Convention - Comic Con Midlands Birmingham 2026: A Star-Studded Celebration Establishes the Convention Among the UK's Biggest Pop Culture

By Mulder, Birmingham, National Exhibition Centre, 14 july 2026

Comic Con Midlands Birmingham returned to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on 11 and 12 July 2026 with a much bigger ambition than its inaugural edition, and the result confirmed that Monopoly Events has found another successful destination for its growing convention portfolio. Occupying Halls 17 and 18 of the NEC, the weekend welcomed thousands of fans eager to meet actors from some of the world's most beloved franchises, enjoy live Q&A sessions, cosplay competitions, professional photo opportunities, autograph sessions, gaming areas, artists, exhibitors and movie props. The convention combined blockbuster Hollywood productions with cult television, anime, gaming and British cinema, creating one of the most varied guest line-ups seen at a UK convention this year.

The organisers assembled an exceptionally diverse roster of celebrities that appealed to nearly every generation of fans. Peter Capaldi and David Bradley represented the enduring popularity of Doctor Who, while Middle-earth fans were able to meet Richard Armitage, Graham McTavish, Adam Brown, Stephen Hunter (where applicable in promotions) and Jed Brophy's fellow cast members through dedicated Hobbit activities. Television audiences were equally spoiled with appearances from Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo and Steven Ogg, while fantasy enthusiasts enjoyed meeting Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, David Bradley, Lucy Hale, Holly Marie Combs, Brian Krause, Tyler Blackburn, Brant Daugherty, Nia Peeples, Brendan Robinson, Lesley Fera, Keegan Allen, Ian Harding, Janel Parrish, Sasha Pieterse's colleagues through Pretty Little Liars reunions, alongside stars from Charmed, Lost, Descendants, One Piece, Sailor Moon, NCIS, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Mallrats, My Name Is Earl, Grand Theft Auto V and many more.

Saturday immediately demonstrated the breadth of the programme. The Main Stage opened with a Descendants panel bringing together Jedidiah Goodacre, Brenna D'Amico and Mitchell Hope, before actor Manu Bennett discussed a career spanning Spartacus, Arrow and The Hobbit. The popular Cosplay Championships then took centre stage, showcasing impressive craftsmanship from competitors across the United Kingdom. Throughout the afternoon, audiences moved from the nostalgic comedy of the Mallrats reunion with Ethan Suplee, Jason Lee and Renée Humphrey, to an engaging conversation with David Bradley, before fans of Guy Ritchie's cult gangster classic packed the theatre for the Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels reunion featuring Steven Mackintosh, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran, Jason Flemyng and Vas Blackwood. The day concluded with a heartfelt Lost reunion and one of the weekend's largest audiences for the Pretty Little Liars panel, reuniting Lesley Fera, Brant Daugherty, Nia Peeples, Keegan Allen, Tyler Blackburn, Lucy Hale, Ian Harding, Tammin Sursok, Brendan Robinson and Holly Marie Combs.

Sunday maintained the momentum with another full theatre schedule. Anime fans started the day with the Sailor Moon panel featuring Linda Ballantyne and Katie Griffin, followed by an entertaining appearance from Peter Capaldi, whose wit and reflections on Doctor Who delighted attendees. After the Cosplay Showcase, the convention shifted toward major ensemble reunions, including NCIS with Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo and Steven Ogg, followed by the hugely popular One Piece voice cast discussion featuring JazzaRay Jaslyn, Ty Keogh, Callum Kerr, Clive Russell and others. Later in the afternoon, The Hobbit cast reunited before the magical world of Charmed brought Holly Marie Combs, Brian Krause and fellow cast members back together. The weekend concluded with a lively Grand Theft Auto V panel featuring Steven Ogg, Shawn Fonteno and Ned Luke, whose behind-the-scenes stories once again proved why the game's cast remains one of the biggest attractions on the convention circuit.

Away from the stage, the convention maintained an almost continuous flow of autograph sessions and professional photo opportunities. Three dedicated photography areas operated throughout both days, allowing fans to meet dozens of celebrities individually or in exclusive reunion groups. Visitors could choose between solo portraits and highly anticipated combinations such as the NCIS Duo, The Two Doctors, the Descendants Trio, Pretty Little Liars groups, Charmed Duo, The Hobbit Group, Mallrats Trio, One Piece Group, GTAV Group, Ezra and Aria Duo, Montgomery Duo, Sailor Moon Duo, My Name Is Earl Duo and several Lock, Stock reunions. This carefully coordinated schedule enabled attendees to maximise their weekend despite the exceptionally large guest list.

One of Comic Con Midlands' greatest strengths remains its ability to mix mainstream Hollywood stars with beloved cult personalities and iconic voice actors. Rather than focusing exclusively on one franchise, the event continuously rotated between fantasy, science fiction, television drama, anime, gaming and classic British cinema, ensuring that visitors always found something new to discover. Families, dedicated collectors, cosplayers and casual fans all shared the same halls, creating the friendly atmosphere that has become a trademark of Monopoly Events conventions.

Beyond the celebrity programme, attendees explored hundreds of exhibitors offering collectibles, comics, artwork, replica props, gaming merchandise and handcrafted creations in an expansive traders' area. Artist Alley showcased independent illustrators and comic creators, while gaming zones, cosplay gatherings and numerous fan displays ensured there was always activity between scheduled panels and autograph sessions. Combined with impressive prop displays and professionally organised fan experiences, the convention delivered a complete pop culture weekend rather than simply a series of celebrity appearances.

With its expanded programming, impressive guest diversity and strong public attendance, Comic Con Midlands Birmingham 2026 demonstrated that it is rapidly becoming one of the United Kingdom's premier fan conventions outside London. Building upon the foundations laid during its first edition, the event successfully balanced blockbuster names with intimate fan interactions, delivering a weekend packed with memorable reunions, engaging discussions and countless opportunities for fans to meet the actors behind some of the biggest franchises in popular culture. As Monopoly Events continues investing in the Midlands, Comic Con Midlands now appears firmly established as a major destination on the British convention calendar.

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