You clock it before you are even off the DLR. A Spider-Man swinging past on the escalator, three Ghibli characters comparing props by the ticket gates, a nine-foot Warhammer space marine gingerly negotiating a revolving door. By the time you are inside ExCeL, the line between audience and show has completely dissolved. Everyone is here to look, and half of them are worth looking at.
That is the particular magic of MCM Comic Con London, the twice-yearly pop culture explosion that turns a Docklands exhibition centre into the biggest gathering of fans, cosplayers, gamers and geeks in the country. The autumn edition is nearly here, and this guide covers the lot: what happens across the three days, who is appearing, what tickets cost, and how to get in and out of ExCeL without a meltdown.
| Detail | Quick Answer |
| What is it? | UK’s biggest pop culture convention |
| Who is it for? | Cosplayers, gamers, anime & film fans |
| 2026 dates | 23–25 Oct |
| Where? | ExCeL London |
| Size | 100,000+ attendees |
What Is MCM Comic Con and Why Is It Such a Big Deal?
Image Source: royaldocks.london
If you have never been, it is easy to picture a few stalls selling comics. The reality is closer to a small city that appears for a weekend and vanishes again. Here is what you are actually walking into.
From Niche Convention to National Event
MCM started back in 2004 and has grown into the anchor of the UK’s convention calendar, running two flagship London shows a year, in spring and autumn, plus a national circuit. The October edition at ExCeL is the big one, routinely drawing crowds north of 100,000 over three days and pulling guests from film, television, gaming and anime. It is comfortably the largest event of its kind in the country, and one of the biggest in Europe.
What makes it more than a trade show is the crowd. This is not a passive audience. A huge share of attendees come in costume, months of work on display, and the show is built around them as much as around the famous faces on the main stage.
Fun fact: the word “cosplay” is a Japanese blend of “costume” and “play”, coined in the 1980s. Four decades later, cosplay is the beating heart of every comic con london weekend, and MCM runs official championships to prove it.
Who It Is Really For
The honest answer is almost everyone. Die-hard fans come for the guests and the rare merch, cosplayers come to be seen and photographed, gamers come for the hands-on demos, and plenty of people come simply to wander and gawp. Families are well catered for, with under-fours free and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. You can go deep or just dip in.
When and Where Is MCM Comic Con London 2026?
The logistics are straightforward, which helps when you are planning a day around costumes, queues and a very large building. Here is what to lock in first.
| Detail | Information |
| Event | MCM Comic Con London, October 2026 |
| Dates | Friday 23 – Sunday 25 October 2026 |
| Venue | ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL |
| Friday hours | 10am–6pm (Priority), 12pm–6pm (General) |
| Saturday hours | 9am–7pm (Priority), 11am–7pm (General) |
| Sunday hours | 10am–5pm (Priority), 12pm–5pm (General) |
| Nearest stations | Custom House (Elizabeth line & DLR), Prince Regent (DLR) |
Three Days at ExCeL
The show runs across the whole of ExCeL London, the vast exhibition centre on the Royal Victoria Dock in east London. Each day splits into two entry waves: Priority ticket holders get in early, and General entry opens a couple of hours later. Saturday is the busiest and most spectacular day, Sunday is a touch calmer, and Friday is the quietest if crowds are not your thing. It is the same venue that hosts the Formula E London race, so if you have been to ExCeL for that, you already know the walk from the station.
What Actually Happens Across the Weekend?
This is where it gets overwhelming in the best way. The floor is carved into zones, each its own little world, and knowing them in advance is the difference between seeing everything and missing half of it.
| Zone | What You’ll Find |
| Show floor | Huge stands from studios, distributors and retailers, plus exclusive merch |
| Cosplay Central | Championships, masquerade, repair stations and photo backdrops |
| Side Quest | Playable game demos, tournaments and tabletop gaming |
| Pop Asia | Anime screenings, K-pop dance, manga workshops and Asian street food |
| Artist Alley | Around 200 independent artists selling prints and commissions |
| Comic Village | Comic creators and writers with signings all weekend |
The Cosplay
Cosplay is the soul of the event. Thousands come in costume, from cardboard-and-glue first attempts to jaw-dropping builds that belong in a film. Cosplay Central is the hub, with a masquerade, the world finals of the Cosplay Central Crown Championships, repair stations for when a wing snaps, and dedicated photo backdrops. Even if you turn up in jeans, you will spend half your day asking strangers if you can take their photo. They will say yes; that is the whole point.
The Guests and Panels
The main stage runs a packed schedule of Q&As, interviews and live podcasts, where you can hear film and TV stars, voice actors and creators talk about their work and take audience questions. It is the closest most of us will get to the people behind our favourite characters, and the panels are free with entry once you are inside.
