El Paso Comic Con

El Paso Comic Con is not a shop with a counter and shelves but an annual pop culture convention in downtown El Paso, Texas, built around comics, cosplay, games, film, television, guests and a vendor floor. The next edition runs March 5 to 7, 2027, at the El Paso Convention Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza. It suits fans who want a weekend of panels, autographs and browsing, and families, since a sensory-friendly opening hour and free admission for the youngest children are part of the plan.

Dates and hours

The convention runs three days, with a shorter Friday that is free to enter.

Free general admission on Friday comes courtesy of a returning sponsor, Mango Cannabis, and a sensory-friendly opening hour runs Sunday at 9 AM for attendees who need a calmer experience.

What's on the floor

The vendor hall is where cards, comics and collectibles turn up, and Pokémon is the card game tied to the show. Pokémon Trainers appears among the costume contest themes. Exhibitor booths include one six-foot table, two chairs and two exhibitor badges for the first booth. Applications are juried, so a submission does not ensure a spot. Exhibitors need an active Texas Sales Tax Permit, which is free to obtain. Artist Alley is reserved for artists, and AI-generated artwork or products are not permitted in any form.

Vendor load-in is Thursday from 10 AM to 4 PM and Friday from 10 AM to noon. A vendor who cancels 30 or more days before the event gets a full refund minus processing fees, and limited overnight parking passes for the back lot are sold first come, first served.

Guests, panels and photo ops

Featured guests sign autographs and pose for photo ops, and they often charge for both, though they usually sell 8x10 photos and other memorabilia they will sign at no extra charge. A professional photography service handles photo ops, which can be bought in advance or at the show and are printed on the spot. Lines vary with a guest's popularity, and some guests give only 15 to 30 seconds, so organizers cap lines when needed. Most Q&A panels are free to paid attendees.

Costume contests and other events

The Adult Costume Contest is Saturday at 1 PM. It is free to enter, limited to ages 18 and up, and requires a valid Saturday ticket. Prizes are $300 for first place, $100 for second and $50 for third, each with a trophy. The Juniors Costume Contest is walk-up registration on Sunday at noon, free, for ages 17 and younger.

The 2027 show also adds a chile eating championship in which ten contestants face rounds of increasingly hot peppers for the El Paso title. The winner receives a belt, $200, a seat at the 8th Americas Title Belt Match 2027 and an invitation to the 4th Intercontinental Title Belt Match 2027.

Tickets and rules

Children ages 2 and younger are free with a paid adult. Children ages 3 to 12 need a Child Day Pass for each day, and anyone 13 or older buys a normal ticket. Tickets are non-refundable but transferable. Badges are not, and weekend and VIP badges must be worn with a wristband. A lost badge is not replaced, so a new one must be bought at the standard price. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older at all times.

Cameras are limited. Still cameras with lenses up to 85mm are allowed, and wearable cameras, including Google Glass and Meta Glasses, are prohibited. These items are not allowed:

• Selfie sticks, GoPro poles and stilts
• Drones, helium balloons and other lighter-than-air objects
• Handcarts, trolleys, rolling luggage and oversized strollers
• Pets, except service animals
• Firearms, which Texas law bars from the convention center
• Smoking and vaping anywhere at the event, with designated outdoor areas

Costume props and weapons must be inspected daily at the Costume Props table by Security, and no functional props or weapons are allowed. Running is not allowed anywhere at the event.

Getting there

The convention center sits downtown, and downtown parking is run by private companies, some of it paid, with rates that can change from day to day. The free El Paso Streetcar travels a 4.8-mile route in two loops through uptown and downtown El Paso, and a trolley stop is across the street from the convention center. A free mobile app for iOS and Android carries guest and panel listings, exhibitor listings, photo op schedules and convention maps.

The local scene

Several El Paso card and comic stores sit near the convention center: Heroes For Hire Comics And Cards is about 1.1 miles away, Sun City Games about 1.3 miles, Asylum Comics about 3.7 miles, Gorilla Games about 4 miles, and Grif's Curios Shop about 4.3 miles. Sun City Card Show, about 6.2 miles away, next starts November 14, 2026, which falls ahead of the March convention.