In 2019, Emerald City Comic Con, the annual comic book convention in Seattle, came this close to drawing 100,000 attendees after years of steady increases. (The final tally was about 98,000.) Then COVID-19 hit in 2020, upending the world — and conventions — as we knew them.
It’s taken a few years since the start of the pandemic, but ECCC is again within striking distance of that six-figure number. According to ECCC, more than 90,000 people visited the four-day event at the Seattle Convention Center last year to meet celebrities, authors and comic creators — and get those autographs and photo ops, of course.
Will 2026’s convention, running March 5-8, finally see 100,000 attendees? ReedPop, the event organizer behind ECCC, is certainly making the effort.
“(ECCC) has grown considerably this year,” says event manager Chris D’Lando, highlighting the sheer amount of programming this year, all happening across three show floors at the downtown convention center.
Speaking of, here are some highlights for this year’s convention.
Autographs and photo ops
Among this year’s featured guests: William Shatner (“Star Trek”), Hayden Christensen (“Star Wars”), Kyle MacLachlan (“Twin Peaks”) and the cast of “Critical Role.” Others on the guest list who will be available for autographs and photo ops include:
- Laz Alonso (“The Boys”)
- Terry Brooks (author of “Shannara” series)
- Courtney Eaton (“Yellowjackets”)
- Cary Elwes (“Princess Bride”)
- Jennifer English (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
- Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”)
- Pom Klementieff (“Guardians of the Galaxy”)
- Sophie Nélisse (“Heated Rivalry”)
- Nolan North (Uncharted)
- Michael Rooker (“Guardians of the Galaxy”)
- Tom Skerritt (“Alien”)
- Ian Somerhalder (“Vampire Diaries”)
- Ben Starr (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
- Karl Urban (“The Boys”)
- Ming-Na Wen (“Agents of Shield”)
- Kiersten White (author of “Camelot Rising”)
Note that photo ops and autographs aren’t included in the price of show floor tickets, and some require reservations; you’ll have to pay extra for those. Check emeraldcitycomiccon.com for each guest’s availability and pricing info.
Panels
This year’s panels offer insights into some of the leading trends in pop culture, from the buzz of the romantasy genre to one of the best games to release in recent years. Highlights include:
- “Inside Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” (12:45 p.m. March 6): Ben Starr and Jennifer English, voice actors for the critically acclaimed video game, will discuss their experience in helping bring the character-driven game to life. “Fans can expect behind-the-scenes insights, production anecdotes, and a fun look at the craft of modern video game performance,” according to ECCC.
- “Where Fantasy Meets Romance” (4:15 p.m. March 6): Five authors will discuss their writing process, the difference between fantasy-romance and romantic fantasy, and why romantasy resonates with so many readers. (Related: “Romantasy Superstars,” 3:45 p.m. March 7.)
- “Let’s Make a Video Game: Live on Stage” (7:15 p.m. March 6): A group of industry veterans will have 60 minutes to make a game. Will they succeed? Is it even possible? A 30-minute Q&A will follow.
- “Adventures in Exandria: Live with Critical Role” (11 a.m. March 8): The cast of the hugely popular “Critical Role” show will share behind-the-scenes stories and reflect on their nail-biting adventures in the world of Exandria.
- “Spotlight on Julia Quinn” (1:30 p.m. March 8): The Seattleite and bestselling author of the “Bridgerton” novels is making her ECCC debut, where she’ll discuss her latest works.
Artists Alley and Writers Block
Looking to see your favorite writer or artist at work or to learn about their artistic process? Artists Alley and Writers Block are the places to be. Some highlights include:
- Arthur Adams (“X-Men,” “Godzilla”)
- Denys Cowan (“Black Panther,” “The Question”)
- Matt Dinniman (“Dungeon Crawler Carl”)
- Jeph Loeb (“Batman: Hush,” “X-Men of Apocalypse”)
- SenLinYu (“Alchemised”)
Community Stage
New this year, the Community Stage (running 10 a.m.-7 p.m. March 7 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 8) is a hub for live art, comedy, games and performances. According to D’Lando, the goal is to highlight community programming on a more quick-bite level. Adjacent to Artists Alley, the stage will also have a bar for those 21 years and older.
After Dark
On March 5-7, after the show floor hours end, the party continues at After Dark. “We want to make sure you have a full, full day of entertainment,” D’Lando says. This year’s highlights include:
- Fables After Dark Party (8-10:30 p.m. March 6; 18 and older to attend, 21 and older to drink): Travel back to olden times with this fantasy-themed party, featuring a DJ, burlesque, drag and more. Costumes (think princess or ogre) are highly encouraged.
- ECCC x The End present Taking Back ECCC: A Pop Punk After Party (8-10:15 p.m. March 7; 18 and older to attend, 21 and older to drink): Another party, another throwback, this one featuring live music from Seattle’s Hannah Duckworth. The theme: the emo and alt hits of the 2000s (and all-black outfits).