PopCon Indy 2026: Cosplay, Celebrity Guests & Pop Culture in Indianapolis

Last weekend, the Indiana Convention Center transformed into one of the most exciting places in downtown Indy as PopCon Indy returned for another massive weekend celebrating fandoms, creativity, gaming, anime, cosplay, movies, comics, and pop culture.

We spent both Friday and Saturday exploring the convention floor, checking out artist booths, meeting creators, watching cosplay, and experiencing the nonstop energy that makes PopCon one of the most unique events in Indianapolis every year.

What makes PopCon stand out is how much it embraces every type of fan. From hardcore anime lovers and gamers to families, collectors, comic fans, and casual visitors just looking for something fun to do in Indy, the event truly felt welcoming for everyone. 

One of the biggest highlights of the weekend was the incredible lineup of celebrity guests, voice actors, artists, and creators attending the convention. Fans had the chance to meet names like Sean Astin, Diedrich Bader, Alyson Stoner, and several popular anime and gaming voice actors including Jessie James Grelle, Caitlin Glass, Clifford Chapin, and Monica Rial. Throughout the weekend, long lines formed for autograph sessions, celebrity panels, and fan meet-and-greets. 

The cosplay community also completely showed up this year. Everywhere you looked, attendees brought characters to life with impressive handmade costumes, detailed makeup, props, and performances. From anime icons to Marvel heroes, Star Wars characters, gaming legends, and original designs, the creativity across the convention floor was honestly one of the best parts of the experience. PopCon’s cosplay competitions and fan showcases continue to be a huge reason why the event feels so immersive and community-driven. 

Beyond celebrity appearances and cosplay, PopCon Indy also featured gaming tournaments, wrestling events, interactive workshops, artist alleys, vendors, film screenings, collectibles, and activities happening all weekend long. The convention continues to grow every year while still maintaining that local Indy energy that makes it feel different from larger corporate conventions. 

For us, PopCon Indy felt like a reminder of how creative and passionate the Indianapolis community really is. It was exciting seeing thousands of people come together downtown to celebrate the fandoms and stories they love.

If you’ve never experienced PopCon Indy before, this is definitely one event to add to your Indianapolis bucket list for next year.