The Biggest Event in the Convention's 7-Year History
“Best event EVER!” was a phrase heard again and again throughout Portsmouth Comic Con over the Bank Holiday weekend, as more than 9,000 people flocked to Portsmouth Guildhall – making it the biggest event in the convention’s seven-year history.
Now firmly established as one of the South Coast’s leading pop culture events, Portsmouth Comic Con once again transformed the iconic Guildhall into a celebration of comics, film, TV, gaming, cosplay and fantasy, with immersive experiences, celebrity guests, workshops, live entertainment and activities for all ages.
Fans had the chance to meet a host of screen stars including Tom Rosenthal (Friday Night Dinner, Plebs, Dad’s Army); Anita Dobson (Doctor Who, Eastenders, Generation Z); Jonathan Hyde (Jumanji, Titanic, The Mummy); Jemma Redgrave (Doctor Who, The War Between the Land and the Sea); Julian Glover (The Empire Strikes Back, Indiana Jones, Game of Thrones); Marc Silk (voice of Scooby Doo, Star Wars, Johnny Bravo and Chicken Run) and Michael Whiteley (prop builder on Star Wars, Titanic, and Indiana Jones).
Artist Alley was busier than ever, featuring more than 20 acclaimed comic artistss and writers including Chris Wildgoose (Batgirl: Rebirth, Batman: Nightwalker, Gotham Academy, and the acclaimed Porcelain series); Mike Dowling (Spider-Man, Judge Dredd, Unfollow, Death Sentence, Iron Man and Black Cat); Lucy Sullivan (Barking, IND-XED, Black Hammer); Rory McConville (Time Before Time, Spawn, Judge Dredd); Sarah Graley (Our Super Adventure, Pizza Witch, Minecraft); and Sam Hart (The Coldest City, Schem-Ha, Judge Dredd). Fans queued throughout the weekend for sketches and signings, and got involved in numerous panels and workshops.
The hugely popular Star Wars Experience returned better than ever, creating iconic characters and moments from the legendary film franchise, while Europe’s largest privately-owned collection of replica props from Game of Thrones – including swords, daggers, helmets and a full-size Iron Throne – drew crowds of eager fans.
Elsewhere across the venue, Portsmouth Ghostbusters’ Mass Hysteria Zone thrilled visitors with a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, Firehouse Walk Through and Ecto-1, while younger visitors enjoyed the all-new Nerf Arena and Lego Zone, alongside returning favourites including the Jurassic Zone, gaming areas, crafts and workshops.
This year also saw the expansion of the event’s literary offering, with the Court of Fantasy & Fae immersing romantasy readers in a world of dragons, costumes and tarot reading. A brand-new Bookish Block area featured a pop-up bookshop from Pidgeon Books, author signings, book swaps and special author guests including Juno Dawson, Maggie Stiefvater, Eliza Raine, Wren James, Josh Winning and Jennifer Thorne.
One of the weekend’s biggest highlights was the inclusive cosplay parade led by Dream Team Portsmouth, which brought beloved characters from across pop culture to life. Sunday’s closing entertainment came from live band ROKKET featuring Amba Tremain, performing fan-favourite tracks from films including Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man and Thor.
The celebrations continued after hours with two official comic-themed after parties at Hampshire Boulevard, featuring themed cocktails and entertainment for Comic Con guests.
Event Director Nick Coles said, “We were delighted to welcome more people than ever through the doors this weekend. Every year, we look to bring fresh experiences and new activities to the Con alongside the fan favourites that people return for year after year. Huge thanks go to our partners, guests, exhibitors, volunteers and visitors for helping create such a fun, welcoming and family-friendly event that continues to grow year on year.”
Andy Grays, Guildhall Trust CEO, said “Portsmouth Comic Con is the jewel in the crown of our event portfolio. It is inclusive, diverse and welcoming, and represents the very best of what we strive to deliver through Portsmouth Guildhall’s year-round programme. Seeing thousands of people of all ages enjoying the event together this weekend has been fantastic.”
Portsmouth Comic Con will return to Portsmouth Guildhall on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd May 2027. Limited Super Early Bird tickets are on sale now at www.portsmouthcomiccon.com.
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