GM, COT❣️ Yuzunoko here.
Have you already checked your schedule for Tokyo Comic Con 2026?
Tokyo Comic Con (Tokyo Comic Convention 2026, a pop-culture convention) will take place over three days from Friday, December 11 to Sunday, December 13 at Makuhari Messe (the convention center in Chiba, near Tokyo). Marking its 10th anniversary since first being held in 2016, this year's theme is "BEYOND." On October 1, the organizers revealed their third wave of visiting celebrity guests alongside the official PR ambassadors.
Nine Celebrity Guests Announced; Photo and Autograph Tickets Now on Sale
Nine visiting celebrity guests have been announced so far. Academy Award-winning actor Nicolas Cage will be attending Tokyo Comic Con for the first time, and Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio will also make their first appearances. The Phelps twins from the Harry Potter films will be returning for their first appearance since 2018.
Announced on October 1 were Mads Mikkelsen (marking his 7th visit) and Daniel Logan (marking his 9th visit). Daniel Logan is reportedly setting the record for the most visits by any visiting celebrity guest.
(Nine visits? That's real dedication.)
The main MCs are Yuichi Nakamaru and IMALU. BEYOOOOONDS (a group from Hello! Project, a Japanese idol collective) have been appointed as PR ambassadors, and a special live performance featuring all members is scheduled for the final day on December 13.
Photo and autograph tickets have been going on sale in phases since October 3. Prices include Nicolas Cage at 34,000 yen and Mads Mikkelsen at 29,800 yen (both tax included), with admission tickets required separately to take part in the autograph and photo sessions.
Last year's Tokyo Comic Con 2025 hosted a record-breaking 20 celebrity guests and welcomed over 90,000 attendees. The organizers say this year will be delivered "on a scale among the largest ever," pouring in everything built up over the past decade.
To Cosplay, You Need Two Passes: an Admission Ticket and a Cosplay Participation Pass
Attendees planning to cosplay need two separate passes: an admission ticket and a cosplay pass.
For admission tickets, the 3-day pass "3DAYPASS" is 9,900 yen (limited quantities), advance 1-day tickets are 5,500 yen, and same-day tickets are 5,900 yen (all tax included). Admission is 1,000 yen for ages 18 and under, 500 yen for ages 15 and under, and free for elementary school students and younger when accompanied by a guardian.
The Cosplay Participation Pass is 2,500 yen per day (tax included) and covers the cosplay registration fee, changing room access, and cloakroom storage. Regardless of whether registration is paid or free, everyone must register at the "Cosplay Registration Desk" by the cosplay entrance to receive their pass. Registration is free for elementary school students and younger.
(With the changing room and cloakroom included, it's a nice deal for anyone carrying a lot of gear.)
Pass quantities are limited, and if advance sales sell out, no same-day passes will be available. Securing yours early is the safest bet. "Early Changing Room Access," allowing you to use the changing rooms first thing in the morning, is 2,000 yen (from 9:00 on the 11th, and from 8:00 on the 12th and 13th; a cosplay pass is required separately). Cloakroom-only storage is 1,000 yen (cash only on the day of the event).
Cosplay genres are not restricted to American comics; participants are welcome as characters from Japanese and international comics, novels, games, and tokusatsu (Japanese special-effects shows). Wearing simple fan items like hats does not require registration, but capes, robes, head coverings that conceal the face, and weapons or sculpted props all require registration.
A cosplay pass is also required when entering the celebrity area or taking part in photo and autograph sessions in costume. The organizers note that rules have been updated due to tightened security, meaning items such as capes are now classified as cosplay.
Four Cosplay Programs; Gathering Applications Open Until November 15
Several programs for enjoying cosplay at the venue have also been announced.
- Cosplay Collection: A stage event where participants walk the runway or perform a 1-minute routine. Applications closed on October 9. The stage is scheduled for the afternoon of December 12, with selection results sent by email starting around October 23.
- Cosplay Gathering: Themed group photo sessions. Leaders (slot organizers) are being recruited, with applications closing at 19:00 on November 15.
- Cosplay Parade: No prior application needed. On the day, simply assemble at the starting point at the scheduled time.
- Greeting: Exclusive to Early Changing Room Access pass holders. Cosplayers welcome attendees at the doors as the venue opens.
Participation in the Gathering and the Parade is free of charge, though an admission ticket and a cosplay pass are still required. The Greeting is limited to Early Changing Room Access (2,000 yen) holders and also requires a cosplay pass. The Gathering is scheduled to run from 13:00 to 18:00 on the 11th and 12th, and from 13:00 to 16:00 on the 13th (all times provisional).
(I like that leaders are recruited and everyone shoots together. It seems like a nice way to make new cosplay friends.)
Upcoming Schedule
Event hours are 11:00 to 19:00 on the 11th, 10:00 to 19:00 on the 12th, and 10:00 to 18:00 on the 13th (subject to change).
Cosplay-related milestones unfold in this order: selection results (around October 23), the Gathering application deadline (November 15), and the main event (December 11–13). With admission tickets and cosplay passes already on sale, anyone planning to cosplay should get their pass secured early.
About this article
This article was compiled from the official Tokyo Comic Con website, drawing on its pages for news topics, tickets, cosplay, Cosplay Gathering, Cosplay Collection, Cosplay Parade, and Greeting.
Schedules and ticketing details are subject to change. When planning your visit, please check the latest information on the official website.
For a breakdown of how cosplay registration fees differ by event, see our comparison guide: What does a cosplay registration fee actually cover? Comparing changing rooms and cloakrooms at acosta!, Ikeharo, Stofes, Tokyo Game Show and Comiket.
Quotes from Japanese sources are our own translations.
Translated from the Japanese original.
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