Planet Comicon Kansas City 2026

Planet Comicon Kansas City has been running since 1999, which makes it one of the longest-running comic conventions in the Midwest and one of the first to grow to significant scale in the region before the modern convention circuit established itself. Running March 27-29, 2026 at Bartle Hall (301 W. 13th Street, Kansas City, MO), it draws 70,000+ attendees over three days with a program that goes well past convention close: a Friday night kick-off party, gaming programming into the evening, and an after-hours culture that reflects the convention's roots in a city that takes fun seriously.

The Dealer's Room

Planet Comicon's dealer's room is legendary among Midwest comic collectors. The show attracts dealers with serious back-issue inventory — vintage comics, key issues, Golden Age and Silver Age books alongside the more common Modern Age material. If you're hunting for specific issues, Planet Comicon's floor is one of the better venues in the region to find them, with competitive pricing from dealers who are competing against each other rather than operating in isolation.

Budget discipline matters here. The combination of enthusiastic dealers, good inventory, and the convention atmosphere creates conditions for impulse purchasing. Know what you're looking for and your spending ceiling before you walk in.

Comics Creator Lineup

Planet Comicon has built strong relationships with the comics creator community over 27 years. The convention reliably draws working writers and artists across mainstream comics publishers and independent work. Kansas City-connected creators appear regularly — Jason Aaron, who grew up in Alabama but has long ties to the Midwest convention circuit, has appeared at Planet Comicon; local and regional creators are consistently featured in Artist Alley. The convention has a reputation for treating creators well, which keeps the talent returning.

Celebrity Guests

Planet Comicon's celebrity program spans film, television, animation, and comics. The convention typically brings 30-50 celebrity guests per year with photo ops and autograph sessions priced separately. Check the official website for the 2026 lineup as it's announced; guest reveals typically begin in January and continue through March.

Gaming Programming

Planet Comicon runs a gaming area with organized events, tournaments, and open gaming across the convention weekend. Trading card game events (Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon) run alongside board gaming, RPG one-shots, and video gaming. The gaming area is a meaningful part of the convention rather than an afterthought — Kansas City's strong tabletop gaming community ensures it's populated and active throughout the weekend.

Planet Comicon 2026 details based on official convention announcements. Guest lineup announced progressively. Verify at planetcomicon.com.