Comic Con Northern Ireland
StatusActive
GenreMultigenre, covering popular culture elements including sci-fi, horror, fantasy, mainstream, wrestling and more
VenueEikon Exhibition Centre
LocationLisburn, Belfast, Northern Ireland
First17–18 September 2022
Last6–7 September 2025
Next19–20 September 2026
OrganiserMonopoly Events
Attendance18,000k+ (September 2025 event)
Websitewww.comicconnorthernireland.co.uk

Comic Con Northern Ireland is a fan convention held once a year in the city of Lisburn, near the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom attracting 18,000+ attendees across the large venue Eikon Exhibition Centre situated in Lisburn, that celebrates films, cult television, video gaming, anime, cosplay and comic books and which is organised by UK based events company Monopoly Events.

History and organisation

Comic Con Northern Ireland began its annual run of events in 2022. Monopoly Events CEO Andy Kleek sourced the Eikon Exhibition Centre venue with an eye on having room for future expansion. The first event took place in September 2022 and sold over half its entry tickets more than a year before the event took place.[1]

Show features

Celebrity guests

Often guests will choose to visit famous landmarks or attractions in the hosting city, in 2023 Comic Con Northern Ireland guests Elijah Wood, Sean Astin and Bernard Hill visited the famous Titanic Belfast museum as Hill previously portrayed Captain John Smith in the 1997 film Titanic.[2]

Cosplay

A large part of the event is devoted to the cosplay hobby where members of the public are allowed, and encouraged, to take part in dressing up as characters from popular genres such as film and television. Cosplaying has become one of the most popular parts of many fan conventions around the world and can be used as a platform to showcase the costumer's latest handywork, to show devotion to their favourite characters or engage in role-play with other cosplayers in the same series, as well as to meet new people with mutual interests as themselves.[3]

Location, dates and notable guests

DatesLocationNotable guests
17–18 September 2022Eikon Exhibition CentreCandice King, Daniel Gillies, Matt Davis, Michael Trevino, Michael Malarkey, Kayla Ewell, James Marsters, Kim Coates, Mark Boone Junior, Michael Cudlitz, Chandler Riggs, Steven Ogg, Katelyn Nacon, Robin Lord Taylor, Cameron Monaghan, Sean Pertwee, Erin Richards, David Mazouz, Alec Utgoff, Ed Westwick, James Murray, Keith Gillespie, Zach Galligan, Karyn Parsons, Bai Ling, Jason Faunt, Jorgito Vargas Jr., Luci Christian, Monica Rial, Tia Ballard, Andy Secombe, Femi Taylor, Tim Rose, Paul Blake
9–10 September 2023Alex McKenna, Bernard Hill, Elijah Wood, Graham McTavish, Grant Goodman, Gwydion Lashlee-Walton, Ian Somerhalder, Jackson Rathbone, John Barrowman, Kellan Lutz, Kerri Green, Kristy Swanson, Mara Wilson, Michael Rooker, Nathaniel Buzolic, Paul Wesley, Peter Blomquist, Peter Facinelli, Riley Voelkel, Rob Weithoff, Roger Clark, Ross Marquand, Sean Astin, Sean Gunn, Tami Stronach, The Burns Twins, Tom Payne, Trey Best
7–8 September 2024Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, Billie Piper, Andy Serkis, Joseph Morgan, Persia White, Valorie Curry, Laz Alonso, Mark Sheppard, Samantha Smith, DJ Qualls, Jimmy Vee, Spencer Wilding, Khary Payton, Cooper Andrews, Pollyanna McIntosh, Maggie Grace, Kat Graham, Mick Foley, Trish Stratus, Amy Dumas (a.k.a. Lita), Rikishi, Mark Williams, Matt Ryan, Tim Downie, Dave Jones, Tracy Wiles, Amelia Tyler, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Walter Jones, David Yost, Michael Redmond, Patrick McDonnell, Ben Keaton, Joe Rooney, Peggy (a.k.a. Dogpool)
6–7 September 2025Christopher Lloyd, Christopher Lambert, Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Paul McGann, Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, John Hannah, Kurt Angle, Kevin Nash, Tyler Mane, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Paul Anderson, Christian Serratos, Laurie Holden, Nadji Jeter, Phillip Glasser, Ned Luke, Shawn Fonteno, Jay Klaitz, Maggie Robertson, Graham McTavish, David Hayter, Quinton Flynn, Devora Wilde, Theo Solomon, Jennifer English, Aliona Baranova, Matt Ryan, Ralf Little, Ricky Tomlinson, Michael Winslow, Tony Robinson, Peggy (a.k.a. Dogpool)
19–20 September 2026David Tennant, David Boreanaz, Tamara Taylor, T. J. Thyne, Charisma Carpenter, Julie Benz, Michael Biehn, Jennifer Blanc-Biehn, Amber Benson, Kristine Sutherland, Clare Kramer, Cara Buono, Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber, Shannon Elizabeth, David Giuntoli, Elizabeth Tulloch, Tyler Hoechlin, Manu Bennett, Neil Fanning, Eliza Taylor, Bob Morley, Jenette Goldstein, Mark Rolston, William Hope, Bart Johnson

See also

References

  1. ^ Deighan, Emma (11 June 2021). "Comic Con NI sells half its tickets over a year before show". Belfast Telegraph. Mediahuis UK. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  2. ^ McLaughlin, Sophie (11 September 2023). "Lord of the Rings actors spotted visiting Titanic Belfast". Belfast Live. MGN Ltd. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  3. ^ Murray, Amy (9 September 2023). "Comic Con NI returns to Lisburn with crowds of thousands". BBC. Retrieved 29 November 2023.