Convention & Expo Events

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Coming Soon

14 Gathering

231 days away

LFG CON San Diego 2027

Feb 19 – Feb 21, 2027 San Diego Convention Center, 111 W…

LFG CON is San Diego's dedicated tabletop gaming convention, held annually at the San Diego Convention Center for a full weekend of board games, role-playing games, miniature wargames, card games, and the social culture that defines tabletop gaming as a hobby. The 2027 edition continues the convention's growth into one of the most significant tabletop events in the Western United States. LFG CON's format is built around play rather than commerce: open gaming library with thousands of titles available to borrow and play at any of the convention's gaming tables, organized play events for competitive board games and RPG systems, publisher-run demos of upcoming and new releases, and the convention's signature "Find a Game" board where attendees post what they want to play and find other players spontaneously. The San Diego Convention Center's gaming hall provides enough space for the event's library, open gaming tables, and organized events to run simultaneously without the cramped conditions that smaller gaming conventions produce at capacity. The Gaslamp Quarter's proximity means meals and evening social gatherings extend the convention day well beyond the gaming hall's closing hours. The SDCC is at 111 W Harbor Dr in downtown San Diego. Trolley accessible, multiple parking structures nearby. Weekend badges and single-day options available through the LFG CON website. The gaming library check-out system runs on a first-come basis — popular titles can be signed out for 2-hour sessions throughout the day.

Coming Soon

253 days away

Anime Pasadena 2027

Mar 13 – Mar 14, 2027 Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E …

Anime Pasadena returns to the Pasadena Convention Center in 2027 for its annual celebration of anime, manga, gaming, and Japanese pop culture in one of the most accessible convention venues in the Los Angeles area. The Pasadena Convention Center sits in the heart of Old Town Pasadena, surrounded by restaurants and shops that make the full weekend experience complete beyond the convention floor. Anime Pasadena features a curated programming schedule with industry guests, voice actor panels and autograph sessions, cosplay competitions with detailed craftsmanship judging, an artist alley with independent creators selling original and fan artwork, a vendor hall with licensed merchandise and collectibles, and a video game room running open play throughout the convention. The Pasadena anime community has deep roots — the city's proximity to Caltech, JPL, and the entertainment industry creates an unusually literate and technically-inclined fan base that gives Anime Pasadena panels a specific depth uncommon at larger conventions where the audience is more diffuse. The Pasadena Convention Center is at 300 E Green St in Old Town Pasadena, accessible from I-210 (Mountain Ave exit) and via Metro Gold Line (Del Mar Station, walkable). Multiple parking structures in the Pasadena Playhouse district. Weekend badges and single-day tickets via the Anime Pasadena website. Artist alley creator applications and panel submission open in fall 2026.

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🌎 Nation's Best 255 days away

SXSW 2027 — Austin, TX

Mar 15 – Mar 21, 2027 Austin Convention Center, 500 E Ce…

For nine days in March, Austin becomes the place where the music industry, the film industry, and the technology industry all arrive at the same time and try to find the same parties. SXSW is not a single event. It is a city-sized festival. The Music Conference alone hosts thousands of acts across hundreds of venues — dive bars, converted warehouses, the Austin Convention Center, the open air of Auditorium Shores. Simultaneously, the Film & TV Festival premieres features and series that go on to win Oscars and Emmys. The Interactive and Emerging Technology conference hosts the conversations that define how the industry thinks about what comes next. These three things happen at the same time, in the same zip code. The cross-pollination is not incidental to SXSW — it is the product. The person who sees a breakthrough band at midnight and a groundbreaking documentary at noon and stumbles into a startup pitch at 3pm is not having three separate experiences. They are having the SXSW experience. If you have ever felt like the interesting version of American culture is happening somewhere you're not, SXSW is the coordinates. The festival rewards the person who arrives with no fixed agenda and the flexibility to follow what's interesting. It punishes the person who over-plans and misses the spontaneous set that becomes the most-discussed performance of the year. The unofficial parties and free shows are as important as the official programming — sometimes more. Austin in March is warm but unpredictable — layers are essential, comfortable shoes are mandatory. SXSW runs on a badge system: the Platinum badge accesses everything; the Music badge covers all official showcases. Unofficial events are free and run parallel throughout the city, often featuring the most interesting programming. Book accommodation six to twelve months out — Austin fills completely. The Convention Center is the official hub, but the real SXSW happens on 6th Street, Red River, and in the South Congress corridor. SXSW 2027 earns its place on Falkor's Nation's Best list because it is the single event where American creative culture most fully takes stock of itself. The lineup hasn't been announced yet — and the anticipation before the announcement is itself part of the ritual. Every year artists, filmmakers, and technologists make their American debut at SXSW. Every year something that started in a 200-capacity Austin venue becomes the story everyone is telling by April. The festival is not just where culture happens — it is where culture decides what it is. Badge registration open at sxsw.com/badges/.

