Already feeling SDCC fatigue? Check out these comic conventions instead
The San Diego Comic-Con hasn’t even started yet and already the hype is real. According to Deadline, for the first time ever the Transformers franchise will make its SDCC debut on July 20 and if the idea of this fills you with dread but you’re still a huge comic convention fan, perhaps you’re in need of a different type event. With this in mind, we’re taking a look at some of the other great events that are worth your time this year, from the US to Canada and all the way to the UK!
Salt Lake Comic Con
Some of the big names at this year’s Salt Lake Comic Con include Chuck Norris (Way of the Dragon), Tim Curry (IT), Rainn Wilson (The Office), David Tennant (Doctor Who), and Dick Van Dyke (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) along with events that include Disney in Concert with the Utah Symphony and a whole host of panel discussions. Get involved!
Anime Midwest
Anime Midwest is holding literally hundreds of events this year including Cosplay Masquerade, Pachinko Fever, Arcade Gaming, Rave Dances, and the Formal Cosplay Ball. Meanwhile, guests include Epic Rap Battles of History, Aya Ikeda, and Hiroaki Inoue.
Anime-zing!
Anime-zing! is a three-day convention celebrating Japanese arts and the communities that surround anime fandom. This Iowa-based convention includes dozens of anime screenings, discussions, autograph signings, a dealers’ hall, and not forgetting a group meetup where fandoms can meet their fave anime stars.
Liberty City Anime Con
Guests at this year’s Liberty City Anime Con include actor Vic Mignogna (Star Trek Continues), singer & actress Lia, ADR director & scriptwriter Tyler Walker, and many more. There will also be panels, discussion, workshops, and of course, lot’s of cosplay and opportunities for autographs.
MCM Manchester
One of the UK’s biggest comic cons is back and this year’s event includes guests such as Christopher Judge (Stargate), Khary Payton and Cooper Andrews (The Walking Dead), Charlet Chung M, and Lucie Pohl (Overwatch). Marc Ellerby is also set to show his face – you know, the dude who’s currently the lead artist on the official Rick and Morty comics!
Geeked Fest
Taking place in Wales, Geeked Fest is now in its fourth year and has been going from strength to strength since its inception. Guests this year include stars from Sherlock, Dr Who, and many more. It’s a cheap and cheerful convention and one that will give you the chance to explore the beautiful country of Wales.
Anime Revolution
Vancouver’s premiere festival of Japanese pop culture takes place at the beginning of August and will feature names such as Kappei Yamaguchi, Marina Inoue, Satsuki Yukino, Hitomi Nabatame, and more.
Fan Expo
Fan Expo is one of the biggest events in the comic con calendar and you can see why from the guest list – Michael J. Fox (Back to the Future), Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park), Evangeline Lilly (Ant-Man and the Wasp), Lucy Lawless (Ash vs Evil Dead), Paul Reubens, Rob Schneider (The Hot Chick), Christopher Lloyd, William Mayhew, Richard Dean Anderson, and Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, are just some of the names headed to this year’s event.
Emerging Regional Conventions in 2026
Fans who want fresh July options can look at Florida Supercon and the GalaxyCon circuit, both running across multiple cities. Capital City Comic Con and similar mid-sized shows also appear on 2026 calendars as lower-pressure alternatives to the big coastal events.
Post-Pandemic Growth in Anime and Pop Culture Events
Anime Midwest expects 15,000 attendees in 2026, a clear sign that the genre-focused circuit keeps expanding. Anirevo and comparable summer events continue to add programming each year, drawing crowds who prefer specialized programming over generalist mega-cons.
International Options Beyond the UK and Canada
Comic Con Manchester returns on July 25-26, 2026, while Montreal Comiccon runs in July and pulls in its own regional audience. These shows sit outside the original US-UK-Canada frame yet still deliver the guest panels and vendor halls that fans travel for.
Virtual and Hybrid Convention Experiences
Many major events now stream select panels alongside in-person programming. The post-2020 shift toward hybrid formats has stuck, giving attendees a lower-cost way to catch guests and programming without the full travel commitment.
Comic conventions keep multiplying because the demand for in-person and digital access never really cools off. Updated schedules, fresh guest lists, and hybrid options give fans plenty of ways to build their own circuit without locking into one massive weekend. Whether the draw is a specific voice actor, a rare panel topic, or simply the energy of a packed hall, the 2026 calendar offers more routes than ever to get that convention fix on your own terms.
