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2023 Tucson Comic Con Features
September 1, 2023 - September 3, 2023
Tucson Comic-Con hosts POP CULTURE FOR ALL, and is dedicated to being an epic, community-based event that reflects today’s fandoms and the unique nature of Tucson, Arizona and the American Southwest.
Tucson Comic-Con was founded in 2008 and began as a single day event attended by 500 pop-culture fans. Tucson Comic-Con has grown into an annual three-day comic convention, pop-culture experience, and family-fun weekend. Tucson Comic-Con spans the entire Tucson Convention Center, nearby host hotels, and several downtown venues on Congress Street.
This year will mark our 14th celebration where we will continue to embrace Tucson’s love for cosplay culture, science fiction, fantasy, television, horror, comic books, animation, gaming, authors and more. We foster a safe, inclusive environment for individuals to be their most authentic selves, prioritize local businesses, and provide a platform for emerging talent.
In three fun-filled days, Tucson Comic-Con attendees have the opportunity to interact with authors, artists, and notable celebrities from film and television, engage in over one hundred fifty hours of programming, participate in contests, explore our ninety thousand square foot exhibitor hall, and enjoy collaborative local after hours events in downtown Tucson.
Our convention is a trailblazer in facilitation; we bring the largest number of Cosplay groups to join us, most of whom also participate in our Little Heroes program. Little Heroes is a unique celebration for children with medical conditions and disabilities, where the Con employees and Cosplay groups are set up just for them prior to our official opening. Children are able to pose for photos with our Cosplay teams and receive items donated from Tucson Comic-Con, local stores, and our generous vendors.
The biggest facet that sets Tucson Comic-Con apart from other conventions is the unofficial title of “Friendliest Con in the West.” Tucson Comic-Con aims to serve vendors, staff, partners, and attendees with dignity, respect, transparency, kindness, and inclusivity.
Our most recent additions to the Con include our Inclusive Quiet Zone – a welcoming and safe space for people of different races, genders, sexualities, cultures, faiths, and accessibility/ non-visible / non-apparent needs to meet up, take a rest, and build community. This year we will also add a space for parents of small children to relax, regroup, and take care of family needs.
Tucson Comic-Con has had steady growth in attendance in previous years, however post-Covid-19 pandemic shut down, everyone is now ready to celebrate their fandom; in 2022 our attendance increased by over 40%, with total attendance over 19,000 – and we expect to continue to grow!
Our local economic impact is upwards of one million dollars and growing on an annual basis. Tucson Comic-Con is poised to have a significant impact on the local and regional economy in the years to come, especially with our new event date. This is the second year Tucson Comic-Con is being held on Labor Day Weekend and will be the only major event happening in Tucson.
Tucson Comic-Con has become an essential annual experience for local pop culture fans and we are grateful to be able to continue to facilitate this movement. Positive, long-lasting memories are made here, family-friendly fun is abundant, several generations of individuals are able to feel a sense of togetherness, and Tucson Comic- Con will continue to be a safe-haven of self-expression.
When we’re not hosting our 3-day event, we’re spending our time serving the Tucson community. Tucson Comic-Con participates by staffing artists, Cosplay groups, and providing arts & crafts materials for families. Each year we love participating in:
• The Tucson Winter Festival of Lights Parade
• “Pets of Pima” Pet Parade
• Tucson Festival of Books
• SARSEF Regional Science and Engineering Fair
• Pima County Annual Autism Walk and Resource Fair
• National Free Comic Book Day
• Local free community events at comic and gaming stores as well as the Pima County Public Library
Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/TucsonComicCon/