Coming Soon

266 days away

WonderCon Anaheim 2027 — Preview Night

Mar 25, 2027 Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W K…

WonderCon 2027 Preview Night on Thursday March 25 opens the convention for badge holders before the general public Friday morning — a tradition that gives premium badge holders first access to the exhibit floor, exclusive merchandise, and artist alley before the weekend crowds arrive at the Anaheim Convention Center. WonderCon Preview Night has a distinct atmosphere from the weekend days: calmer, more deliberate, and organized around the people who planned far enough ahead to secure early-access credentials. The exhibit floor on Preview Night is the place to find the exclusive merchandise that will be gone by Saturday afternoon — convention-only limited editions, publisher variants, and the artist alley pieces from the most popular creators before they sell out. Preview Night programming is lighter than Friday or Saturday — a handful of panels and screenings, but the primary purpose is the convention floor access. Badge holders use the time to map the layout, identify panels to prioritize on Friday and Saturday, and make purchases before competition for specific items becomes intense. WonderCon badge holders access Preview Night with a full-weekend badge. Single-day Thursday badges are not available; Thursday access is included with the full weekend pass. The Anaheim Convention Center is at 800 W Katella Ave. Multiple parking structures adjacent. Metro-accessible via transit connections at Anaheim's ARTIC station with shuttle service during the event. Badge registration opens in winter 2026 — multi-day badges sell out faster than single-day.

Coming Soon

266 days away

WonderCon Anaheim 2027

Mar 26 – Mar 28, 2027 Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W K…

WonderCon returns to the Anaheim Convention Center for its 2027 edition, March 26–28. WonderCon is operated by Comic-Con International — the same organization behind San Diego Comic-Con — and has grown into one of the premier pop culture conventions in the Western United States, drawing over 60,000 attendees annually. WonderCon covers comics, sci-fi, fantasy, animation, film, television, gaming, and cosplay with a programming slate that runs all three days across multiple halls. The masquerade cosplay competition on Saturday night is a flagship event. Publisher booths, artist alley, exclusive merchandise, and preview screenings fill the convention floor. Unlike SDCC, WonderCon remains more accessible — badges are easier to acquire and the convention floor is navigable without the overwhelming scale of San Diego. This makes it the preferred entry point for families and first-time convention attendees, while still delivering the panel access and guest signings that attract serious fans. The Anaheim Convention Center is located adjacent to Disneyland, with easy access from I-5 and I-405. The Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) connects to the convention area via shuttle during the event. Multiple hotels within walking distance. Badge sales open months in advance — early purchase strongly recommended as popular badge tiers sell out.

