C2E2 2026
By Kevin Hoskinson
Entertainment Editor
C2E2 is one of the best fan conventions in the country. Every year they get more ambitious with bigger guests and even bigger nerd vibes. There is a reason that I travel halfway across the country every year to visit this annual party in the heart of Chicago. In the Pacific Northwest we have Rose City Comic Con and Emerald City Comic Con, which are both incredible, but it’s great to add C2E2 to that list. It takes place in one of the most diverse cities in the United States and the con reflects the values and culture of Chicago. The people are super friendly and I always feel welcome to be myself and join in on the festivities.
Walking into the main hall this year I was hit with a feeling of nostalgia even though it had only been a year since the last C2E2. The first booth I noticed was RSVLTS, which is one of my favorites every year. They are known for their nerdy button up shirts, which are classy and very comfortable. At every convention they attend they bring something exclusive to the event and all three days they had a different shirt on sale as well as their regular clothing. Artist Alley and Writers Block were the next spots I hit up and they didn’t disappoint. No matter what you are into you could find something to represent your fandom by one of the many talented artists with their artwork on display. K-Pop Demon Hunters had a huge presence this year and oddly enough, so did The Pitt. Those franchises were also represented through some incredible cosplay and it was really great to see. Boom! Studios had a massive booth and their sister company, Tiny Onion, was also there. Founded by writer James Tynion IV, Tiny Onion is a specialty label showcasing his comics, most notably Something Is Killing The Children. James and his crew were present doing signings all weekend at both booths.
One of the biggest draws of shows like this are the celebrity guests and this year didn’t disappoint. All genres and mediums were represented and it was one for the ages. Jodi Benson and Christopher Daniel Barnes were present, representing The Little Mermaid as the voices of Ariel and Eric respectively. Cast members from the One Piece anime were singing autographs and leaving voice messages for fans. The cast of Daredevil: Born Again, including Charlie Cox, Kyrsten Ritter, Elden Henson and Wilson Bethel, signed autographs and did an incredible panel telling stories from the set and interacting with the audience. Geena Davis reminisced about her Hollywood Career as did Martin Sheen. Some of the cast from CW’s Arrow were there and The Scarlet Witch herself, Elizabeth Olsen, was also there, enchanting guests as she took photos with fans and told stories about her time in the MCU.
Overall, it was another wonderful year at C2E2. It’s one of those cons that always has amazing guests, incredible cosplay and the vibes are always on point. It feels like a nerdy party that everyone is invited to no matter what you are into. I love the people and the city. It’s one of the best Comic Cons in the country and if you ever get a chance to check it out, I highly recommend it. It’s a blast. Another win for Reed Pop.
