Houston’s biggest multi-genre and pop culture festival returns to the George R. Brown Convention Center May 24-26 for a weekend of anime, comics, gaming, literature, cosplay, celebrity panels, and much more.
The countdown to Comicpalooza 2024 is running at high speed, and excitement is already in the air throughout the city! The GRB will be packed with artists, vendors, cosplayers, celebrities, fans, and families from all over. This unique pop culture event unites, inspires and entertains thousands of people every year in Houston. If you plan to attend, hurry to buy your passes HERE.
The GRB will be buzzing with excitement as attendees immerse themselves in a thrilling lineup of pop-culture activities right from the start. Going through the weekend, attendees can expect a rumbling exhibition floor showcasing unique art and collectables, engaging panels highlighting popular fandoms, engulfing special attractions, tabletop and retro world game plays and entertaining acts. Daily special events will usher a new adventure starting off with the Friday Night Rave featuring Club Kaiju, the leading force in Anime + Pop-culture nightlife in Texas, intense wrestling matches courtesy of Texas-All Star Wrestling, Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, and Smash Ultimate tournaments in the inaugural Fight Club - Video Game Tournament, and the ever-popular Cosplay Contest among other exhilarating special events.
A premier guest lineup featuring Back to the Future stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and James Tolkan; WWE superstar John Cena; Napoleon Dynamite duo, Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez; The Office cast members Creed Bratton, Andy Buckley and Oscar Nuñez; Charmed stars, Shannen Doherty and Rose McGowan; Nightmare on Elm Street actors, Robert Englund, Ronee Blakley and Amanda Wyss; Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Vivien Lyra Blair; Star Trek’s Rebecca Romijn, Anson Mount, and Andrew Robinson. Voice actors Kimiko Glenn, Megan Shipman, Natalie Van Sistine, Alex Organ, Reagan Murdock, authors Chip Zdarsky, Clay McLeod Chapman, Jim Butcher, Martha Wells, and artists Stan and Julie Sakai. There will be photo and autograph opportunities on Saturday and Sunday.
Don't miss special attractions, including a life-size statue of Appa from Avatar the Last Airbender, Full Steel Combat knight duels in the U.S. Army Combat Theater, pop-culture inspired fashion designs from Houston Community College in the Comic Couture show, anime and pop-culture-themed cars low-rider bicycles in the Itasha Showdown and more.
In the Kidtopia area, kid-focused programming features family-friendly activities, including trivia, Kroger Chef Junior, an interactive cooking workshop in which young chefs learn how to make easy recipes, the Kid’s Cosplay Contest, where young cosplayers can enter and show off their cosplays, and much more.
Where to Stay Near Comicpalooza
If you want to stay really close to Comicpalooza, there are two hotels to consider: Hilton Americas and Marriott Marquis (photo above). Both are connected to the GRB via skywalks, making them ideal choices for taking a break from your activities at Comicpalooza and relaxing in your room or at the pool. The Four Seasons Hotel is another luxury option right across the street from the convention center. With more than 30 hotels in Downtown Houston, you have plenty of places where to stay located within walking distance from the GRB, including Embassy Suites Downtown Houston (0.3 miles), Hampton Inn Downtown Houston (0.3 miles), Homewood Suites by Hilton Downtown Houston (0.3 miles), The Westin Houston Downtown (0.3 miles), Cambria and Le Meridien Hotel Downtown Houston (both 0.4 miles), among many others. Check out all hotels in Downtown Houston and view Hotel Deals to save.
Where to Eat Near Comicpalooza
With a lot of walking involved, you will need to hydrate and feed your body, and we have a legion of options for that. Every restaurant and bar on this list is a stone’s throw from the GRB, so make sure you wear comfy sneakers. Just around the corner, you will find The Rustic with free live entertainment every day, Pappasito's, Brasserie Du Parc, Xochi, Phoenicia, MKT Bar, and Green Street Pavilion, a block full of places to sit and relax. If your palate has other cravings, then head over to EaDo (east of downtown) just behind the convention center. It is a newly-developed neighborhood with loads of kitchens to choose from including Kim Son, Leeland House, J-bar-M Texas BBQ, Around The Corner, District 7 Grill, and Koffeeteria to fuel your body with caffeine and pastries. One great thing about Houston is there are always options nearby to satisfy your needs.
What to Do Near Comicpalooza
Relax on the grass at Discovery Green across the street from the GRB, visit POST, or check out the Graffiti Park (on the corner of Leeland St. and Saint Emanuel St.) and take photos for your IG stories. Pop into a few of these bars for a cold one or a stiff cocktail, and you will be treated as a family with Dirt Bar, Reserve 101, True Anomaly Brewing, and Pitch 25. If you still have some energy after all the daytime festivities, we have the nightlife poppin’ at Sekai Night & Day, The Secret Group, House of Blues, and Warehouse Live.
We hope you enjoy your stay during Comicpalooza and see you back next year!