Coming Soon

267 days away

WonderCon Anaheim 2027 — Saturday

Mar 27, 2027 Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W K…

WonderCon 2027 Saturday — March 27 — is the peak day of the Anaheim convention and the day that Hall B panels, exclusive merchandise lines, and the masquerade cosplay competition push the Anaheim Convention Center to its most energized state. Saturday at WonderCon delivers the convention at its fullest expression: major studio panels with talent appearances, the masquerade competition finale, and the exhibit floor and artist alley at maximum activity. WonderCon Saturday differs from San Diego Comic-Con Saturday primarily in scale and accessibility — the same production quality, the same programming ambition, but in a building where navigating between events doesn't require military-level crowd strategy. The more contained footprint of the Anaheim Convention Center means a Saturday WonderCon badge-holder can reasonably attend three or four significant events across the day without sacrificing any of them entirely to queue time. The WonderCon Masquerade runs Saturday evening in the main auditorium — a competitive cosplay competition judged on craftsmanship and performance presentation. The workmanship level at WonderCon's masquerade is consistently strong, with entrants who treat the competition as seriously as they treat the craft of building the costumes. Saturday single-day badges are the fastest-selling badge type for WonderCon. If you miss the initial registration window, Saturday badges on the secondary market are the most in-demand option. The full convention runs Friday through Sunday with Saturday as the premium day.

Coming Soon

268 days away

WonderCon Anaheim 2027 — Sunday

Mar 28, 2027 Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W K…

WonderCon 2027 closes on Sunday March 28 with the convention's final-day tradition: reduced crowds, Artist Alley price reductions on remaining inventory, exhibit floor deals, and the specific warmth that closes every fan convention when the community acknowledges the shared experience is ending for another year. Sunday at WonderCon is consistently the most undervalued badge of the weekend — available more easily than Friday or Saturday, more affordable on the secondary market, and delivering an experience that longtime convention attendees describe as the most genuinely enjoyable day. The urgency is gone, the competition for panels is reduced, and what remains is the convention as a social space rather than a logistics problem. Sunday programming includes closing panels and the announcement of WonderCon 2028 dates — a moment that gives the community immediate forward-looking anticipation to close the current convention. The exhibit floor's end-of-convention deals are real: publishers discount remaining stock, artists reduce prices on prints, and vendors offer bundles that weren't available on Friday. The Anaheim Convention Center is at 800 W Katella Ave. Metro and rideshare recommended on Sunday as parking lot traffic at convention close is predictably heavy. Single-day Sunday badges are typically the most available of the three-day run. Badge holders from Friday or Saturday can also purchase Sunday add-ons through the WonderCon website if the full weekend was not initially purchased.

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10 Gathering

294 days away

San Diego Comic Fest 2027

Apr 23 – Apr 25, 2027 San Diego, CA 92108

SD Comic Fest returns for its 2027 edition in the spring — the annual San Diego gathering that celebrates print comics, vintage collecting, and creator culture in the mode of conventions before the entertainment industry discovered them. The 2027 edition continues the festival's commitment to the medium of comics as an art form rather than as IP source material. Comic Fest's vendor room is the reason to attend: original comic art pages from established and significant creators, silver and bronze age books at prices set by sellers who know their inventory, Golden Age finds in protective sleeves, and the small press aisle where independent creators sell and sign their self-published and micro-press work. The conversations in the Comic Fest dealer room are different from any other show — this is a collector space where condition, variant identification, and print run knowledge are shared currencies. Programming covers comics history, creator conversations about craft and process, and the discussion of the medium's development that comics scholars and serious readers value. Guest creators at Comic Fest are there because they care about the community, not because they're promoting a film adaptation. The venue for SD Comic Fest 2027 will be announced through sdcomicfest.com. The festival has run at the Town and Country Resort and similar venues in San Diego. Admission charged. April/May timing is typical. All ages.

Coming Soon

330 days away

Saiyan Paint Night 2027 — Long Beach

May 28, 2027 Ambitious Ales, Long Beach, CA

Saiyan Paint Night is a fan-organized anime-themed paint night held at Ambitious Ales in Long Beach, where Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and anime fans gather to paint iconic characters and scenes guided by an instructor. No artistic experience required — materials are provided, the theme is predetermined, and the social atmosphere is the point. These events have become a staple of anime community nightlife in the LA area: low-barrier, highly social, and built around shared fandom. You leave with something you made and a table full of people who know exactly what "it's over 9,000" means without explanation. Ambitious Ales is a Long Beach craft brewery with a welcoming, casual environment. Food and beer available throughout. This May 2027 edition is ticketed through Eventbrite — advance purchase recommended as these sell out. Anime cosplay welcome. Date: May 28, 2027 at 7 PM. Perfect warmup event for anyone going to anime conventions later in the summer.

