Liverpool Comic Con brought 50,000 fans to the city this weekend, turning the Exhibition Centre into a packed celebration of film, television, comics and gaming.
“Cosplayers2026” by Xobnkaj is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
For a first-time visitor, the scale of the event was the first thing that stood out. From the moment the doors opened, crowds poured through the venue, moving between autograph queues, panel rooms and merchandise stalls. Every part of the convention floor was busy, with fans in costume stopping for photos and groups gathering around giant props from some of pop culture’s biggest franchises.
My recommendations for Comic Con
What makes Comic Con so striking is how quickly it pulls you into its world. One minute you are walking past stalls selling vintage comics and collectibles, the next you are standing beside a life-sized Goku, a full-scale TARDIS from Doctor Who, or the famous Ghostbusters van. The props were some of the most eye-catching parts of the day and gave the event a sense of scale that made it feel more immersive than a standard fan convention.
Even the food stalls joined in. One of the highlights for me was the Krypton Hot Dogs stand, a simple but clever Superman reference that summed up the event’s attention to detail. It was a small touch, but one that added to the feeling that every part of Comic Con had been built with fans in mind.
Comic-Con was packed.
One of the strangest parts of the day was how normal it became to see celebrities walking around. At most events, spotting a famous face would be the standout moment. At Comic Con, it quickly became part of the background. Fans could be browsing posters one minute and then suddenly catch sight of a television star passing through the crowd.
Among the biggest names in attendance were Doctor Who star Matt Smith and Stranger Things actor Noah Schnapp, both of whom drew long queues across the weekend. Their presence gave the event a real sense of scale, with crowds lining up for autographs, photos and live panels throughout the day.
During one panel, Dallas Dupree Young, who plays Kenny in Cobra Kai, summed up the mood of the event in simple terms: “Yeah, Liverpool has been electric.”
That energy was not just inside the venue. Tony Wilson, a 72-year-old Evertonian barber, said Comic Con has become a familiar part of the city’s calendar. “It’s always busy this time of year, and you always see the funniest costumes,” he said.
Inside, the atmosphere stayed busy throughout the day. Fans packed into panel rooms, filled the convention floor and queued for celebrity appearances from opening until late afternoon.
For staff working behind the scenes, the turnout was one of the clearest signs of the weekend’s success. Ellie Williams, 24, who was working at the event, said: “Attendance has been great today and it’s looking to be an amazing weekend.”
For first-time visitors, Liverpool Comic Con offers more than celebrity appearances and merchandise. It turns familiar characters, stories and fandoms into something real. For one weekend, the worlds people usually watch on screen are brought into the middle of Liverpool — and judging by the crowds, it is an experience thousands will keep coming back for.
