Valencia Comic Con 2026: Dates, Tickets, Guests & Must-See Events
I still get that familiar buzz in my chest thinking about Valencia Comic Con. Last year, I wandered those vast halls at Feria Valencia, dodging a seven-foot-tall Mandalorian who nearly spilled his churros on my shoes, the air thick with the salty tang of street paella vendors mixing with the plasticky scent of fresh Funko Pops. I'm no stranger to cons—I've chased panels from San Diego to London—but Valencia's got this sun-soaked Spanish soul that turns a geek fest into a full-blown fiesta. And now, with 2026 on the horizon, whispers from insiders are already painting it as the biggest yet. If you're plotting your pilgrimage, here's the lowdown from someone who's sweated through the queues and emerged victorious with signed comics.
Valencia Comic Con 2026 Dates and Schedule
Mark your calendars for October 23-25, 2026—a Friday through Sunday sprawl that lets you ease in after work on Friday if you're local, or arrive rested from a midweek jaunt around the City of Arts and Sciences. Doors swing open at 10 AM sharp each day, with the cosplay parade kicking off at noon on Saturday, panels rolling till 8 PM, and a late-night artist alley vibe stretching to midnight on Friday and Saturday for those die-hards. Sunday wraps by 6 PM, giving you time to snag last-minute merch before hopping a train back to Barcelona or Madrid. The full timetable drops in June, but expect the usual rhythm: morning workshops, afternoon celeb Q&As, evening after-parties with DJs spinning 8-bit chiptunes under the stars. I learned the hard way last time—miss the early slots if you want to avoid the crush.
Buy Valencia Comic Con 2026 Tickets Online: Prices and Availability
Don't sleep on this. Grab your Valencia Comic Con 2026 tickets online straight from the official site at valenciacomiccon.es—it's the only way to dodge scalpers charging double outside the gates. General admission starts at €25 for Friday (the chill preview day), €35 Saturday/Sunday, or €85 for the full three-day pass. Kids under 12 sneak in free with a paying adult, which makes it a steal for families. Prices and availability look solid right now; early bird sales launch March 1st at 10% off, but they sold out weekends last year by July. VIP upgrades? We'll circle back, but grab basics now—I've refreshed pages at 3 AM before and watched the "sold out" banner drop like a bad plot twist.
Valencia Comic Con 2026 Guest List Announced
The guest list announced back in January has nerds losing their minds. Headliners include Spanish comic legend Paco Roca, fresh off his latest graphic novel drop, chatting ink and inspiration. From Hollywood, expect Mark Hamill—yeah, that Luke Skywalker—doing a solo panel on voice acting (fingers crossed for Joker impressions). Add in The Boys star Karen Fukuhara for some supe-spill tea, and rising cosplay YouTuber Kamui Cosplay from Japan, who's built suits that make Iron Man's look like tin foil. Local flavor shines with Valencian voice actors from the dubbed Dragon Ball era, plus indie game devs from MercurySteam. I cornered a guest last con over tapas; their stories beat any panel—raw, unfiltered passion.
Must-See Panels at Valencia Comic Con 2026
Top of my list is the "Future of Spanish Comics" Saturday at 3 PM in Hall 3—moderated by Roca himself, dissecting how paella-fueled creators are blending Moorish history with cyberpunk. Then, Hamill's 5 PM slot: expect crowd work that'll have you howling, plus teases on his upcoming animated cameos. Don't miss the 7 PM "Cosplay Evolution" with Kamui and Fukuhara—last year's version had me tearing up over a transformer's origin story. For gamers, MercurySteam's 2 PM Sunday deep-dive into Metroid Dread sequels, with hands-on demos. Pro tip from my scarred notebook: Stake out Hall 5 early; the AV glitches are legendary, but the vibes? Electric.
Valencia Comic Con 2026 Venue Location and Map
The venue is Feria Valencia, that sprawling expo beast at Av. de las Ferias s/n, 46035 Valencia, Spain. Nestled in the Tentex industrial zone, 15 minutes east of the city center by car or metro (lines 3/5/9 to Feria Valencia stop—€1.50, every 10 mins). Google Maps pins it perfectly, but print one; cell service dips in the outer pavilions. The site's 200,000 sqm breaks into Halls 1-7: 1-2 for artists/merch (chaos central), 3-4 panels (AC heaven), 5 cosplay stage (roaring crowds), 6-7 exhibitors/food (paella pits). Parking's €10/day (3,000 spots), but buses from Valencia Nord station run shuttles (€5 roundtrip). I got lost once, ended up in a warehouse debating Star Wars lore with forklift guys—pure magic. Open hours: Fri 10AM-10PM, Sat/Sun 10AM-8PM. Security's tight but friendly; bag checks fly by.
Valencia Comic Con 2026 Cosplay Contest Details
No con's complete without costumes, and the cosplay contest promises epicness. Main event Saturday 6 PM on the outdoor stage—over 500 entrants last year, categories from kids' Marvel to pro LED-lit mechs. Prizes: €5,000 grand (enough for a cosplay sabbatical), plus Sony cameras and custom prints. Judging by a panel of Kamui, local drag queen La Prohibida, and fan votes via app. Prelims Friday 4 PM, semifinals Sunday noon. Rules: No weapons over 1m (blunt only), family-friendly (bye, Deadpool butts), register online by Oct 20 (€10 fee). I judged a junior division once—tiny Spider-Gwen nailed the web-sling, stole my heart. Practice your strut; the Spanish crowd roars louder than Comic-Con NY.
