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Your Guide to London Comic Con 2026: Dates, Highlights and Survival Tips
March 30, 2026•By The Comicsure Team

Your Guide to London Comic Con 2026: Dates, Highlights and Survival Tips

Your Guide to London Comic Con 2026: Dates, Highlights and Survival Tips

London Comic Con and MCM London Comic Con have grown into the biggest pop‑culture weekends in the UK, drawing well over a hundred thousand fans to ExCeL London to celebrate comics, anime, gaming, TV, film and cosplay. If you are thinking about going in 2026 – whether it is your first con or your tenth – a bit of planning will make the experience much better.

This guide walks you through the key dates, what to expect on the show floor, and practical tips on what to bring, how to pace your day and how to get the most out of the weekend.

Key dates and venue for 2026

For 2026, MCM London Comic Con returns twice:

  • Spring MCM London Comic Con 2026

    • Dates: 22–24 May 2026
    • Venue: ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL

  • Autumn MCM London Comic Con 2026

    • Dates: 23–25 October 2026
    • Venue: ExCeL London

There is also London Comic Con Spring 2026, a separate event held at Olympia London from 28 February–1 March 2026, run by Showmasters Events. This guide focuses mainly on the big ExCeL shows, but many of the tips apply to both.

What happens at London Comic Con?

MCM London Comic Con has evolved into a huge multi‑fandom convention, but there are some core areas you will see every time.

Dealer hall

The main show floor is packed with:

  • Comic book dealers, from back‑issue specialists to new‑release stands.
  • Manga, light novels and merch from big UK retailers and small presses.
  • Trading card game sellers (Pokémon, Magic, Yu‑Gi‑Oh!, sports cards) plus sealed product.
  • Figures, statues, art books, apparel, prints and all manner of fandom merch.

It is easy to spend hours just browsing the dealer hall – and equally easy to lose track of time and budget.

Artist Alley and independent creators

Artist Alley is where you will find:

  • Independent artists selling prints, commissions and original pieces.
  • Comic writers and illustrators with their own tables.
  • Zines, small‑press comics and self‑published books you will not see in chain stores.

Many artists offer on‑the‑day head sketches, pre‑booked commissions, and live drawing sessions on dedicated stages.

Guests, panels and stages

One of the big draws of MCM London is the guest line‑up:

  • TV and film actors, voice actors and directors doing Q&As and photo ops.
  • Comic creators and authors talking about their work and the industry.
  • Live podcasts, screenings, game shows and fan‑run talks.

The Main Stage and other stages host panels throughout the day; schedules are published in advance on the official site so you can plan.

Cosplay and community zones

Cosplay is a huge part of the atmosphere:

  • Cosplay meet‑ups for specific series, games or genres.
  • Cosplay Central, with a dedicated stage, workshops and photo areas.
  • Informal photo shoots all over the venue – from the concourse to nearby docks.

Even if you do not cosplay yourself, it is worth planning time just to people‑watch and enjoy the creativity.

Themed areas

Recent shows have included themed zones such as:

  • The Treehouse – family‑friendly activities and kids’ content.
  • Tabletop Zone – board games and TTRPG demos.
  • Pop Asia, Writers Block, Forest Glade – spaces focused on specific interests like K‑culture, books and crafts.

These are good places to take a breather from the main hall while still doing something fun.

Tickets, entry and queues

A few practical notes on getting in and getting around:

  • Tickets

    • Buy in advance; big days often sell out.
    • There are usually options for single‑day and weekend passes.

  • Entry times

    • Early entry tickets let you onto the floor before general admission, which is useful if you are hunting specific exclusives.
    • Security bag checks can create queues, especially at opening, so allow time.

  • Re‑entry

    • You can typically leave and re‑enter; you will be given a wristband or have your ticket scanned again, but always check the current rules on the official site.

Arriving early, especially on the Saturday, makes a big difference to crowd levels at the start of the day.

Planning your day: panels vs shopping vs meet‑ups

London Comic Con can be overwhelming if you try to do everything. A simple plan helps:

  1. Check the schedule ahead of time

    • Note must‑see panels, signings or competitions.
    • Build rough time blocks around those anchor points.

  2. Prioritise your “must‑buy” items

    • Make a short list of key comics, cards, prints or exclusives you are hunting.
    • Tackle those early in the day before stock disappears.

