Phoenix Fan Fusion 2026 brings three days of comics, cosplay, and gaming to downtown Phoenix
Phoenix Fan Fusion 2026 will run Friday through Sunday, June 5–7, at the Phoenix Convention Center in downtown Phoenix, bringing together fans, creators, vendors, and celebrity guests for one of Arizona’s biggest pop-culture weekends. Organizers describe the event as a multi-genre convention built around comics, sci-fi, fantasy, anime, horror, and gaming, with panels, Q&As, cosplay contests, gaming spaces, and a large exhibit hall spread across the convention center.
A gathering for every fandom
Phoenix Fan Fusion is aimed at comic-book readers, anime fans, sci-fi and fantasy audiences, horror lovers, tabletop and video gamers, cosplayers, and families looking for a large all-ages convention close to home. Guest listings currently include names such as Danny Elfman, George Takei, Christopher Priest, Emily Swallow, Chris Claremont, and other actors, comic creators, and other genre figures scheduled for panels, signings, and appearances throughout the weekend. The event also brings in local and regional artists, writers, exhibitors, and small businesses, with more than 600 vendors, artists, creators, and special exhibits expected in the Lower Level halls.
What fans can expect
The convention offers a full slate of programming, including celebrity panels, workshops, autograph sessions, cosplay events, tabletop gaming, video game activities, and late‑night programming. Based on the current schedule, programming is expected to begin around 10:30 a.m. each day and run until approximately 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with Sunday events ending around 5 p.m., though some activities may continue beyond posted hours. Exhibit and autograph hall hours are typically scheduled from late morning into early evening on Friday and Saturday, and until late afternoon on Sunday; attendees should check the official schedule for 2026‑specific times as the event approaches.
Dates, hours, and location
All Fan Fusion programming is centered at the Phoenix Convention Center, with secured entrances at 2nd Street and Adams, 3rd Street and Monroe, and 3rd Street and Washington. Badge redemption is typically open from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, with early pickup windows in the days leading up to the event; official 2026 badge pickup hours will be posted on the Phoenix Fan Fusion website as the convention approaches.
Planning the trip from the West Valley
For fans coming from Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Avondale, Goodyear, or other West Valley cities, driving into downtown Phoenix will likely be the most direct option, especially for attendees carrying cosplay gear, collectibles, or autograph materials. Valley Metro Rail runs directly to the Phoenix Convention Center area, with a dedicated stop for downtown events, which can make it a practical alternative to driving and paying for event parking. Because Fan Fusion stretches across three days with long operating hours, West Valley readers may want to decide in advance whether they are making a single-day trip or treating the convention as a full weekend commitment.
Ticket details and key guests
Official ticketing pages list advance badge options online, with weekend full‑event badges and single‑day memberships available while supplies last, and free admission for children 12 and under. Earlier promotions have included discounted early‑bird pricing, but organizers note that badge prices and availability can change as the event gets closer, so readers should check the official pricing page before making plans. Among the currently highlighted guests are composer Danny Elfman, comic book writers Christopher Priest and Chris Claremont, and actors George Takei and Emily Swallow, five names likely to draw strong interest from movie, TV, comics, and genre fans across the Valley.
More Than Just a Convention
Phoenix Fan Fusion remains one of the largest homegrown fan events in Arizona, giving local readers access to celebrity guests, niche fandom panels, artists, and vendors without the cost of traveling out of state for a major convention. For West Valley fans in particular, the event offers a rare chance to experience comics, movies, TV, anime, gaming, and cosplay all in one place over a single weekend. That mix of scale, variety, and local accessibility is what makes Fan Fusion one of the Valley’s most important annual pop-culture events.