FAN EXPO Chicago 2025 took place on August 15-17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.
Sunday was the final day, with attendees doing their best to get in their last bits of fun before going back to reality. Even with the shortened day, there was still plenty of time to get in last-minute photo ops, autographs, shopping, and panels. The crowds were much thinner than Saturday, which meant it was a lot easier to move around.
From many aspects, I believe the convention was a success. Each day, I could see convention-goers engaging with others with whom they shared a favorite fandom, talking shop with fellow cosplayers, and just overall enjoying the experience. I had the opportunity to talk to a few people who were attending a convention for the first time. They literally had huge smiles plastered on their faces as they gushed about what a great time they’d been having. They also told me they could not wait to attend similar events.
Our past FAN EXPO CHICAGO cosplay coverage can be found here: 2022, 2023, 2024
Or Wizard World 2017-2021 Here
Like everything, though, there’s certainly room for improvement. The photo op area seemed to be a very chaotic, with the additional problem of high-profile being oversold. On Sunday, this meant that the staff suddenly closed the Kid’s Zone in the early afternoon. This was done to create more room for lines. No notifications were given to any of the groups scheduled for programming there, and offered no alternatives to make sure the events were still able to take place.
The rest of our cosplay coverage for FAN EXPO CHICAGO 2025
Friday Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3
Saturday Pt.1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3, Costume Contest
Sunday Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt.3, Red Carpet
Additionally, many of the community groups seemed to have trouble getting much traffic over the course of the weekend due to their location. Those by the Creator’s Stage seemed to do fairly decent, but those at the far end of the cosplay area appeared to struggle more. They (and the cosplay red carpet) were awkwardly placed, meaning you had to go out of your way to find them.
All told, though, FAN EXPO Chicago was a very fun weekend. Whether you met your favorite celebrity, made new friends, bought new items for your collection, or cosplayed with the best of them, I hope you had a blast too. Next year’s convention will be the same weekend, so set your calendars now!
Even with the smaller crowds on Sunday, there were still plenty of cosplayers to see and snap photos of. From the more casual to those who were all decked out, I tried to capture as many as I could. I still did not manage to snag as many photos as in years past, but everyone I saw looked incredible.
Additional photos courtesy of League of Enchantment Chicago.
ABOUT FAN EXPO
FAN EXPO Chicago is the ultimate go-to event for sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming event in Chicago that attracts hundreds of thousands of people to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
FAN EXPO Chicago offers exciting family-friendly attractions, events, and world-renowned Celebrities! The show, which started as Chicago Comic Con in 1972 and became Wizard World Chicago in 1998, has featured celebrities and creators like Stan Lee, Michael J. Fox, John Travolta, Carrie Fisher, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, WWE® Superstar John Cena®, David Boreanaz and many more headliners.
Everyone is a fan of something, and FAN EXPO Chicago is a place to celebrate all things pop culture. Get an autograph or a photo with your favorite guest then get the inside scoop about your favorite movies and TV shows at our celebrity panels! Watch professional comic artists battle it out in our popular Sketch Duels, learn from our “How To” workshops, and take photos with your favorite costumed characters! It’s also a great place to buy a unique gift (or treat yourself!) with a huge show floor for shopping madness.
FAN EXPO HQ is the largest comic con producer in the world. Collectively, it hosts over one million fans annually at FAN EXPO Canada, MEGACON Orlando, FAN EXPO Denver, CALGARY EXPO, FAN EXPO Chicago, FAN EXPO Dallas, FAN EXPO Boston, FAN EXPO Philadelphia, EDMONTON EXPO, FAN EXPO San Francisco, Toronto Comicon, FAN EXPO Cleveland, FAN EXPO New Orleans, FAN EXPO Portland, FAN EXPO Vancouver, and Dallas FAN FESTIVAL. The latest schedule of events is available here, along with up-to-date ticket information. Discover. Celebrate. Belong.
To see what cosplay conventions are coming up
be sure to check out our Cosplay Convention List!
