FAN EXPO Denver is a three-day, family-friendly fan convention that takes place at the Colorado Convention Center. The event features the best in comics, along with popular sci-fi and fantasy TV shows, movies, horror, Japanese animation, cosplay (fan-created costumes and costumed skits), toys, gaming and celebrity panel presentations. For more information, visit FAN EXPO Denver's website.
What to See, What to Do
Catch in-person celebrity interviews — and maybe even nab an autograph or professional photo op with your favorite star. Drop by the Comic Creator area to meet comic legends and pro comic book artists and writers and geek out over their amazing work. Artist Alley is where you can meet your favorite painters, inkers, pencilers and colorists. Similarly, Author Alley gives fans access to their favorite authors and publishers. Watch comic artists as they go “pen-to-pen” in sketch duels and enter to win the original art they produce once they’re done.
A few of the actors, authors, artists and gaming stars this year include Rainn Wilson ("The Office"); Andy Serkis ("The Lord of the Rings" and "Black Panther"); Marisa Tomei ("Spider-Man"); Morena Baccarin ("Firefly" and "Deadpool"); James and Oliver Phelps ("Harry Potter"); Billy West ("Futurama"); Ashley Eckstein ("Star Wars: The Clone Wars"); Kathleen Herles ("Dora the Explorer"); Colleen Clinkenbeard, Christopher Sabat and Luci Christian ("One Piece" and "My Hero Academia"); Charles Martinet ("Super Mario"); Neil Newbon ("Baldur's Gate III"); Roger Craig Smith ("Sonic the Hedgehog"); horror director Eli Roth; illustrator John Giang; legendary creator Frank Miller and many, many more!
Get interactive with community groups, fan meetups, gaming booths, Jedi Knight and Padawan Lightsaber Battles, sci-fi and fantasy Simon Says, and trivia tourneys that will test your knowledge of all things anime.
Of course, cosplay is a huge part of the experience. Each year, there's a costume contest and a non-competitive cosplay red carpet to watch (or walk!). You'll want to join the fun and dress up as your favorite superhero or video game, TV, movie or anime character. There are also cosplay-focused panels and how-to talks, along with plenty of photo ops. Meet star cosplayers like Lauren Does Cosplay, Candyskull Cosplay, Clockwork Faerie, Mackenzie.cosplay and FadetoBats.
If you're bringing the whole family, Pop Culture Classroom’s Educational Programs at FAN EXPO Denver offer students, educators, families and fans of all ages an awesome opportunity to create, imagine, learn and connect through pop culture. Plus, you can enter the Cosplay Contest as a family! Plus, celebrate everyone's favorite electric mouse Pokémon with Pikachu Day on Sunday, July 7; you can hunt down all the hidden Pika-pals on the show floor for the chance at a prize at our Pikachu Scavenger Hunt. Don't miss the screening of "Pokémon: Detective Pikachu" to find out what's going on in Ryme City.
The fun doesn't end when the show floor closes! After-parties and events ensure every fan's schedule is stacked all weekend long. This year, Emmy® Award-winning cartoonist Joe Wos is hosting a fun-filled night of quirky drawing challenges, pop culture puzzles, music drinks, and more. And to kick things off, celebrate the Fourth of July with fun events like drive-in American movies, The Captain America Scavenger Hunt, lawn games for the family, a Fourth of July Red Carpet and more.
Last but not least: the shopping! Shop hundreds of retailers from all over to make your experience unforgettable. From finding that rare comic book to purchasing stunning original artwork, graphic novels, memorabilia, games, toys, or t-shirts – you'll find it all here, with more than 300,000 square feet of shopping space.
You Can Literally Taste It
Denver knows beer, so it's fitting that FAN EXPO Denver has its own brew. Each year, Breckenridge Brewery crafts a beer specifically for FAN EXPO and asks the public to help choose the name. The 2023 winner was "Live Long and Pilsner," a play on Star Trek's Vulcan blessing, "Live long and prosper." And this year's brew is the "Brewbacca Citrus Yuzu Wheat Ale — and ode to everyone's favorite Wookie.
Past editions of the beer have included “The Fantastic Pour” (2012), "The Caped Brewsader" (2013), "Brews Wayne" (2014), "Hulk's Mash" (2015), "Severus Snapricot" (2016), "I am Brewt" (2017), "Razznarok" (2018), "Bocks Machina" (2019) and "Doctor Hoptopus" (2022). Stay tuned for this year's beer, which will also be available for a limited time at select breweries around town!
A Fun Way to Learn
FAN EXPO Denver is a program under the Colorado non-profit Pop Culture Classroom, whose mission is to inspire a love of learning, increase literacy and celebrate diversity. Each year, FAN EXPO hosts a literary conference, offers more than 400 hours of educational programming and provides hundreds of family-friendly activities.
