Friends, FAN EXPO Chicago is coming soon and we are excited to attend. With so much going on, our friends from FAN EXPO Chicago have compiled a list of what to do during your visit. Check it out below and comment on what you’re excited to see!
Attending FAN EXPO Chicago, the region’s longest-running comic and pop culture convention, may seem overwhelming for the first-time guest. With so much to see and do over the three-day Expo, we’ve compiled some of the top highlights to help fans plan their visit to this year’s show, running August 15 – 17, 2025 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.
Meet Your Favorite Celebrities
This year’s all-star roster includes some of the world’s biggest pop culture icons, including STAR WARS icons Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen; PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN and LORD OF THE RINGS franchise star Orlando Bloom; Oscar-winners Brendan Fraser and Helen Hunt; WWE champion and actor John Cena; a NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION cast reunion featuring Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron, and Randy Quaid; GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY stars Michael Rooker, Pom Klementieff, Sean Gunn, and Karen Gillan; FLASHDANCE star Jennifer Beals; stars of THE FLASH, the TWILIGHT Saga, and DOCTOR WHO; and more. Celebrity guests are set to meet and greet fans, chatting over autograph and photo opportunities. See the full list of celebrity guests and schedules and plan your visit.
I Know That Voice…
Meet the people behind some of the most popular animated characters in pop culture at FAN EXPO Chicago. From classic films to the television shows and Anime of today, we’re welcoming voice actors including Zach Tyler Eisen, Dante Basco, legendary animator Don Bluth, Ming-Na Wen, Mae Whitman, Keith David, Bob West, and more. You’ve heard them…now meet them in person! The full roster of voice actors is available online.
300,000+ Square Feet of Shopping
Shop hundreds of retailers from all over to make your experience unforgettable. From finding that rare comic book, stunning original artwork, graphic novels, memorabilia, games, toys, or t-shirts – you’ll find it all here.
The Dungeons & Dragons Room
Knights, wizards, dragons, and dungeon masters gather at FAN EXPO Chicago throughout the weekend, with Kill It, Keep It, Live!, An Immersive D&D Actual Play Experience, Rough Magic Games and Counterfeit Combat’s high-stakes world premiere D&D experience fully improvised and shaped by audience choices; Improv D&D; dice-making sessions, and Rough Magic Gamesextended D&D gaming all weekend long.
Check out the Community Zone
The FAN EXPO Chicago Community Zone is the place for guests to discover fan communities right in their backyard, connect with local enthusiasts, learn about events, and get some great photo ops in the process. This year, see the DeLorean from BACK TO THE FUTURE, learn about the Dragonwood WildLife Conservancy, visit the 501st Legion Midwest Garrison and the Saber Guild Olega Temple, and even see what the Chicago White Sox are up to!
A Legacy of Comic Creators
FAN EXPO Chicago honors its 53-year legacy as the longest-running comic convention in the Midwest, putting comic creators front and center. This year, featured guests include Lee Bermejo, Simon Bisley, Ultimate Spider-Man and Daredevil’s Marco Checchetto, Werther Dell’edera (Something is Killing the Children), Tony Daniel (Batman), David Messina (Ultimate Spider-Man), Michael Golden, cover artist Inhyuk Lee, and more at the cutting edge of their industry in the show’s hallmark Artist Alley.
Fun for the Whole Family
FAN EXPO Chicago’s Kids’ Zone features programming for all ages, including animation workshops; the Kids’ Cosplay Red Carpet; Cosplay Story Time; a slime-making session; and the Force Academy, where Padiwans and younglings aged 6 – 15 can learn some basic lightsaber skills. Check out Royal Princess Parties for fairy tales, games, and music; or learn to move like a superhero with a kid-friendly fitness session.
Bizarro Wrestling and Foam Battle Fighting
Bizarro Wrestling brings Multiversal Mania to FAN EXPO Chicago, incorporating wrestlng, mixed martial arts, and high-flying acts for an exciting and electric show full of passion, intensity, and pure fun. Free matches and meet-and-greets will take place throughout the weekend. Meanwhile, the Belegrath Medieval Combat Society offers Foam Battles all weekend!
Walk the Cosplay Red Carpet
One of the great joys of FAN EXPO Chicago is bringing fans together to celebrate the community of fandom, and nowhere is that more evident than on the Cosplay Red Carpet! Wear your best costume and walk the carpet while your friends and fellow fans cheer you on and snap pics – or just watch the incredibly talented cosplay creators show off their wardrobe!
FAN EXPO After Dark
The fun doesn’t stop when the floor closes! After-hours programs keep the show going late into the evening throughout the weekend. On Friday starting at 9 p.m., visit the Geeky Speakeasy After Party, where cosplay meets cabaret in this 1920s-style after party; Saturday August 16 get ready to rock the multiverse at Cosmic Celebration featuring Galactic Empire, for an out-of-this-world after party. Plan your evenings with the official After-Hours events schedule.
FAN EXPO Chicago runs August 15 – 17, 2025 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Show hours are Friday 4 – 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets start at $50; 3-day passes and VIP packages also available at https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpochicago/buy-tickets/. More information and updates can be found at https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpochicago/.