80,000+ Fans Flock to Kansas City's Massive ComicCon

The annual pop culture convention draws massive crowds to Bartle Hall for three days of celebrity guests, panels, and cosplay.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 5:18pm

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More than 80,000 attendees are expected at ComicCon KC, one of the largest comic book and pop culture events in the country, which is taking place this weekend at the Kansas City Convention Center. The convention features celebrity guests, panels, cosplay, gaming, and hundreds of vendors.

Why it matters

ComicCon KC has become a major economic driver for Kansas City, generating an estimated $13.8 million in economic impact and over 2,000 hotel room nights. The convention has grown from a small local event in 1999 to one of the premier pop culture conventions in the country, reflecting the increasing mainstream popularity of comics, movies, TV shows, and other geeky pursuits.

The details

Running from Friday through Sunday, ComicCon KC features a massive show floor with more than 800 artists, crafters, authors, retailers, and vendors. Attendees can meet celebrity guests like Jared Padalecki, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Bruce Dickinson, Priscilla Presley, Corey Taylor, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Ernie Hudson, Peter Facinelli, Ashley Greene, Famke Janssen, Maggie Grace, Jason Isaacs, and William Shatner. The convention also includes cosplay, gaming, panel discussions, and after-hours events.

  • ComicCon KC is taking place this weekend, from March 28-30, 2026.
  • The convention has been running annually since 1999.

The players

ComicCon KC

One of the largest comic book and pop culture conventions in the country, held annually in Kansas City.

Visit KC

The official tourism organization for Kansas City, which estimates the convention has an economic impact of $13.8 million.

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What they’re saying

“At ComicCon KC, the crowd is the spectacle. Caped crusaders, anime icons and Storm Troopers have filled Bartle Hall at the Kansas City Convention Center this weekend.”

— Dawnya Bartsch, Author

The takeaway

ComicCon KC has grown from a small local event to one of the premier pop culture conventions in the country, reflecting the increasing mainstream popularity of comics, movies, TV shows, and other geeky pursuits. The convention has become a major economic driver for Kansas City, generating millions in economic impact and drawing tens of thousands of attendees each year.