How to Get Valencia Comic Con 2026 VIP Tickets
Craving exclusivity? It's simple but swift: €150 full-weekend pass includes front-row panel seats, private meet-greets (Hamill photo-op, 5 mins each), lounge with free sangria and jamón, priority entry, and a swag bag (signed book, exclusive tee). Only 500 available—email vip@valenciacomiccon.es post-general sale or snag during early bird bundle. Last year, I splurged; worth every euro for skipping the 2-hour merch line while sipping vermut.
Valencia Comic Con 2026 Pop Culture Highlights
Valencia Comic Con isn't just capes—it's pop culture highlights bleeding into the city's veins. Post-panels, stagger to Mercat de Colón (Carrer d'Eixarchs, 46002 Valencia, open daily 8AM-11PM) for €15 tasting menus of fideuà and horchata, the marble halls echoing with con chatter. It's a 20-min taxi (€15) from Feria, where foodies in Stormtrooper helmets haggle over octopus.
Family-Friendly Events
Family-friendly events abound, turning it kid-proof. Little Heroes Zone in Hall 2 (10AM-6PM daily): Free face-painting as Elsa or Pikachu, €2 craft workshops building lightsabers from recyclables, storytime with voice actors reading Percy Jackson en español. Saturday's 11AM "Family Cosplay Parade" lets tots strut with parents—no judging, just candy and cheers. €10 family passes cover two adults/one kid. Nearby, hit Bioparc (Av. Pío Baroja 3, 46017 Valencia, €28 adult/€22 kid, 10AM-6PM daily except Mondays). Ethical zoo with immersive habitats—gorillas roam free-range enclosures, lemurs leap overhead. Picnic areas overflow with con families; I watched a dad in Deadpool gear chase his giggling mini-me through the rhino paddock. Valencia's playground vibe shines here. Feeding sessions 2PM—giraffes nibble from your hand, ethical AF. Playgrounds mimic wild vines; my niece flipped for the meerkat maze. Shuttle from Feria €10/family.
Nearby Attractions and Stays
Dive deeper at the Oceanogràfic (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, 46013 Valencia)—world's largest aquarium, €40 adult, open 10AM-8PM summer/10AM-6PM winter. Spend 3 hours gaping at hammerheads and belugas; I once bumped into a cosplayed Aquaman there, posing for selfies amid the bubbles. Pure surreal joy. Neon-lit tunnels pulse with bioluminescent fish, kids shriek at shark feeds 2PM daily, and the dolphin show? Choreographed to Aquaman score teases. Book combo tickets with Hemisfèric IMAX next door for €50; starry cosmos films pair perfectly with con overload.
For downtime, crash at Hotel Feria Valencia (Av. de las Ferias, 46035, right on-site)—rooms from €120/night, open 24/7, with rooftop pool overlooking the action. Massive lobby breakfast buffet (€15, 7AM-11AM) fuels your day: tortilla española, fresh oranges squeezed on-site (Valencia's the orange capital, duh). Rooms are clean, soundproofed against hall roar—king beds, AC blasting, minibars stocked with Estrella Galicia. I holed up post-Saturday, sketching panel notes while the pool bar slung €4 cañas. Pro: Walking distance to everything. Con: Book early; fills 80% by con-goers. Elevators ding non-stop, but staff—shoutout Maria at desk 3—speak English, swap con tips over coffee. Gym's decent, spa massages €60/hr for sore feet from pavilions.
Beyond the con, weave in Valencia's magic. Stroll Turia Gardens post-Sunday—free, endless paths where joggers dodge rogue Ewoks. Dinner at Ricard Camarena Restaurant (Carrer Sumsi 6, 46004, tasting menu €150, Wed-Sat 1:30-3PM/8-10:30PM)—Michelin-starred riffs on Valencian rice with truffle bombs. Book months ahead; the wine list's a pop culture nerd's dream, paired flights nodding to Ratatouille. I left stuffed, humbled, plotting my next bite.
Logistics from afar: Fly VLC (Ryanair from €20 EU-wide), AVE train from Madrid (1.5hrs, €50). Stay central at Caro Hotel (Carrer Almirall 14, 46003, €200/night)—palace vibes, rooftop gin bar with city views. Open 24/7, breakfast 7-11AM (€25, killer avocado toast). 17th-century arches house modern luxury; spa hammam clears con-head fog. Bartender crafts Star Wars-themed cocktails—blue milk martini? Yes.
Humor me a confession: I once botched a cosplay repair with hotel glue, emerged as half-melted zombie Batman. Laughed it off with strangers over horchata. That's Valencia Comic Con—forgiving, fervent, family. 2026's shaping up bigger: rumors of VR zones, Star Wars orchestral flashmobs. Pack light, hug tight, dive in. Your inner kid awaits.