ll make your day go smoother:
- Arrive early. The floor gets busy fast, especially for high-demand panels and guest appearances.
- Cosplay props get checked. All props and costume items are subject to inspection at entry. You’ll receive a wristband, and any checked item gets physically tagged.
- First-timers, read the guide. The website has a dedicated First Timer’s Guide that walks you through everything you need to know before your first visit.
For the most up-to-date guest announcements and to purchase passes, visit the official Comicpalooza website.
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