The Matrix, Daredevil stars and more headed to Houston this weekend.
HOUSTON — Texas’ premier pop-culture festival is back at the George R. Brown Convention Center this Memorial Day weekend, with Comicpalooza running May 22-24 in downtown Houston. The three-day event promises a packed slate of celebrity appearances, live performances, gaming tournaments, cosplay contests, and immersive attractions for fans of all ages.
The festival, billed as Texas’ largest fan festival, will take over the convention center with an expansive show floor, celebrity panels, live entertainment, a literature conference, and tabletop and e-gaming competitions.
This year’s guest lineup draws from a wide range of pop culture touchstones. Matrix stars Laurence Fishburne, Joe Pantoliano, and Marcus Chong are scheduled to appear, along with Daredevil cast members Charlie Cox, Wilson Bethel, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Krysten Ritter. Halo voice actors Steve Downes, Jen Taylor, Tim Dadabo, and Jeff Steitzer will also attend, joined by composer Marty O’Donnell. Rick and Morty voice actors Harry Belden, Ian Cardoni, and Spencer Grammer round out a notable voice acting contingent.
Other guests include Steven Burns from Blue’s Clues, Mission: Impossible and Ozark actor Esai Morales, Blade Runner co-stars Edward James Olmos and Sean Young, and Mark Dacascos of John Wick: Chapter 3 and Iron Chef America. The Dragon Ball Z Spanish voice cast members Lalo Garza, Gerardo Reynero, and Laura Torres will also make appearances.
New this year, attendees can sit inside the cockpit of a Battlestar Galactica Viper replica and explore an Astroworld walk-through showcase featuring authentic memorabilia from Houston’s beloved former theme park. Music fans can catch a retro-inspired DJ set from Street Fighter Dreams blending chiptune and electronic sounds, as well as Miku Live!Palooza, a University of Houston fan-produced performance featuring animation, motion capture, and visual storytelling.
The weekend kicks off Friday night with Friday Night Bash: Enter the Matrix, an 18-and-older dance party with DJ sets and a live band. The popular Cosplay Contest returns, giving attendees a chance to show off their handcrafted costumes before an enthusiastic crowd.
Other special attractions include Dagorath, a Houston-based live-action role-playing experience set in medieval warfare; Comic Couture, a student fashion showcase from Houston Community College and the University of Houston-Downtown; and the Itasha Showdown, featuring pop-culture-wrapped cars and low-rider bikes. Okashi Japanese Arcade and 13th Floor Haunted House are back for a second year, and Comicpalooza Fight Club returns for its third year with Rivals of Aether 2, Smash Ultimate, and FC 26 tournaments.
Families can head to Kidtopia for activities including Family Game Night, Cosplay Karaoke, craft workshops, karate classes, and a Kids Cosplay Contest.
Programming panels cover topics ranging from The History of Making Star Trek Props and 3D Printing for Cosplay to Does Physical Evidence of UAP/UFOs Exist?! and How to Start Collecting Comics. Comicpalooza University will also host educational discussions on comics, anime, and literature led by professors and researchers.
Tickets and additional information are available at comicpalooza.com.