Anime Riverside 2027 — Inland Empire Convention

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44 Gathering

330 days away

Anime Riverside 2027 — Inland Empire Convention

May 29 – May 31, 2027 Riverside Convention Center, 3637 …

Anime Riverside is the Inland Empire's premier anime convention, held annually at the Riverside Convention Center and drawing attendees from across SoCal's vast inland communities — Riverside, San Bernardino, Temecula, Redlands, and beyond. For anime fans in the IE, Anime Riverside is the local alternative to the massive scale of Anime Expo and the drive to Los Angeles. The convention features a full weekend of panels, an Exhibit Hall with anime merchandise and collectibles, Artist Alley, gaming rooms, cosplay contests, and special guests including voice actors and industry figures. The Riverside Convention Center's accessible downtown location offers walkable dining and parking throughout the convention complex. Anime Riverside has grown consistently year over year and has become a community anchor for IE anime culture. The convention typically runs the last weekend of May or first weekend of June. Note: 2027 dates are expected to be announced after Anime Riverside 2026 concludes. This listing reflects the anticipated May-June 2027 window based on historical scheduling. Check animeriverside.com for official confirmation.

Anime Expo 2027 — Los Angeles Convention Center

Coming Soon

78 Gathering

363 days away

Anime Expo 2027 — Los Angeles Convention Center

Jul 1 – Jul 4, 2027 Los Angeles Convention Center, 120…

Anime Expo 2027 returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center over the Fourth of July weekend, marking another year of what has become the largest anime convention in North America. AX draws over 100,000 attendees annually to experience the full spectrum of Japanese animation, manga, gaming, music, and pop culture in one of the most densely packed convention weekends in the world. The LACC footprint spans multiple halls and the adjacent JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels, hosting industry panels, world premiere announcements, screening rooms, an exhibit hall with hundreds of vendors, autograph sessions with voice actors and anime composers, and concerts and live performances that sell out weeks in advance. Industry guests from major animation studios in Japan make AX their primary North American announcement platform — if a major sequel, adaptation, or licensing deal is going to be revealed, AX is often where it happens first. For fans of specific series, the AX floor is where you find rare imported merchandise, exclusive collaboration products, and limited-run items that do not appear anywhere else. For casual anime watchers, the convention is a crash course in the depth and breadth of the community surrounding the medium. Badge types range from Premier Fan badges (early access, priority room entry) to general admission single-day passes. The convention runs Thursday through Sunday over Independence Day weekend. Plan for crowds and book hotels inside the connected hotel corridor months in advance for the most convenient experience.

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21 Gathering

363 days away

Anime Expo 2027 — Day 1 (Thursday)

Jul 1, 2027 Los Angeles Convention Center, 120…

Anime Expo 2027 returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center for the world's largest celebration of Japanese animation, manga, gaming, and music. Day 1 — Thursday July 1 — marks the traditional pre-weekend opening with badge pickup, early exhibitor floor access, and the first programming blocks of the convention weekend. AX is the premier anime convention in the United States, drawing over 100,000 attendees over four days. Day 1 is quieter than the weekend rush — lines are shorter at Artist Alley and the exhibit floor, and early-access badge holders get first position at exclusive merchandise booths before stock depletes. Premier Fan badge holders have dedicated registration lanes that clear in minutes. Programming on Day 1 includes Anisong World Matsuri (Japanese pop music concert), industry panels from major studios, cosplay gathering coordination, and the infamous AX Marketplace where bootleg-adjacent finds appear alongside licensed goods. The Los Angeles Convention Center is located at 1201 S Figueroa St in downtown LA. Metro accessible via the Blue/Expo Line at Pico Station. Multiple parking structures on-site and adjacent. Badge registration for Anime Expo 2027 opens in late 2026 — Premier Fan badges sell out in hours. General badges available at the door subject to capacity.

