A past entrance to the MEGACON Orlando show floor, where vendors, exhibits, activities, the celebrity zone, and cosplays all live. Photo courtesy of MEGACON Orlando.
MEGACON Orlando is back, and the annual convention opens its doors on March 19, 2026. The convention promises to be larger than in previous years, and that’s not exclusive to MEGACON.
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By Alyssa Cortes
ORLANDO, Fla. — MEGACON Orlando makes its annual return to the Orange County Convention Center March 19-22, 2026.
Attendees of the convention have four days to attend panels, celebrity meet-and-greets, programs, and more. Single-day pass prices range from $28 to $64, while a four-day pass costs $139.
The ever-growing list of guests includes celebrities, actors from animated films and shows, anime and video games, comic book authors and illustrators, and cosplayers. Appearances from John Cena, Diego Luna, and Orlando Bloom, to actors from The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Marvel, Stranger Things, and Broadway. From voiceover work legend Jim Cummings, to stars of Clone Wars and KPOP Demon Hunters. To anime actors from My Hero Academia, One Piece, Dragon Ball, and video game stars from Resident Evil and Marvel Rivals, just to name a few. MEGACON has a fandom for everyone.
Key events at this year’s convention include a 25th anniversary reunion of The Lord of the Rings, with actors Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, and Dominic Monaghan. In addition to celebrities, attendees can shop from a variety of booths and vendors on the show floor. Attendees can also enjoy exclusive after-hours activities, including MEGACON night at Universal Orlando Resort, Anime After Dark, and after-parties.
The sheer scale of this convention is a newer phenomenon. Comic cons have grown substantially since the first San Diego Comic-Con in 1970, which had around 100 participants. Today, conventions like MEGACON in 2025 alone saw more than 180,000 attendees.
Tom Hiddleston at his panel hosted at the 2024 MEGACON Orlando convention, where he discussed all things Loki and Marvel post the release of his Disney+ show, Loki. Photo courtesy of MEGACON Orlando.
“Culturally, comic cons provide a safe space for both the casual attendee and the ardent fan, thereby creating a smaller expressionistic niche within an already niche industry,” said Sean Bliznik, assistant professor at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. “Whereas many businesses cannot change their offering directly, such as a hotel’s theme or a restaurant’s location, Comic-Cons can alter both their location and their content to meet an ever-changing and ever-demanding, but appreciative, crowd.”
Conventions don’t just celebrate fandom; they give studios and talent an opportunity to directly engage with fans and communities that consume their work.
“As fandom has moved more mainstream, MEGACON Orlando reflects that evolution in real time,” said Andrew Moyes, vice president of FAN EXPO HQ. “What was once considered subculture is now driving box office success, streaming dominance, gaming culture, and even fashion, and MEGACON brings all of that together under one roof.”
In 2025, 92% of Americans said they are fans of something. For Gen Z, fandom is more than an infatuation; it’s personal. From mass binging media content, to an influx in fanfiction consumption, to Discord and livestreams highs, fan-driven content has taken over. According to Deloitte, last year, Gen Z spent over six hours daily consuming media.
“MEGACON reflects how Gen Z experiences culture — immersive, participatory, and creator-driven, giving them a sense of belonging and ownership that goes far beyond just being spectators,” said Moyes. “MEGACON delivers real-world connection, whether that’s meeting the celebrities behind their favorite franchises, expressing themselves through cosplay, or bonding with fans across film, gaming, anime, and comics, all in one space.”
With more Gen Z fans attending comic cons in record numbers, stepping into a convention hall for the first time can be overwhelming.
“It’s my first time at a con like this, and I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Aaron Dunn, a first-time attendee of the 2025 convention. “It’s absolutely huge — and incredible.”
MEGACON opens its doors later this month, and fans are already sharing their daily cosplays.