FAN EXPO Chicago ran August 14-16 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. This is one of the largest pop culture conventions in the Midwest and draws over 75,000 fans. This years event showcased a massive celebrity lineup with several major cast reunions, comic creators, cosplay competitions, and extensive shopping opportunities.
For those with single-day passes, the convention opened at 4pm, but those with VIP, 3-day, and Press badges were able to get in 2 hours earlier. I arrived right after opening and had no problem picking up my badge and heading into the rest of the convention center to scope things out. One improvement over last year was the utilization of the skybridges from the hotels and parking garage. If you already had your badge you could enter the convention from the second floor near the panel rooms, though if you did not, you were funneled downstairs to the main entrance to pick up your badge and enter that way.
Our past cosplay coverage can be found here: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Or Wizard World 2017-2021 Here
While there were plenty of people who arrived early, it certainly did not feel crowded – even as attendees filed in later – and there was plenty of room in the aisles to get by even when others stopped to browse. It was a good day to get some shopping done or plan out your purchases for the weekend.
The Rest of our 2026 Coverage is here:
Friday Pt. 1, Pt. 2
Saturday Pt. 1
Sunday Pt. 1
… More to Come
Friday was lighter on cosplay, but every single one I saw was good quality and the cosplayers were clearly enjoying themselves. The Community Zone seemed much less chaotic this year, with booths being well-laid out and having plenty of space. Something new this year was the WeaponUp booth showcasing sword yoga, where the employees would walk participants through a few moves. There was also a small section with costumes on display that had been created by cosplayers. Here are the cosplay photos I managed to capture on Friday!
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.
To see what cosplay conventions are coming up
be sure to check out our Cosplay Convention List!
