PopCon Indy 2026: Complete Attendee Guide
Updated March 7, 2026
PopCon Indy brings pop culture, gaming, anime, cosplay, and celebrity guests to the Indiana Convention Center for a weekend that's as fun as it is welcoming. Here's everything you need to know for May 9–10, 2026.
What Is PopCon Indy?
PopCon Indy is Indianapolis's pop culture and fandom convention at the Indiana Convention Center, featuring celebrity guests from film and television, comic artists, cosplay contests, gaming tournaments, anime programming, and a vendor floor packed with art prints, merchandise, collectibles, and handmade goods.
If you've been to Gen Con or Indiana Comic Con and found them overwhelming, PopCon is worth trying. At 4,000 attendees, it's big enough to have great guests and a lively atmosphere, but small enough that you can actually have a conversation, navigate the floor without bumping into everyone, and get photos with celebrities without a four-hour line. The community feeling here is genuine.
PopCon typically brings in guests from sci-fi, fantasy, superhero, and anime properties — actors, voice actors, and content creators. Photo ops and autograph sessions are ticketed separately from general admission. Check the PopCon website for the 2026 guest lineup, which is announced in the months before the event.
The exhibition floor mixes commercial vendors (comics, collectibles, merchandise) with an artist alley featuring independent creators selling original art, prints, handmade costumes, and fan-made goods. Artist Alley is one of the highlights — you'll find things here you won't find anywhere else.
Tabletop gaming rooms, video game tournaments, cosplay contest programming, and fan panels fill out the weekend schedule. The gaming area is a good spot to decompress between the busier parts of the floor. Panel schedules are usually posted on the PopCon website and app a few weeks before the event.
Tickets and Schedule
PopCon Indy runs Saturday May 9 and Sunday May 10, 2026 at the Indiana Convention Center. General admission tickets are available at the door, but buying in advance is recommended — not because it sells out immediately, but because advance tickets are typically discounted and include perks like early entry.
Cosplay at PopCon
Cosplay is one of the best parts of PopCon Indy. The convention is enthusiastically cosplay-friendly, and the variety — anime characters, video game heroes, Marvel and DC figures, original designs, group builds — makes for fantastic people-watching from the moment you arrive.
PopCon runs an official cosplay contest with categories across skill levels — beginners through master craftspeople. Registration details and rules are posted on the PopCon website ahead of the event. The contest stage is one of the weekend's highlights, worth watching even if you're not competing.
Keep your costume convention-friendly (be mindful of large props, wings, or anything that makes navigating crowds difficult). Comfortable shoes matter for a full day on the floor. Bring a small bag for purchases, ID, and any costume repair essentials. May weather means you can walk to restaurants without worrying about coat-check logistics.
The outdoor pedestrian corridor between the Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium is the unofficial cosplay showcase. In May weather, cosplayers spill out onto Georgia Street between sessions and the people-watching is genuinely excellent. Plan to spend some time just wandering this stretch on a sunny May afternoon.
Hotels and Getting There
The Indiana Convention Center is at 100 S Capitol Ave, downtown Indianapolis. Most downtown hotels are connected via the skywalk system — meaning you can walk from your room to the convention floor without going outside, which is a real convenience when you're wearing a costume.
See our Indianapolis Skywalk Guide and Getting Around Downtown Indianapolis for more detail.
Parking
Downtown Indianapolis parking is straightforward if you pre-book. Walk-up rates are higher and the best lots fill early on weekend event days.
Skywalk-connected and the most convenient option for ICC events. Pre-book on SpotHero or ParkWhiz.
A short walk to the main ICC entrance. Good backup if the Pan Am garage is full.
Covered parking with skywalk access. Fine for the full day at a lower walk-up rate than some closer options.
Where to Eat at PopCon Weekend
The Convention Center food court gets overwhelmed during any event — PopCon is no exception. The good news: Indianapolis has excellent options within easy walking distance that most attendees never find.
906 Carrollton Ave, about 15 minutes on foot or a quick rideshare from the ICC. Twenty-plus food vendors under one roof — burgers, pizza, tacos, Thai, BBQ, lobster rolls, desserts — with large communal seating that handles groups of all sizes. No reservations, walk-up only, much lower waits than Convention Center restaurants. The best option for a group dinner where everyone wants something different.
A 12–15 minute walk northeast of the Convention Center, Mass Ave is Indy's best restaurant corridor. Bakersfield (Mexican), Bluebeard (seasonal American), Rook (Asian fusion), Beholder (cocktails + small plates), Spoke & Steele, and a dozen more. Far less crowded than the Convention Center area on event weekends. Makes an excellent Saturday evening dinner destination — walk or grab a rideshare. Cosplay is completely welcome.
A sprawling bar and restaurant near Monument Circle. Good for groups, handles volume well, and has a full food menu. The multiple floors make it easy to find space even when it's busy. Five minutes from the ICC on foot.
Social dining and entertainment — food, drinks, bowling, arcade games, and karaoke all in one building. Convention energy translates well here. Good for a fun group evening that extends past dinner. Two blocks from the ICC.
Two Indianapolis pizza institutions near the Convention Center area. Fast, good, and built for groups. When you need to eat between sessions without a long wait, these are your best options. Goodfella's is on Georgia Street; Bazbeaux has locations on Mass Ave and downtown.
Massive menu, solid beer selection, and a location attached to Circle Centre Mall with skywalk access. Good for big groups with mixed tastes. Expect waits on Saturday evening — go early or put your name in remotely via the app.
Beyond the Convention Floor
May is a fantastic time to explore Indianapolis. If you have downtime between sessions, or you're extending the trip by a day, the city has a lot to offer — and in May weather, most of it is at its best.
A mile-long urban waterway on the west side of downtown, walkable from the Convention Center. Rental pedal boats, outdoor dining, and a genuinely attractive path through the city. A perfect way to decompress between convention days — the scenery is completely different from the ICC floor. See our Canal Walk Guide.
Beyond restaurants, Mass Ave has independent shops, galleries, and a walkable neighborhood feel that makes it worth exploring on its own. The Irvington neighborhood is further afield but worth a rideshare if you like eclectic bookshops and vintage stores.
About a 10-minute rideshare from downtown. The grounds include the art museum, a historic garden, and the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. In May, the outdoor spaces are spectacular. Worth the trip if you're staying through Sunday evening.
Plan Your PopCon Weekend
PopCon Indy runs May 9–10, 2026 at the Indiana Convention Center, 100 S Capitol Ave, Indianapolis. Get tickets, guest announcements, and the full schedule at the official website. Book hotels as soon as you commit — May weekends downtown fill quickly.