MAIN EVENTS

All of your fave fandom stars are making their way to FAN EXPO Chicago. Meet them up close and personal at their Q&A sessions, where they’ll answer fan questions and dive into behind-the-scenes stories.

Have a special memento you want signed? Celebrity guests from movie stars to voice actors and comic creators will be at the show all weekend signing autographs, so you can have a keepsake that will last a lifetime.

Say cheese! If you’re going to meet your fave celebrity at the show, you’ll want to capture the moment with a photo op. Dress up, strike a pose, and clear up some space on your wall at home for a new core memory.

Get ready to show off your cosplay. With events like the Cosplay Red Carpet and Cosplay Competitions, you can flaunt your look, have photos taken, and compete for cosplay glory. If you’re not cosplaying at the show, come take a look at what fellow fans have created and snap some awesome pics.

Heroes, villains, and monsters are flying off the page and coming to FAN EXPO Chicago to meet you. Creators behind your fave comics are ready to dive deep into lore at Q&A panels, battle it out at our Sketch Duels, and more.

Welcome to your anime arena. At FAN EXPO Chicago, you can meet voice actors, attend anime panels, join in on anime cosplay meetups, shop for unique anime memorabilia, attend anime-themed parties, and more.

Across galaxies, timelines, and everything in between, sci-fi excellence is making its way to FAN EXPO Chicago. From the biggest sci-fi stars to amazing panels, workshops, family events, and more, we have everything for Jedi, Doctors, and Officers.

Everyday is Halloween at FAN EXPO Chicago. With horrifyingly wonderful guests, horror fan meetups, and monsterous cosplay, you’ll be screaming your face off with joy.

We're bringing you to life with all things animation at FAN EXPO Chicago. Meet the voices behind your fave characters and join in amazing events and experiences that'll have you stop motioning in your tracks.

Ready to level up? We’re bringing the voices behind your fave video game characters to the show for Q&As and meet and greets. Plus, you can play all day at our Gaming Arena with video game tournaments, free play, and tabletop games.

From costuming to acting, our lineup of pros are on hand to show you how to take your skills to the next level. Attend a panel, check out a demo, or meet them one-on-one. Check the schedule for specific topics, days, and times.

Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 7:30 PM

Join The Lord of the Rings 25th Anniversary Reunion Tour: A Once-in-a-Generation Celebration as Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, and Billy Boyd reunite for to celebrate 25 years of Middle-earth magic. Choose from an exclusive backstage pass, team-up or individual photo ops and autographs, and tickets to their special panel, An Evening with the Hobbits: In Celebration of 25 Years.

Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 7:30 PM

Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum are bringing Smallville to FAN EXPO Chicago for one unforgettable night. Join Clark and Lex as they perform scenes from the series, direct fans onstage, and share behind-the-scenes laughs. Every attendee gets a keepsake, and a lucky few will win exclusive prizes.

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Join Colin for an exclusive VIP Meet & Greet featuring an intimate 25-minute Q&A session with just a handful of fans. Ask the questions you've always wanted answered, then seal the deal with an exclusive selfie.

You executed your vision and perfected each frame. Now’s your chance to share your short film at FAN EXPO’s first ever Fan Film Fest. After screening the short films of five lucky filmmakers, our industry jury will crown our first Fan Film Fest winner for the grand prize. Ready to show Chicago what you've got?

Ready to take the stage and show us your voice-acting talent? Submissions are now open, so sign up and let's see what you've got.

We like our beats with a fandom twist. DJ DFred is fueling the dancefloor with epic pop culture mashups to keep the energy up. But this isn’t an ordinary set. This is where music becomes interactive, immersive, and undeniably electrifying.