HeroesCon 2026 — June 12–14, 2026
2026-06-12 - 2026-06-14 | NC
HeroesCon 2026 Charlotte Convention Center — June 12–14, 2026
One of the most beloved comic and pop culture conventions in the Southeast returns to Charlotte for another legendary weekend. Founded in 1982 by Shelton Drum of Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find, HeroesCon has built its reputation on a comics-first, family-friendly atmosphere where fans mingle directly with professionals and exhibitors — and 2026 is shaping up to be their biggest year yet.
This year’s featured guest list is their largest ever, headlined by comic legends including Mark Bagley, Chris Claremont, Michael Golden, Mark Buckingham, Steve Epting, and many more. Artist Alley and exhibitor listings are also live, so you can plan your shopping strategy before you arrive.
What to expect:

Hundreds of comic dealers, TCG vendors, and collectibles exhibitors
Artist Alley is packed with independent creators
Panels, workshops, and programming all weekend
Cosplay from across the Southeast
Family friendly — kids 16 & under get in free with a paying adult

Hours:

Friday, June 12: 11 am – 7 pm
Saturday, June 13: 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday, June 14: 11 am – 6 pm

Tickets: Single-day passes are $40 on Friday and Saturday and $35 on Sunday at the door — save $5 per day by buying in advance. A 3-day advance pass is $75. Note: Saturday is sold out, and only a limited number of Sunday tickets remain — grab yours now.
Location: Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S College St, Charlotte, NC 28202
👉 Get tickets and full details at HeroesCon.com
Listed on Games & Hobby Finder NC — your home for NC gaming events, local stores, and hobby shops.

Wilmington Anime-Fest
2026-06-28 10:00 - 17:00 UTC | NC
Wilmington’s premier anime convention is back for another summer at the beautiful Hotel Ballast on the riverfront. The Wilmington Anime Fest is an anime collector’s paradise, striving to be North Carolina’s most authentic and fan-focused anime event—and it delivers on that promise year after year.
Expect a full floor of exhibitors covering anime, candy, manga, toys, video games, retro collectibles, cosplay supplies, artwork, apparel, jewelry, and more. In addition to the vendor hall, a roster of anime industry professionals and fandom-related celebrities will be on hand for meet and greets throughout the day.
Whether you’re a lifelong otaku or just getting into the world of Japanese animation, there’s plenty here for every level of fan. Cosplay is highly encouraged and always a highlight of the event.
What to expect:

Anime, manga, and pop culture vendors
Cosplay meetups and community photos
Fan panels and special guest appearances
Free parking at the venue
Family-friendly — kids 11 and under get in free with a paying adult

Tickets: $20 at the door or in advance online. No price difference — grab them either way at the Hotel Ballast registration desk on the day of the show.
Location: Hotel Ballast, Wilmington, is located in the heart of downtown Wilmington on the Cape Fear River—an easy walk from the Riverwalk and local dining.
👉 Get tickets and full details at WilmingtonAnimeFest.com
Listed on Games & Hobby Finder NC — your home for NC gaming events, local stores, and hobby shops.

GalaxyCon Raleigh
2026-07-23 - 2026-07-26 | NC
One of NC’s biggest pop culture events of the year, GalaxyCon Raleigh returns to the Raleigh Convention Center for four full days of fandom, gaming, cosplay, and celebrity meet-and-greets. This is a festival of fandom in the truest sense—where fans of comics, sci-fi, fantasy, anime, gaming, and more all find their people under one roof.
The 2026 guest list includes celebrities, artists, writers, voice actors, cosplayers, entertainers, wrestlers, fan groups, and panelists from across the entertainment world. Confirmed guests include actor Zach Aguilar, Nick Apostolides, the 501st Legion Star Wars Costumers, and many more, with additional announcements expected through the summer.
VIP ticket holders get access to the Friday Night VIP Cocktail Party featuring celebrity and professional guests; fast lane access for autographs and photo ops; early entry; exclusive badges and merchandise; and a limited edition 11×17 print.
What to expect:

Celebrity Q&A sessions, autograph signings, and photo opportunities
Exclusive panels and workshops
Massive vendor and exhibitor halls — comics, collectibles, gaming, and more
Tabletop and video gaming zones
Cosplay contests and community events
Late-night programming on Friday and Saturday

Tickets: Single-day, 3-day, and 4-day passes available. VIP and Premium Reserve VIP tiers offer early entry, party access, exclusive swag, and fast lane privileges. Note: A small number of VIP events and premier celebrity experiences require separate tickets.
Pro tip: Use code GGE2026 for a discount on Game & Geek Expo tickets in September — two great cons in one summer!
👉 Get tickets and full details at GalaxyCon.com
Listed on Games & Hobby Finder NC — your home for NC gaming events, local stores, and hobby shops.

Charlotte Comicon
2026-08-08 | Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa, 5400 John Q. Hammons Dr NW, Concord, NC, 28027, United States
Charlotte Comicon returns to the Embassy Suites Charlotte Concord for a one-day celebration of comics, collectibles, and pop culture on August 8, 2026.
Expect vendor tables loaded with comics, toys, and memorabilia, artist alley, and cosplay throughout the day — a solid warm-up for Mad Monster Expo, which lands at the same venue two weeks later.
Stock up on back issues and grading supplies before you go — browse comic shops and collectibles stores across NC.

Greenville Comic Con
2026-08-08 | Greenville North Carolina Convention Center, 303 Greenville Blvd SW, Greenville, NC, 27834, United States
Greenville Comic Con brings a day of comics, collectibles, and fandom to the Greenville Convention Center on August 8, 2026 — eastern NC’s chance to get its own con fix the same weekend Charlotte and Concord are hosting theirs.
Expect local vendors, artists, and cosplay in a smaller, community-focused format.
Looking for comic shops near Greenville the rest of the year? Check our NC directory.

