John Cena, Katee Sackhoff among celebs coming to Tampa Bay Comic Convention

Tampa Bay Comic Convention will bring an array of actors, voice performers, comic book artists, writers, vendors and cosplayers to the Tampa Bay Convention Center, 333 S Franklin St., Tampa

One of Florida’s largest pop-culture events, the convention will run Friday through Sunday, Sept. 4-6. Registration opens on Friday at 11 a.m. On Saturday and Sunday, registration opens at 9 a.m. Vendor floor hours will be Friday, 12:45 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10:45 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 10:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Panel programming will be offered on Friday from 1 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at tampabaycomicconvention.com.

Tampa Bay Comic Convention brings together fans of comics, anime, gaming, movies, and TV for an epic weekend of fandom. Attendees will have an opportunity to experience celebrity guests, an artist alley, cosplay, panels, and a massive exhibitor floor. Among this year’s celebrity guests are John Cena, Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley, Ethan Peck, Ernie Hudson, Anthony Michael Hall, James Marsters, Ron Perlman, Katee Sackhoff, and Ann-Margret. Also attending the convention will be several comic book artists and authors, such as JP Mavinga, Jeff Shanks, Gavin Smith, Stuart Sayger, Ron Garney, and Dan Parent. Authors John Scalzi, Hanna Harp, Jaysea Lynn, Fonda Lee, Kristin Wollet, Loretta Chefchaouni, and more also will be on hand.

Prices for single day passes start at $35 for Friday and Sunday, and $55 for Saturday. The price for a 3-day pass starts at $79. Prices for photo ops and autographs vary.

One of this year’s biggest celebrity guests is John Cena, former professional wrestler turned actor. He has appeared in films such as “Trainwreck,” “Blockers,” and “The Suicide Squad.” He currently portrays the titular character in “Peacemaker,” a superhero series streaming on HBO Max based on the character from DC Comics.

Actress Katee Sackhoff also is scheduled to participate in the convention. She is known for portraying Lieutenant Kara “Starbuck” Thrace on “Battlestar Galactica” during its 2003–2009 run on the Sci-Fi Channel. More recently, Sackhoff took on the role of Bo-Katan Kryze on “The Mandalorian.”

Ernie Hudson, who plays Winston Zeddemore in the “Ghostbusters” franchise, joins the lineup. Hudson, age 80, has been acting since the late 1970s. His early roles include appearances on television shows such as “Man from Atlantis,” “Fantasy Island,” and “The Incredible Hulk.” In addition to “Ghostbusters,” film roles include “Le, “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle” (1992), “The Crow” (1994), “Congo” (1995), and countless others

Several cast members from the Paramount+ series “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” will be appearing at the convention, including Paul Wesley, Ethan Peck, and Christina Chong. Paramount+ is currently streaming the fourth season of “Strange New Worlds.” A fifth and final season is expected to premiere in 2027.

Panel programming at the convention will cover cosplay topics, trivia, anime, writing and publishing, book signings, art and animation, role-playing and tabletop games, and more. Examples include “The Impact and Importance of Black Women in Comics and Manga,” “Being Weird for a Living,” “Spider-Man Psychology: Untangling Webs,” and “Video Game and Japanese Voice Casting.” In the Anime Screening Room, attendees can check out episodes of “Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon,” “Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet,” “Hunter X Hunter Phantom Rouge,” and “Bleach.”

For an updated list of guests and programming, visit tampabaycomicconvention.com.