Sean Astin, Patrick Warburton and many other well known pop culture celebrities are scheduled to appear in Indianapolis next month for PopCon Indy 2026, and getting through the door to see them might be cheaper just by visiting some of your favorite Indy stores.
PopCon, three-day convention catering to all things in the pop culture universe, is back again with cosplay, cool merch, games and other fun things to do. Here’s what we know about this year’s big event.
When is PopCon Indy 2026?
This year’s PopCon Indy happens May 8-10, 2026.
How much are tickets to PopCon Indy 2026? Depends on how you buy them, and where
Over the weekend, tickets to PopCon Indy were selling online at a limited-time 25% discount. A three-day weekend pass cost roughly $70, with day passes beginning at around $35. Children younger than 10 get in free with the purchase of an adult ticket.
You might be able to get them cheaper than that, however.
PopCon announces new partnership program to support local Indy shops
On Thursday, PopCon announced a new partnership program to support Indianapolis-area businesses that cater to the pop culture community.
Those who visit participating stores can get discounted tickets to PopCon at a rate you won’t find anywhere else, a news release explained.
“PopCon has always been about community,” said Carl Doninger, founder and co-owner, in a news release. “These local stores are the backbone of that community — they’re where fandom lives every day, not just one weekend a year.
How do you get discounted tickets to PopCon Indy 2026?
More than a dozen Indianapolis locations will feature PopCon Indy posters, flyers and handouts with special QR codes attendees can scan with their smartphones to get the discounted tickets.
Just by visiting these Indy shops, Doninger told IndyStar, attendees can save a little more than 30% off the entry fee.
“The Indy area has amazing infrastructure catering to pop-culture enthusiasts,” Doninger said. “We hope this draws more attention to what is readily accessible to them year-round.”
What Indy locations have the QR codes for PopCon 2026 tickets?
On Friday, Doninger said upwards of 14 locations were participating, with more possibly to follow. They include these Indianapolis-area stores:
When is the vendor floor open for PopCon 2026?
A schedule for PopCon Indy shows vendor floor hours are as follows:
VIP ticket-holders can walk in 30 minutes ahead of the general public. Program hours Fri-Sat extend to 11 p.m.
What can you do at PopCon Indy?
Just like last year, there’s lots of things to do at PopCon Indy. Here are some of the familiar highlights:
What celebrity guests will be there?
You can find these and other celebrity guests tentatively scheduled to appear at this year’s PopCon Indy, which we’ve listed in alphabetical order. They include:
Note: PopCon Indy appearances were last retrieved from the organization’s website early Friday afternoon, April 10, and are subject to change due to scheduling conflicts.
Autographs and pictures with many celebrities will happen Friday through Sunday at the Indiana Convention Center. The cost of an autograph for each celebrity guest varies in price. Be sure to check PopCon Indy’s official website for the latest information.
Where is PopCon Indy 2026?
PopCon Indy takes place once again at the Indiana Convention Center at 100 S. Capitol Ave. in downtown Indianapolis.
CORRECTION: This article has been updated with the correct address for Game Preserve locations.
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: PopCon Indy 2026 tickets are cheaper if you visit these local shops
Reporting by John Tufts, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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