The Gaming
The Side Quest zone is a gamer’s playground: hands-on demos of upcoming and indie titles, PC freeplay, tabletop sessions and competitive tournaments. Games publishers regularly bring their biggest voice talent along, so it doubles as a guest area for the gaming crowd.
Anime, Manga and Pop Asia
Pop Asia is a whole wing devoted to Japanese and wider Asian pop culture: anime screenings and premieres, manga workshops, K-pop dance sessions and a proper spread of Asian street food. If that is your world, it is worth a full afternoon on its own. Fans of it will also enjoy CelebrASIA in Battersea, the free celebration of Asian culture that brings the same spirit to the other side of the city.
Artist Alley, Comics and Shopping
Artist Alley is home to around 200 independent artists selling original prints, commissions and fan art, and it is where a lot of the real treasure hides. Comic Village gathers comic creators and writers for signings, and the main show floor is a wall-to-wall marketplace of figures, manga, collectibles and exclusives. Bring a bag, and a budget you are willing to break.
Who Are the Guests at MCM 2026?
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The guest list is a huge part of the draw, and it builds in waves over the months before the show. A few names are already locked in for October.
Critical Role Headlines
The first big announcement for October 2026 is Critical Role, the wildly popular voice-actor collective whose live Dungeons & Dragons shows have built a global following. For their fans, this alone is a reason to buy a ticket, and it signals the kind of scale the autumn guest list tends to reach.
How Guests, Autographs and Photos Work?
Meeting a guest usually works on a separate ticket. Panels are free with entry, but autographs and photo opportunities are paid extras, bought per guest either in advance or on the day. Prices vary by how famous the name is, and the biggest guests sell out, so if there is someone you must meet, sort it early rather than joining a capped queue on Saturday morning.
Fun fact: Critical Role began as a group of friends playing Dungeons & Dragons for fun, and grew into a media company with sell-out arena shows and an Emmy-nominated animated series. Not bad for a home game.
How Much Are Tickets and How Do You Get Them?
This is the part to plan early, because the best days and the priority tiers sell out well ahead. Here is roughly what to expect.
| Ticket Type | Rough Price | Notes |
| General entry (day) | £27–£37 | Standard entry, doors open later |
| Priority entry (day) | £37–£47 | Early access, two hours before general |
| Weekend pass | Around £97 | All three days |
| Child (5–10) | Around £7 | Accompanied by an adult |
| Under 4 | Free | No ticket needed |
Priority Versus General
The key choice is Priority versus General entry. Priority gets you in up to two hours earlier, which on a Saturday is the difference between a calm first hour and an immediate crush, and it matters most if you are chasing limited merch or a busy photo op. General entry is cheaper and perfectly fine for a relaxed wander. Buy mcm comic con tickets through the official MCM website rather than resale, and lock in the day you want before it sells out.
Getting the Best Value
If you are going all-in, the weekend pass is the obvious pick and works out cheaper than three single days. For a single visit, Saturday is the fullest experience but the busiest, while Friday or Sunday day tickets are easier on both the wallet and the crowds. Families should note the under-four free policy and low child pricing, which makes comic con london 2026 a surprisingly affordable day out for younger fans.
What Should You Know Before You Go?
A convention this size rewards a bit of planning. These are the things regulars swear by, most learned the hard way.
1. Sort Your Cosplay Logistics
If you are dressing up, plan how you will travel in costume and what you will do with bags and props. ExCeL has a cloakroom, Cosplay Central has repair stations, and it is worth carrying a small kit of safety pins and tape. Do not try to eat lunch in a full helmet.
2. Arrive Early, Especially on Saturday
The doors are busiest first thing on Saturday. If you have a Priority ticket, use it, and even with General entry it pays to arrive before the wave rather than after. Popular exclusives and photo ops go fast.
3. Bring Cash, Snacks and a Power Bank
Many Artist Alley traders prefer cash, venue food queues get long, and a full day of photos will flatten your phone by mid-afternoon. A power bank, a water bottle and a couple of snacks will save you time and money.
4. Book Photo Ops in Advance
If meeting a specific guest matters, buy that photo op or autograph token ahead of time. The headline names cap their sessions and sell out, and there is nothing worse than queuing only to be turned away.
5. Plan Your Exit Before the Rush
When the halls close, thousands of people head for Custom House at once. As with any big Docklands event, from a gig at theO2 across the water to a race weekend, deciding how you are getting home before you need to leave turns a stressful scramble into a simple walk to a waiting car.
How Do You Get to ExCeL London?
Image Source: vergemagazine.co.uk
ExCeL is well connected, but a 100,000-person event concentrates a huge crowd into a few narrow windows. Here is how to arrive and leave with your costume, and your patience, intact.