  3. Leave buffer time

    • Queues, spontaneous finds and meet‑ups always take longer than expected.
    • Factor in breaks for food, water and just sitting down.

  4. Plan meet‑ups carefully

    • Agree specific landmarks inside or just outside ExCeL (it is easy to lose people in the crowd).
    • Use messaging apps rather than relying on mobile calls – reception can be patchy when it is busy.

Think of your day as a mix of fixed appointments (panels, booked photo ops) and flexible blocks (dealer hall, Artist Alley, cosplay watching).

What to bring: packing list

A small amount of preparation goes a long way to making your day more comfortable.

Essentials

  • Comfortable shoes – you will easily walk tens of thousands of steps over a full day.
  • Refillable water bottle – ExCeL has water points; staying hydrated helps a lot.
  • Snacks – convention centre food queues and prices are not always friendly.
  • Portable battery pack – photos, social media and schedule apps drain phones quickly.
  • A small backpack or shoulder bag – big enough for purchases, not so big it becomes a burden.

For collectors

  • Comic/storage folders or deck boxes for any books or cards you bring and buy.
  • Top loaders and sleeves for signed items or particularly nice finds.
  • A solid poster tube if you plan on picking up prints or posters.
  • A simple inventory list (even a phone note) of books/cards you are bringing for signing, so you do not forget anything.

For cosplayers

  • Repair kit – safety pins, tape, small sewing kit, spare fastenings.
  • Comfort layer – something warm or cool depending on the weather, especially if your costume is not practical for travel.
  • Change of shoes – some people do the halls in comfortable footwear and swap into costume shoes for photos.

Food, breaks and pacing yourself

It is tempting to try to power through the whole day, but you will enjoy it more if you pace yourself:

  • Food options

    • ExCeL and nearby areas have a mix of chains and pop‑up stands; queues spike at peak lunch.
    • Consider eating slightly earlier or later than everyone else to avoid the worst of the lines.

  • Break zones

    • There are seating areas around the concourse and sometimes dedicated chill‑out spaces linked to different zones (family areas, tabletop areas, etc.).
    • Use these to regroup, sort your bags and check the schedule.

  • Noise and sensory overload

    • Cons are loud, bright and crowded; if you are sensitive to sensory input, plan quiet breaks outside or in calmer corners of the venue.

A simple rule of thumb: every couple of hours, sit down, drink some water, check you still have all your bags and tickets, then go again.

Getting there and away

ExCeL London is in the Royal Docks area in East London.

  • Public transport

    • The Elizabeth line and DLR are the usual ways in; Custom House and Prince Regent stations are closest.
    • Trains can be very crowded at opening and closing times – if you can travel slightly off‑peak it is more comfortable.

  • Driving

    • There is parking at ExCeL, but spaces are limited and can be expensive.
    • If you do drive, check current parking info and book if possible.

  • Staying over

    • Nearby hotels (and some Airbnbs) book up early for con weekends.
    • If you want to stay within walking distance, it is worth booking months in advance.

Leaving a little earlier or later than absolute closing can make the trip home much less stressful.

London Comic Con Spring at Olympia

If you are attending London Comic Con Spring 2026 at Olympia instead of (or as well as) MCM, expect a similar mix of dealers, guests and cosplay in a different venue.

The Olympia layout is more vertical and old‑school than ExCeL’s sprawling halls, but the same tips apply:

  • Arrive early, wear good shoes, pack light but smart.
  • Check the guest list and panel schedule in advance.
  • Plan time for photos, browsing and breaks – not just shopping.

Final tips for first‑timers

To wrap up, a few quick pointers if this is your first big UK Comic Con:

  • Do not try to do everything – pick a few must‑see things and treat everything else as a bonus.
  • Look after yourself – water, food, breaks and comfortable clothes make a bigger difference than you think.
  • Be respectful – always ask before photographing cosplayers, be mindful of queues and give people space when you can.
  • Keep an eye on your stuff – crowds are busy and distracting; a quick bag check every so often becomes a good habit.
  • Enjoy the atmosphere – some of the best moments are unscheduled: random conversations, surprise finds, seeing a favourite character in the crowd.

Whether you are there for comics, cards, cosplay, guests or all of the above, London Comic Con 2026 is one of the best weekends of the year to dive deep into the things you love and share them with thousands of other fans.