Fan Expo Dallas 2026: A Complete Guide to LotR Reunion
Fan Expo Dallas 2026 takes over the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center from Sept. 11 to 13. As the largest sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming event in Texas, first-time attendees should expect big crowds, long panel lines, and a convention center packed with fandom energy. Fan Expo Dallas 2026 covers a lot of ground this year, and this guide breaks down the venue layout, the Lord of the Rings 25th Anniversary celebration, the confirmed guest lineup, and how to spend your time on the show floor. Buy Fan Expo Dallas tickets at Event Tickets Center to lock in your pass before showtime.
Welcome to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
Located in the heart of downtown Dallas, the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center is a venue built for exactly this kind of event. The Exhibit Halls, A, B, and C, house the main Show Floor, Artist Alley, and vendor marketplace, while the ballrooms, A1 through A4 and C1 through C4, are reserved for major panels and Q&As. First-timers often underestimate how much walking is involved, so comfortable shoes, water, and a floor map picked up at the entrance go a long way.
- Friday, Sept. 11: 4 to 9 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 12: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 13: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What’s Special About Fan Expo Dallas 2026?
This year’s show is anchored by a Lord of the Rings 25th Anniversary celebration, bringing a strong fantasy presence to the convention center, along with exclusive anniversary merchandise for the occasion. Saturday night also features a different event, An Evening with the Hobbits, a storytelling and variety show centered on the original trilogy’s Hobbit actors reuniting outside the standard panel format.
Star-Studded Panels and Huge Reunions
The 2026 guest list is one of the biggest the show has assembled, headlined by three major reunions: the Lord of the Rings Hobbits, the cast of The Boys, and the Lethal Weapon duo of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Nicolas Cage rounds out the marquee names, and the roster keeps growing with voice actors, comic creators, and other pop-culture guests announced on a rolling basis. Fans hoping for autographs or a photo op with a specific guest should check the official schedule as it firms up closer to the event.
- Lord of the Rings 25th Anniversary Reunion: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd
- The Boys Cast Reunion: Karl Urban, Erin Moriarty, Karen Fukuhara, Tomer Capone, Colby Minifie, Valorie Curry, Laz Alonso
- Lethal Weapon Duo: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover
- Also Confirmed: Nicolas Cage, plus additional actors and comic creators announced on a rolling basis
Cosplay, Comics, and the Marketplace
Walking the show floor is a spectacle on its own, with detailed armor builds, iconic character costumes, and pop-culture mashups filling the aisles all weekend. Cosplayers get dedicated meetups, photo zones, and the always-popular Cosplay Showcase running throughout the show. Beyond the costumes, the marketplace itself spans roughly 400,000 square feet of vendors, ranging from major publishers to vintage toy collectors and specialty sellers.
Exploring the Show Floor and Artist Alley
This year’s show floor lineup includes a mix of major publishers, collectibles specialists, and pop culture retailers. Here are the confirmed exhibitors as of late August:
- Crimson Dawn
- Youtooz
- Game Over Videogames
- Collector Cave
- Knowhere Toys
- Wicked Lady
Artist Alley sits alongside the main floor and is where the event’s comic roots really show, with creators available for commissions, exclusive prints, and conversations about their latest work. It’s worth budgeting separate time for Artist Alley rather than treating it as a quick pass-through on the way to the vendor booths.
Plan Your Fan Expo Dallas 2026 Weekend
You now know how the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center is laid out, what’s new, and which exhibitors and guests to watch for. With a weekend this packed, it’s worth locking in your 3-day pass from agh. Event Tickets Center backs every order with our 100% Buyer Guarantee, so you can buy with confidence. Shop your Fan Expo Dallas 2026 3-day pass at Event Tickets Center
4-94-25
Sep 11
Fri • 4:00 PM
Fri
Sep 11
4:00 PM
Fan Expo Dallas – Friday
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
Dallas, TX
Get Tickets4-94-25
Sep 12
Sat • 10:00 AM
Sat
Sep 12
10:00 AM
Fan Expo Dallas – Saturday
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
Dallas, TX
Get Tickets4-94-25
Sep 13
Sun • 10:00 AM
Sun
Sep 13
10:00 AM
Fan Expo Dallas – Sunday
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
Dallas, TX
Get Tickets
