8Bit/Digi

Everything We Saw at GalaxyCon San Jose 2026

GalaxyCon San Jose 2026 saw the pop culture convention return for a third year at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. The event brought together cultural icons and talent for an eventful weekend. The 2026 event kicked off on Friday with a grand opening made possible by organizers, city officials, and the guests of honor. The weekend was packed with cosplay gatherings, insightful panels, special events, and a vibrant artist alley and dealers hall.

Despite the intense competition from Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco during the same weekend, GalaxyCon San Jose 2026 was still a packed event. The convention saw the fandom community congregating at the convention center for a festive weekend. Guests got the chance to meet their favorite stars or to showcase their latest cosplay project for all to see. After months of planning and waiting, these are the highlights of GalaxyCon San Jose 2026.

Things to Do at GalaxyCon San Jose 2026

Special Guests were there to meet their fans either at a signing booth or during a special panel. At the booths, fans could line up for an autograph or photo along with some small talk. During the panels, the guests provided insight into their work while also answering audience questions. Among the guests were George Takei from Star Trek, comedic legends Cheech and Chong, Leah Clark from My Hero Academia, Charles Fleischer from Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and Colleen O’Shaughnessey from the Sonic franchise.

Video Game Arena and Tabletop Realm was the ultimate destinations for all gaming enthusiasts. The section featured consoles and arcade machines alongside tables dedicated to tabletop games. Guests could dive into their favorite games or discover something new.

While not organized by GalaxyCon, there were random moments in which guests would gather for a game of Pokemon Go. With several gyms at the convention center, there were moments when attendees would gather to participate in raids. They would also attempt to take the gym for their team. Others would take a break and catch any Pokémon within their area.

After Dark Events was a series of panels and shows exclusively available to GalaxyCon guests aged 18 and older. The lineup ranged from discussions exploring mature themes to burlesque performances and competitions with risqué undertones.

The Exhibition Hall

The Exhibition Hall was the heart of GalaxyCon San Jose, as this was where the dealers, artists, guests, and community vendors were set up while also hosting the gatherings. Even though most of the event was concentrated in one hall, it was still organized in a way that allowed attendees to easily navigate the rows and find what they were looking for.

Dealers and Artists

It’s among the dealers and artists that anyone can learn about their local comic book shop, purchase collectible merchandise, or explore the works of local authors and amazing fan art. Even if you have no shopping agenda, it’s still fun to look through all the cool stuff and meet the many artists and vendors. Among those we encountered at GalaxyCon San Jose 2026 are:

Dope Cat Comics is a comic series that is created and independently published by Mike Boheem. It’s about a cat that smokes dope and experiences mind-blowing adventures. Fans of this cult series could meet its creator, pick up some issues, or buy some merch.

Pryceless Comics is an independent creative studio based in Fairfeild who are currently working on its first title, BloodBlade: Dragonblood. The story follows the return of a legendary bloodline to a world unprepared for them. Six issues and a prequel have been published, with Issues #2 to #6 having been sold out at the time of writing.

DUCKMEAT! is an artist and illustrator who creates fan art of beloved anime and video games in their own unique style. They were selling prints along with stickers during the weekend. At the same time, they had special offers of buy two prints and get the third one free, along with additional goodies after reaching a certain dollar amount in purchases.

NFRTG Dot Com is a horror comic by Bee Michael inspired by the internet culture of the early 2010s. It started as a webtoon before its first print edition became available. Curious onlookers and horror fans were invited to check it out and meet the creator. Readers are warned ahead of time about the content, as it deals with sensitive topics.

Bay Area Events

As the season of fear approaches, Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group will once again bring Festival Fright Nights to Winchester Mystery House. Hosted at the iconic mansion in West San Jose, the event invites visitors to embark on a frightful journey. During GalaxyCon, representatives were present to promote the event and look for volunteers.

Following a successful 2026 event, FanimeCon was present to promote their 2027 event. One of the largest anime conventions in North America, they were present to promote opportunities to volunteer for next year’s event. Guests could learn about what to expect, along with upcoming dates to look out for.

Comic Con Oakland back in May 2026 was the first comic book and anime convention in Oakland since Kraken Con in 2018. Following its success, it will return April 24 to April 25, 2027. To promote the upcoming event, organizers were at GalaxyCon spreading the word and meeting those who enjoyed the last event.

The San Jose Sharks were present during the weekend to meet the fans. Guests could learn about special event nights along with deals on tickets for the season.

See You In 2027

GalaxyCon San Jose has already confirmed that they will return in 2027. The next event will take place from August 20th to August 22nd. Tickets for the event are on sale now, but no additional information has become available.

Did you get a chance to check out GalaxyCon San Jose 2026? If so, then share your story in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: GalaxyCon provided me with a pass for the weekend

8Bit/Digi is a news outlet that provides insight into Bay Area Fan Conventions.