Coming Soon

364 days away

Anime Expo 2027 — Day 2 (Friday)

Jul 2, 2027 Los Angeles Convention Center, 120…

Anime Expo 2027 Day 2 — Friday July 2 — is the first full public day of the world's largest anime convention, when the Los Angeles Convention Center reaches its massive operating capacity and the energy that defines AX weekend kicks into full gear. Friday at AX brings the bulk of convention programming: major studio panels where announcements are made that trend globally within minutes, Anisong World Matsuri concerts in the Nokia Theatre (featuring Japanese recording artists rarely seen in the US), signing sessions with voice actors and creators, and the exhibit floor and Artist Alley running at full steam from open to close. Friday is the day AX premieres happen — simulcast first episodes, film announcements, licensing reveals. If you follow simulcast anime culture, Friday's panel schedule is why you get a badge. The Artist Alley at AX features hundreds of independent artists selling prints, charms, and original work — Friday afternoon before the prime-time panels is prime shopping time. The LACC is accessible via Metro Expo/Blue Line (Pico Station) and multiple downtown parking structures. The convention floor is separated from premium ticketed concert events — the main badge grants access to all daytime programming, panels, exhibit floor, and Artist Alley.

Coming Soon

365 days away

Anime Expo 2027 — Day 3 (Saturday)

Jul 3, 2027 Los Angeles Convention Center, 120…

Anime Expo 2027 Day 3 — Saturday July 3 — is the pinnacle of the world's largest anime convention. Saturday is when the cosplay competition finals run, when Hall B panels hit maximum capacity, when Artist Alley lines wrap around entire wings of the LACC, and when AX becomes a singular cultural event that no streaming platform can replicate. Saturday's Masquerade — the cosplay competition — is the weekend's signature event. Hundreds of competitors present elaborate costumes judged on craftsmanship and performance. The presentation stage fills to capacity and the Masquerade streams live online, but attending in the room is a completely different experience: the craftsmanship details visible up close are what years of build work look like. Saturday panels feature the biggest announcements of the weekend. Industry guests, English voice actors doing live readings, and Japanese creators appearing via satellite or in person make Saturday the highest-density programming day. The exhibit floor is packed — arrive early for exclusive merchandise and leave time to return after the main panels for a calmer shopping experience. The LACC is at 1201 S Figueroa St. Metro Blue/Expo Line to Pico Station. On-site and adjacent parking available. Saturday badges are the most in-demand of the convention — register early in the 2026 presale.

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35 Gathering

366 days away

Anime Expo 2027 — Day 4 (Sunday)

Jul 4, 2027 Los Angeles Convention Center, 120…

Anime Expo 2027 Day 4 — Sunday July 4 — closes out the world's largest anime convention on the US Independence Day holiday. Day 4 at AX is equal parts finale and final-day deal hunting: Artist Alley vendors reduce prices to clear inventory, exhibitors offload exclusive merchandise at discount, and the panels running Sunday reflect a more relaxed, community-focused energy than the announcement-driven earlier days. The Sunday Closing Ceremonies are a beloved AX tradition — recap video of the weekend's cosplay, awards from the Masquerade, and the official close of another AX. This is the moment the community that's been together for four days formally marks the end and begins the year-long wait until next time. Day 4 badges are typically the easiest AX badges to acquire on the resale market and the most underrated experience of the convention. The lines are shorter, the atmosphere is nostalgic, and the conversations on the floor are more genuine — less rushing between panels, more actually talking to the people around you. AX 2027 Day 4 falls on July 4 — Independence Day fireworks are visible from parts of the LACC plaza area depending on which direction fireworks are launched. Metro and rideshare recommended; parking and traffic are particularly heavy on July 4 in downtown LA.