By Train and DLR
The Elizabeth line to Custom House drops you right at the venue’s western entrance, and the DLR serves both Custom House and Prince Regent, which is handy for the eastern halls. From central London the Elizabeth line is the fastest route. If you are coming off a mainline train first, our station transfer service links the big terminals to the Docklands directly.
By Road and Private Transfer
Driving to ExCeL is possible, with on-site car parks, but they fill fast on event days and the approach roads clog when the show ends. For groups, families or anyone travelling in full cosplay, a pre-booked private transfer to the door is far less stressful than the DLR crush. A minibus is the sensible call for a group going together, keeping everyone and their props in one vehicle.
Flying In for the Weekend
London City Airport is astonishingly close, barely a couple of DLR stops away, and the other major airports are all an easy transfer. Fixed-price, door-to-door rides run from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted with flight tracking and meet-and-greet, so a delayed landing does not eat into your weekend. If you are watching the budget, our guide to the cheapest way from Heathrow into London lays out every option.
So, Is MCM Comic Con London Worth It?
If you have even a flicker of interest in film, games, anime or comics, yes, without hesitation. There are few places where you can watch a world-class cosplay final, play an unreleased game, meet a voice actor you have listened to for years and buy art directly from the person who drew it, all in an afternoon. And the crowd, generous, enthusiastic and endlessly creative, is the best part of the whole thing.
Pick your day, book Priority if Saturday is your target, sort your costume and your travel, and let the weekend take over.
Need an Easy Ride to MCM Comic Con?
My London Transfer runs fixed-price event transfer rides to ExCeL and from every major airport, so the only thing you have to carry is the props.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When Is MCM Comic Con London 2026?
The autumn edition runs from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026 at ExCeL London. There is also a spring edition earlier in the year, but the October show is the larger of the two. Opening times vary by day and by ticket type, with Priority holders admitted up to two hours before general entry.
2. Where Is It Held?
The event takes place at ExCeL London, the large exhibition centre on the Royal Victoria Dock in east London, postcode E16 1XL. It uses the whole venue across the weekend, so allow plenty of time to walk between the different halls and zones.
3. How Much Are Tickets?
As a general guide, single-day general entry runs from around £27 to £37, priority day tickets from around £37 to £47, and a three-day weekend pass around £97. Children aged five to ten are roughly £7 and under-fours go free. Always check the official site for exact, current pricing, as it varies by day and demand.
4. What Is the Difference Between Priority and General Entry?
Priority entry lets you into the venue up to two hours before general entry, which makes a real difference on the busy Saturday and for anyone chasing limited merchandise or popular photo opportunities. General entry is cheaper and fine for a more relaxed visit later in the day.
5. Do I Have to Dress Up?
Not at all. While a large share of attendees come in costume, plenty of people visit in everyday clothes and have just as good a time. Cosplay is welcomed and celebrated but never required, so come as elaborate or as casual as you like.
6. Is It Suitable for Children and Families?
Yes. The event is family-friendly, with free entry for under-fours and low-priced children’s tickets. There is plenty to keep younger fans engaged, though the busiest periods can be crowded and loud, so a plan for breaks and meeting points helps with younger children.
7. How Do Autographs and Photos With Guests Work?
Panels are included with your entry ticket, but autographs and photo opportunities with guests are paid extras, purchased per guest. You can often buy them in advance or on the day, and the most popular guests sell out, so booking ahead is strongly recommended if there is someone specific you want to meet.
8. Who Is Appearing in October 2026?
The guest list builds over the months before the show. Critical Role, the popular voice-actor collective, has been announced as an early headline guest for October 2026, with more film, television, gaming and anime names typically added closer to the date. Check the official guest page for the latest confirmations.
9. Can I Bring Props and Prop Weapons?
Prop weapons are generally allowed but must follow the event’s strict props policy, which bans anything functional or realistic and requires items to be checked on arrival. Read the current policy on the official site before you build or pack a prop, as the rules are firmly enforced for everyone’s safety.
10. What Time Should I Arrive?
For the fullest experience, arrive at or before your entry time rather than after, especially on Saturday when the doors are busiest. Priority ticket holders should use their early window, and general entry visitors benefit from being ready as the wave opens rather than joining the back of it.
11. How Do I Get to ExCeL?
The quickest routes are the Elizabeth line to Custom House, right by the venue, or the DLR to Custom House or Prince Regent. London City Airport is only a couple of DLR stops away. Driving is possible but parking fills quickly, so many visitors prefer public transport or a pre-booked transfer, particularly when travelling in costume.
12. What Else Is Nearby?
ExCeL sits in the Royal Docks, close to the cable car, the O2 across the river and a growing cluster of waterside bars and restaurants. It is easy to build a fuller day or weekend around the show, and the area is well set up for large events throughout the year.
