C2E2 2026 ran March 28- 29 at the McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. It was a weekend for pop culture fans. Celebrity guests such as Elizabeth Olsen, Charlie Cox, and Christopher Eccleston drew massive crowds. The event also boasted the nation’s largest Artist Alley, where top names in the comics industry rubbed shoulders with the up and comings.
The first day of the convention started a little slow, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It gave attendees chance to get the lay of the land, take note of any changes that were made from last year, and enjoy catching up with friends you haven’t seen in a while without having to worry about being trampled by crowds. There were a few changes this year – the most significant being moving the Main Stage to just inside the entrance to the building – but the regular features such as jousting, free video games, Cosplay Central, Family HQ, the Yard, Artist Alley, and more were there and going strong all weekend.
I began my day by helping put on a kid’s activity called Get Into Hero Shape! alongside my friends at League of Enchantment Chicago. It was a blast running the little ones through easy calisthenics and showing them how superheroes use the same movements as animals, all while letting them get out of some their excess energy. Once I finished training the next generation of superheroes, I was able to enjoy the rest of the con for the day This was also the day I chose to make my initial run though Artist Alley, and managed to find a number of hidden gems while I caught up with artists I’ve become friendly with throughout the years.
C2E2 2026 Cosplay Photos
Friday Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3
Saturday Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3
Sunday Pt. 1
The Backside of Cosplay
Previous Years Cosplay Coverage – 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
The cosplayers definitely showed up in force, showing off their favorite fandoms through their outfits. Whether it was a princess dress, a superhero suit, an animated character, or a fantastical creation, every cosplayer was having a blast being seen. Here are the cosplay photos I managed to capture on Friday!
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