GPL Anime Con
2026-08-08 10:00 - 17:00 | NC
One of the most accessible and community-driven events in the Triad, GPL Anime Con is a single-day mini-convention hosted by the Greensboro Public Library, dedicated to bringing the Greensboro fan community together around manga, anime, video games, cosplay, and Asian pop culture.
This is a true community event—organized by the library, free for everyone, and welcoming to all ages. It’s the kind of con where seasoned fans and curious newcomers sit side by side and where the love of the art form takes center stage over ticket prices and vendor upsells.
The 2026 edition features cool cosplay, educational and entertaining panels, talented artists, vendors, special guests, and workshops. A confirmed panelist this year is Jesi Routh, a Japanese language instructor at UNC Greensboro, who will bring her extensive background in Japanese language and culture to the programming lineup. More guests and programming are expected to be announced as the event approaches.
What to expect:

Anime, manga, and pop culture panels and workshops
Artists and vendors
Cosplay from across the Triad community
Special guests and fan programming
Activities for children
100% free admission — no tickets required

Location: Greensboro Public Library – Central Library. Check the library’s event page for parking and accessibility details.
👉 Full details and updates at library.greensboro-nc.gov
Listed on Games & Hobby Finder NC — your home for NC gaming events, local stores, and hobby shops.

Queen City Anime Con
2026-08-14 - 2026-08-16 | Sheraton Charlotte Hotel, 555 South McDowell Street, Charlotte, NC, 28204, United States
Queen City Anime Con takes over the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel August 14–16, 2026, for three days of anime, manga, cosplay, and Asian pop culture programming.
Expect artist alley, vendor rooms, cosplay contests, panels, and late-night events across the weekend.
Between conventions, keep the anime and TCG habit going — find Charlotte-area card shops and hobby stores in our directory.

Mad Monster Expo 2026
2026-08-21 18:00 - 2026-08-23 17:00 | Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa, 5400 John Q. Hammons Dr NW, Concord, NC, 28027, United States
Carolina’s premier horror, sci-fi, and pop-culture expo returns to Concord for three days of madness, August 21u201323, 2026. Mad Monster Expo brings genre celebrities, vendors, panels, a film festival, and professional photo-ops to the Embassy Suites Charlotte Concord.
Hours: Friday 6u201311 PM, Saturday 11 AMu20137 PM, Sunday 11 AMu20135 PM. Kids 12 and under get in free with a ticketed adult.
If horror collectibles, movie memorabilia, and genre fandom are your thing, this is the Charlotte-area event to circle on the calendar. Warm up for it by visiting the comic and collectible shops in our directory u2014 browse 100+ NC game and hobby stores.

Collect-A-Con Charlotte 2026
2026-08-22 10:00 - 2026-08-23 17:00 | Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S College St, Charlotte, NC, 28202, United States
The nation’s largest trading card, anime, and pop culture convention returns to the Charlotte Convention Center August 22u201323, 2026, with over 900 vendor tables. Expect Poku00e9mon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Lorcana, sports cards, Funko POP!s, comics, vintage toys, video games, celebrity guests, and live performances.
Hours: Saturday 10 AMu20136 PM, Sunday 10 AMu20135 PM.
If you collect or play TCGs anywhere in the Carolinas, this is the can’t-miss weekend of the summer. Keep the momentum going year-round u2014 find local card shops and weekly play near you in our NC directory.

Game and Geek Expo 2026
2026-09-05 10:00 - 2026-09-06 16:00 | Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
Raleigh’s homegrown gaming convention is back for year two, September 5u20136, 2026 at the Raleigh Convention Center. Game and Geek Expo packs gaming tournaments, freeplay areas, arcades, TCG and tabletop gaming, retro and modern consoles, a 150+ vendor mega marketplace, cosplay contests, panels, and celebrity guests into one weekend.
Hours: Saturday 10 AMu20136 PM, Sunday 10 AMu20134 PM. Kids 12 and under free with a paid adult.
This one is about as perfect a fit for NC gamers and hobbyists as it gets u2014 tabletop, TCG, retro, and everything in between. Find your local crew before the show: browse game stores and gaming venues across NC.

Epic Mighty Con
2026-09-19 | Wendell Community Center, 601 W 3rd St, Wendell, NC, 27591, United States
Epic Mighty Con brings a community-scale celebration of comics, gaming, and pop culture to the Wendell Community Center on September 19, 2026.
A smaller, family-friendly con format with local vendors, cosplay, and gaming tables — a great option for folks in the Wake Forest/Wendell/Zebulon area who want to skip the big-city convention crowds.
Find game stores and hobby shops near Wendell to round out your weekend.

MoTownCon
2026-10-31 | Merino Mill, 500 S Main St, Mooresville, NC, 28115, United States
MoTownCon lands at the Merino Mill in Mooresville on October 31, 2026 — a Halloween-weekend celebration of comics, gaming, and pop culture in a historic mill space.
Expect vendors, cosplay, and gaming tables in a unique industrial-chic venue.
Browse Lake Norman-area game and hobby stores before the con.

NC Comicon: Bull City 2026
2026-11-14 10:00 - 2026-11-15 17:00 | Durham Convention Center, 301 W Morgan St, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
Locally owned and proud of it, NC Comicon closes out the convention year November 14u201315, 2026 at the Durham Convention Center. This creator-focused celebration of comics and pop culture covers comics, cosplay, gaming, film, animation, and design in an intimate, welcoming atmosphere.
Family friendly: children 11 and under get free admission with a paid adult.
Support the Triangle’s homegrown con scene u2014 and if you’re hunting for comics and collectibles the other 363 days of the year, check out the comic and hobby shops in our NC directory.