San Diego Comic-Con 2027 — Preview Night

Coming Soon

384 days away

San Diego Comic-Con 2027 — Preview Night

Jul 21, 2027 San Diego Convention Center, 111 W…

San Diego Comic-Con International returns for 2027, and Preview Night on Wednesday July 21 is where the convention truly begins for badge holders. Preview Night offers four to five hours of exclusive convention floor access before the general public arrives Thursday — the chance to see the floor before it fills, acquire exclusive merchandise before it sells out, and experience the convention at a pace that the full three public days rarely allow. SDCC Preview Night badges are the most coveted ticket in the convention. They are only available to badge holders who have purchased a full convention package or a Preview Night standalone badge in the registration lottery. The lottery runs months in advance through Comic-Con's online badge system — sign up for the Member ID program now if you plan to participate. The convention floor spans the San Diego Convention Center's entire footprint — over 460,000 square feet of exhibits, publisher booths, studio installations, and exclusive merchandise. The 2027 Preview Night badge grants access starting at 6 PM and running until close, roughly four hours of unimpeded access before Thursday's general opening. San Diego Convention Center is located at 111 W Harbor Dr, directly accessible from the Gaslamp Quarter and the downtown waterfront. The convention center connects to the Gaslamp via the trolley system. Hotel room blocks in the SDCC room block lottery fill during the spring — if you have a badge, register for the hotel lottery immediately.

San Diego Comic-Con 2027 — Wednesday (Preview Night)

Coming Soon

384 days away

San Diego Comic-Con 2027 — Wednesday (Preview Night)

Jul 21, 2027 San Diego Convention Center, 111 W…

The SDCC 2027 Wednesday Preview Night on July 21 is the first official access to the San Diego Convention Center for badge holders, opening the exhibit floor for a compressed 4-5 hour window before Thursday's general public opening. Preview Night is the most mythologized non-Saturday of the convention — the badge that determines who the genuine insiders are. Preview Night badges are sold only as part of full convention packages or as standalone tickets through the SDCC member registration lottery. They do not appear on the general public sale and are not available at the door. The combination of scarcity and the specific experience they provide (an uncrowded convention floor, first access to exclusive merchandise, the convention space before it reaches operating capacity) makes them the most discussed and sought-after badge type in the SDCC system. The exhibit floor on Preview Night Wednesday has an energy distinct from Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Professionals, long-time attendees, and industry insiders make up the crowd alongside the badge lottery winners. The pacing is deliberate — this is not the convention at full sprint but the convention as the people who built it experience it. Lines at the most-demanded merchandise booths begin forming before the 6 PM opening, but the rest of the floor is walkable at a pace impossible on Saturday. San Diego Convention Center is at 111 W Harbor Dr. Trolley service to the convention center runs late on Wednesday for Preview Night. No parking in the immediate convention area on Preview Night; rideshare recommended.

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19 Gathering

384 days away

San Diego Comic-Con 2027 — Thursday

Jul 22, 2027 San Diego Convention Center, 111 W…

San Diego Comic-Con 2027 opens its first full public day on Thursday July 22, launching what is widely considered the most important pop culture event on the annual calendar. Thursday at SDCC is the sleeper day — thinner crowds than Friday or Saturday, Hall H programming already in full swing, and an energy in the convention center that the weekend days, for all their spectacle, rarely match. Hall H on Thursday is where studios frequently schedule panels intended to be surprise announcements — the logic being that a Thursday panel lands at the ideal point in the news cycle to build weekend buzz. Film studios, streaming platforms, game publishers, and comic book publishers all compete for time in Hall H and Ballroom 20. The convention floor is open all day with access to exhibitors, publishers, artist alley, the exclusive merchandise area, and the entire range of Comic-Con programming. Thursday badges give access to all programming rooms, screenings, and exhibits. Signing schedules with creators in Artist Alley run throughout the day. The surrounding Gaslamp Quarter blocks fill with satellite activations, off-site experiences, and screenings from studios that didn't secure convention space but still want to be part of Comic-Con week. Many of these are free with badge scan or open to the public. San Diego's hotel infrastructure handles the convention smoothly; the city has been doing this for decades.

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