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Oakland’s First Fan Convention in 8 Years Exceeds Expectations

Following an eventful debut weekend on May 9th, 2026, Comic Con Oakland confirmed its first event exceeded the expectations of event organizers.

According to Octopus Events Group, the event organizer, the first Comic Con Oakland drew 3,100 attendees over two days. These numbers reflect individual ticket sales, not turnstile counts. Organizers also confirmed that single-day tickets made up the majority of sales, while weekend passes accounted for only a small portion. Overall attendance exceeded organizers’ expectations for the first event.

In an email through a PR representative, George Demonakos, co-founder of Octopus Events Group and organizer of Comic Con Oakland, stated:

“Attendance exceeded our expectations in our very first year — surpassing even our other established events. We’ve built a great foundation, and we’ll continue to grow a wonderful home for the Oakland art and comic community for years to come.”

George Demonakos, co-founder of Octopus Events Group and organizer of Comic Con Oakland

Breakdown of the Numbers

While there are no real benchmarks for new fan convention attendance, an independent debut event typically draws between 200 and 1,000. Some first-year conventions attract larger crowds, but they are usually attached to an established brand. When OffKai Expo, the Bay Area’s first VTuber convention, debuted in 2022, it drew 714 attendees. By 2025, it had grown into the largest VTuber convention in North America, with organizers anticipating over 3,000 attendees, only to draw 6,900. GalaxyCon San Jose, on the other hand, drew 12,000 attendees during its debut weekend, but that was possible thanks to the organization’s brand recognition.

The takeaway is that as an independent event, Comic Con Oakland exceeded typical debut attendance during its first weekend.

More to Come from Comic Con Oakland

Comic Con Oakland 2026 took place May 9th to May 10th, 2026, at the Oakland Convention Center. It was the first fan convention in Oakland since Kraken Con 2018, drawing comic writers, artists, performers, and independent publishers for a festive weekend with fans. The event featured 29 guests, including Giancarlo Esposito from Breaking Bad, comic artist Ramon Villalobos, award-winning comic writer Scott Morse, Faye Mata from Konosuba, graphic novelist Thien Pham, and cartoonist Julia Wertz.

Check out our coverage and cosplay photo collection for a look at what attendees experienced.

Octopus Events Group also confirmed that Comic Con Oakland will return April 24th to April 25th, 2027, at the Oakland Convention Center. No guests have been announced at this time.

8Bit/Digi is an independent gaming news outlet that also covers the cosplay community and convention scene of the San Francisco Bay Area.