NotableOFFICIALConvention · Live schedule
Dragon Con publishes its 2026 schedule for the September 3–7 convention in Atlanta
Dragon Con runs across downtown host hotels and venues in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
The official scheduling application now lists events across animation, anime and manga, author signings, comics and pop art, costuming, group cosplay photo shoots, Star Wars, tabletop and video games. Rooms, guests and events can still change before and during September 3–7.
Why it mattersAttendees can finally build conflict-aware itineraries across a dispersed venue footprint, but should refresh the app because late revisions can change travel time and access.
NotableREPORTEDConvention · Celebrity appearance
Mark Hamill schedules a rare FAN EXPO Canada appearance and Saturday panel in Toronto
FAN EXPO Canada runs August 27–30 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
TorontoToday reported that the Star Wars actor is scheduled for a panel at 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 29. Limited VIP packages were sold out when the report appeared, but that does not mean all convention admission is sold out.
Why it mattersThe exact panel time gives Star Wars fans a practical reason to revise weekend plans, while the late announcement and sellout make ordinary admission and schedule checks more important.
NotableExplainerOFFICIALConvention series · Trading-card organized play
MagicCon is Wizards of the Coast's premier in-person convention series for Magic: The Gathering players, collectors and competitive play.
Wizards announced on July 17 that MagicCon will visit Detroit, United States, February 26-28; Tokyo, Japan, May 14-16; Las Vegas, United States, August 27-29; and Amsterdam, Netherlands, December 3-5, 2027. Detroit, Tokyo and Las Vegas host Pro Tours, Amsterdam hosts Magic World Championship 33, and the Magic Limited Championship runs June 18-20 in Minneapolis, United States; badges and venues remain unannounced.
Why it mattersThe completed itinerary lets international attendees budget travel a year ahead and gives competitive players exact destinations for the season's three Pro Tours, Limited championship and world final.
Read the full explainer →NotableREPORTEDConvention · Cosplay and community programming
CCXP 2026 opens cosplay-tournament registration September 25 and expands community stages in São Paulo
CCXP 2026 runs December 3–6 at São Paulo Expo in São Paulo, Brazil.
HQPOP reports that online qualifying will select 60 cosplayers for live heats from Thursday through Saturday and 12 Sunday finalists. Palco Universe expands into games, creators and music; Palco Omni adds community guilds, and Magic Market adds daily tabletop role-playing sessions and medieval battles.
Why it mattersCosplayers now have a firm application date and selection shape, while RPG, collector and creator groups gain scheduled paths to participate rather than only shop or watch panels.
NotableOFFICIALAnime convention · Dates and hours
Anime NYC sets its 2027 convention for August 26–29 at New York City's Javits Center
Anime NYC is a four-day Japanese pop-culture convention at the Javits Center, 445 11th Avenue, New York City, New York, United States.
The owner page now lists show-floor hours of 1–8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday. Panels continue until 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; tickets, guests and detailed programming are not yet announced.
Why it mattersFans travelling to New York can reserve dates and compare a fourth day of access, while waiting for ticket tiers before making non-refundable plans.
NotableOFFICIALMulti-site event · Anime season launch
AoaShi Season 2 plans an eight-centre kick-off fair and an October 12 Kawasaki cast event
The kick-off fair is an in-person Japanese campaign ahead of the second television season of the youth-football anime AoaShi.
Eight Mitsui Shopping Park facilities across Japan will host pop-up shopping, photo spots, purchase bonuses and a social campaign. A separate free-space program runs October 12 from 1 to 2 p.m. at LAZONA Kawasaki Plaza's second-floor Roofa Square in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan, with voice actors Koki Osuzu and Chikahiro Kobayashi plus singer Ai Higuchi.
Why it mattersThe named sites and timed stage program give fans a concrete way to mark the anime's return and meet its creative voices, beyond a routine merchandise notice.
NicheOFFICIALMulti-site event · Anime anniversary campaign
Jujutsu Kaisen sets a nationwide Japanese fifth-anniversary campaign for September 29 to October 14
The campaign marks five years of the Jujutsu Kaisen television anime through a temporary collaboration with LaLaport centres and LAZONA Kawasaki Plaza across Japan.
The anime production announced new character artwork in clothing by fashion brand niko and ..., an anniversary pop-up store, original goods and facility-specific programs. The multi-site event runs September 29 through October 14; participating-facility and purchase-condition details are due September 10 and may vary by location.
Why it mattersThe fixed national window gives Japanese fans an in-person anniversary program built around new production art, while the promised update lets visitors wait for exact local access terms before planning travel or purchases.
NotableOFFICIALConvention · Guest cancellation
Martha Plimpton cancels her FAN EXPO Canada appearance in Toronto
FAN EXPO Canada runs August 27–30 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Plimpton was part of its announced The Goonies guest group.
The convention's official guest page listed Martha Plimpton among its cancelled guests on August 24. It gives no reason and does not state universal refund terms for affected autograph, photo or package purchases.
Why it mattersAnyone who planned the weekend around Plimpton should recheck purchased experiences and the live roster before travelling, while the wider convention remains scheduled.
NotableREPORTEDConvention · Program and exhibitor scale
SOFA 2026 confirms 465 exhibitors and a community-built multifandom program in Bogotá
SOFA, the Salón del Ocio y la Fantasía, runs October 8–12 at Corferias in Bogotá, Colombia.
Cablenoticias reports that 465 exhibitors are confirmed for programming shaped around fan identity and participating communities. Announced areas span cosplay, games, illustration, manga and anime, fantasy literature, collectibles, tabletop play, science, art and technology.
Why it mattersVisitors can now judge the event as a broad five-day community gathering rather than a single-medium expo, although the day-by-day timetable and full exhibitor list still remain to come.
NicheREPORTEDFan festival · Hallyu, anime and cosplay
Tuxtla Gutiérrez launches a free Hallyu and otaku festival on August 27 in Chiapas, Mexico
The first Festival de Cultura Pop Oriental is a municipal event for Korean-pop, anime, manga and cosplay communities.
A regional report attributes to Tuxtla's municipal arts institute a 5–9 p.m. program on Thursday, August 27 at the Parque Bicentenario esplanade in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico. Entry and anime-drawing workshops are free; K-pop dance, manga exchange, local vendors and cosplay prizes are planned.
Why it mattersThe no-cost format gives local fans a practical first gathering with both performance and making activities, rather than only a commercial fair.
NicheREPORTEDConvention · Attendance and community outcome
La Palma Summer-Con reports 2,500 attendees for its fifth edition in El Paso, Spain
The regional pop-culture convention ran August 21–23 at the Polideportivo Municipal de El Paso in El Paso, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain.
elDiario.es reports an organizer-supplied total of 2,500 attendees, about 30 cosplay-runway participants, an Artist Alley and a new retro area. Organizers also plan another Canarias Summer-Con on Gran Canaria, but have not announced dates.
Why it mattersThe turnout documents the durability of a smaller island fandom scene and the planned Gran Canaria follow-up points to regional expansion, though the counts are not independently audited.
NicheREPORTEDAnime convention · Free community event
San José holds its first free anime expo on August 30 in Entre Ríos, Argentina
Expo Anime San José is a new municipal gathering for anime, cosplay, drawing, games and dance fans.
The event begins at 1 p.m. Sunday, August 30 at Casa del Bicentenario in San José, Entre Ríos, Argentina. The announced program includes Orenji from Concordia, host Akira Kaneto from Buenos Aires, child and adult drawing and cosplay contests, games, a vendor fair and dance performance.
Why it mattersFree entry and separate child and adult contests lower the barrier for a local community to participate in its first dedicated anime event.