ABQ Comic Con is Coming SOON!

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

by Sandi Pressley

Get Your Geek On: Albuquerque Comic Con Returns January 16-18, 2026

If you've been looking for a reason to dig that cosplay out of your closet (or finally finish it), mark your calendar: Albuquerque Comic Con is returning to the Albuquerque Convention Center downtown January 16-18, 2026.

For those new to Duke City or just new to the convention scene, Albuquerque Comic Con has become one of our most anticipated annual events. It's not just for hardcore comic book collectors—though they'll find plenty to love. It's become a genuine celebration of pop culture, creativity, and the slightly nerdy side of Albuquerque that doesn't always get the spotlight.

What Makes Albuquerque Comic Con Special

Let's be honest: we're not Comic-Con International in San Diego. We're not competing with New York or Austin. And that's actually what makes our version great. Albuquerque Comic Con has the energy and creativity without the overwhelming crowds that make bigger conventions feel like navigating the State Fair on Chile Day.

You can actually:
- Talk to artists and creators without standing in line for 45 minutes
- Browse vendor tables without being shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of people
- See the cosplay without needing binoculars
- Take your kids without losing them in the crowd

It's big enough to feature serious guests and vendors, but intimate enough to actually enjoy yourself. Very Albuquerque, if you think about it.

What to Expect January 16-18

The Albuquerque Convention Center downtown provides the perfect space—easy parking (by downtown standards), accessibility, and enough room for vendor halls, panels, special events, and the cosplay runway.

**Guest Appearances:

While the full guest list typically gets announced closer to the event, past years have brought voice actors, comic creators, sci-fi authors, and actors from beloved fandoms. Keep an eye on the official Albuquerque Comic Con website for announcements.

**Vendor Hall:

This is where your wallet gets dangerous. Hundreds of vendors selling everything from original artwork and handmade cosplay to rare comics, vintage toys, and that one specific action figure you've been searching for since childhood. Local Albuquerque artists and creators share space with regional and national vendors, making it a genuine mix of unique finds and collectibles.

**Artist Alley:

Local and regional artists showcasing original artwork, prints, commissions, and more. Many Albuquerque artists use Comic Con as their biggest event of the year, so you're seeing their absolute best work. If you've ever wanted to commission custom artwork or just support local creative talent, this is your opportunity.

**Panels and Workshops:

Everything from comic creation workshops to discussions about representation in media, cosplay construction tips, and deep dives into specific fandoms. The panel schedule usually drops a few weeks before the event.

**Cosplay Contest:

One of the highlights of the weekend. The creativity that comes out of Albuquerque's cosplay community is genuinely impressive—elaborate foam armor, intricate props, group costumes that required genuine engineering. Even if you're not competing, watching the cosplay runway is worth the price of admission.

**Gaming Areas:

Board games, card games, video games, and tabletop RPGs. Whether you want to learn a new game, join a tournament, or just nerd out with fellow gamers, the gaming spaces provide a break from the vendor hall crowds.

Making the Most of Your Comic Con Weekend

A few tips from those of us who've done this rodeo before:

**Buy tickets in advance:

Day-of tickets are available, but pre-purchasing usually saves money and time. Weekend passes offer the best value if you're planning to attend multiple days.

**Arrive early on Saturday:

That's peak crowd time. Getting there when doors open means first crack at vendor tables and shorter lines for popular panels.

**Bring cash:

While many vendors take cards now, some artists and smaller vendors are cash-only. There are ATMs at the convention center, but lines can be brutal.

**Wear comfortable shoes:

You'll be walking. A lot. Standing in lines, browsing vendor tables, moving between panels. Those awesome cosplay boots might look perfect, but your feet will hate you by hour three.

**Hydration is real:

The convention center gets warm when it's packed. Bring a water bottle or plan to buy drinks throughout the day.

**Sunday is for deals:

Many vendors would rather sell items at a discount than pack them back up. Sunday afternoon can yield genuine bargains.

Beyond the Convention Center

If you're coming from outside Albuquerque for the weekend, or if you're a local showing visiting friends around:

**Downtown Albuquerque is walkable from the convention center. The KiMo Theatre is right there—Albuquerque's stunning art deco theater that's worth seeing even if you don't catch a show.

**Old Town is a short drive or Uber ride away. The historic plaza, shops, and restaurants provide a total change of pace from the convention. Grab some New Mexican food, browse art galleries, and show your out-of-town friends what New Mexico is actually about.

**Nob Hill along Central Avenue offers vintage shops, independent bookstores (Guild Cinema for cult classics and indie films, if you need more pop culture), and the Route 66 vibe that people expect from Albuquerque.

**Food recommendations:

You'll want to venture beyond convention center concessions. Within walking distance of the convention center: Anodyne (coffee and light bites), Sawmill Market (multiple food vendors in one location—something for every taste), and numerous downtown restaurants.

Why This Matters for Albuquerque

Comic Con might seem like just another event, but it's actually part of what makes Albuquerque an increasingly attractive place to live and visit. We're cultivating creative communities, supporting local artists and small businesses, and providing the kind of cultural events that give a city personality.

For families, it's one of the few genuinely all-ages events where teenagers don't roll their eyes, young kids can meet superheroes in real life (via cosplayers), and parents can indulge their own fandoms without judgment.

For Albuquerque's creative community, Comic Con is a showcase and marketplace. Artists, craftspeople, and creators get exposure and sales that support their work throughout the year.

And for all of us, it's a reminder that Albuquerque is more than just balloon fiestas and Breaking Bad tourism. We've got depth, creativity, and communities that celebrate the things they love without irony or embarrassment.

Planning Your Weekend

Whether you're a serious collector hunting specific issues, a casual fan who just enjoys the atmosphere, a cosplayer ready to debut your latest creation, or someone curious about what all the fuss is about, Albuquerque Comic Con offers something genuine.

It's three days where Albuquerque embraces the creative, the quirky, and the passionate. Where you can wear a costume in public and get compliments instead of strange looks. Where conversations with strangers about fictional universes are not only normal but encouraged.

Mark your calendar for January 16-18, 2026. Pull together that costume, gather your friends who understand the difference between DC and Marvel (or don't, we're inclusive like that), and plan to spend a weekend celebrating the geek culture that's become such a part of modern life.

The Albuquerque Convention Center. Downtown. January 16-18. Three days of comics, creators, cosplay, and community.

Who's in?

Looking for more Albuquerque community events and local happenings? Follow the Sandi Pressley Team for ongoing coverage of what makes Duke City great beyond just real estate. Because the best homes are the ones in neighborhoods and cities that give you reasons to love living here.