Pensacon 2026 Celebrates Fans and Creators
Pensacola is experiencing transformation on every level. From major infrastructure improvements and unprecedented residential growth to leadership changes and national recognition as one of the best places to live, the city is on the move. Through it all, residents, business owners and students are witnessing the city’s evolution firsthand—one that honors its identity as a historic centerpiece of the Panhandle while boldly embracing a new era of cultural and urban growth.
Yet amid all this change, one event remains a constant haven for creativity, capturing the soul and spirit of fan culture. Captivating fans of all ages, it draws talent and artistry from the local community and around the world. That event is Pensacon, Pensacola’s annual pop culture convention.
Since its inception in 2013, Pensacon remains a local melting pot for fans of comic books, film, games, anime, cosplay and more. Now in its 13th year, Pensacon seeks to uphold its values of community, conversation and culture, uniting fans and creators in celebration of the art of years past and eager anticipation of the art that is to come.
“Last year, we had just under 100 celebrity guests when you include all of the actors, authors, artists, writers and wrestlers,” Pensacon Director of Media and Guest Relations Julio Diaz said. “We draw from all over the pop culture world, not just from people that are in front of the camera, but from people that are behind the camera, too. We also invite other creatives whose work often leads to projects that will be on camera, like comics and novels and things like that.“
The convention returns to the Pensacola Bay Center from February 20 to 22, offering venues, panels and celebrities for fans of many genres from horror thrillers to science fiction.
Two of this year’s most anticipated guests are Cara Buono and Randy Havens, alumni of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, the science-fiction horror phenomenon that recently concluded its 10-year run with its fifth season wrapping up in late 2025. Buono played Karen Wheeler in the show, but she is also known for her roles in other popular shows like The Sopranos and CW’s Supergirl. Havens played the science teacher Mr. Clark in Stranger Things, also having played roles in movies such as Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 and Godzilla: King of Monsters.
Cast reunions of old favorites also largely define this year’s guest line-up. Actors Jason Patric, Alex Winter, Jamison Newlander, Billy Wirth and Chance Michael Corbitt, the stars of Joel Schumacher’s vampire thriller The Lost Boys reunite at Pensacon, as do Alex Hyde-White, Rebecca Staab, Jay Underwood and Michael Bailey Smith—the original Fantastic Four, who recently cameoed in Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Actors from the delightfully gory Terrifier franchise also make an appearance at the con, including David Howard Thornton, the actor of Art the Clown himself.
This year’s Pensacon welcomes even more big names to the convention, including Frank Grillo, who plays Rick Flag Sr. across the new DC Comics screen entries, including the critically acclaimed Peacemaker TV show and the 2025 box-office hit Superman. However, some of these big names only appear at the convention on certain days. Will Wheaton, legendary actor of Star Trek: The Next Generation and a prolific writer and speaker, will visit Pensacon on February 20 and 21. Sara Gilbert and Lecy Goranson of The Connors, Michael Ironside of Total Recall and Michelle Hurd of Star Trek: Picard will make appearances at the convention February 21 and 22. Mindy Cohn, who played Natalie Green on The Facts of Life and voiced Velma Dinkley in the Scooby-Doo franchise from 2002 to 2015, will make her appearance on February 20. Schedule your days accordingly by using the official Pensacon mobile app so you can be sure to meet and greet with these incredible actors.
Multiple local businesses will also host Pensacon-related events and activities aalongside the main convention itself. For instance, this year, the Fish House will transmogrify into Harry Potter’s Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, adding new magical beverages to the menu— Butterbeer, The Goblet of Fire and more—and hosting all of a wizard’s favorite activities: Quidditch, wand choosing and taking pictures with a Dementor (well, maybe that’s not a universally favorite activity…).
Pensacon’s popular costume contests will return this year, divided into two categories. The adults contest (ages 13 and older) will be held at the Henry Roberts Activity Center at First United Methodist Church of Pensacola, starting at 3 pm on February 21. The kids contest (12 and under) will take place at the Poseidon’s Bay Stage in front of the Pensacola Bay Center from noon to 1 pm. These contests welcome cosplayers of all backgrounds to try out, so do not be afraid to sign up at pensacon.com.
Pensacon 2026 will be held February 20 through 22 at the Pensacola Bay Center at 201 E. Gregory St. in downtown Pensacola. Ticketing, celebrity autographs, photo ops and the vendor floor will be located at the primary convention venue, the Pensacola Bay Center. Most official events and activities will take place from 1 to 7 pm on Friday, 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday and from 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday. Visit the Venues page on the Pensacon website for the complete list of official events and participating venues.
“I just want to make sure that everybody really knows that Pensacon is for everybody,” Diaz said. “It’s certainly about the fans and the fan experience, but you don’t have to be an uber nerd to enjoy Pensacon. There is something at Pensacon for everybody. I always kind of talk about it as the fellowship of fandom. It’s a place where you can enjoy the things you enjoy and meet other people who enjoy those things.”
Both single-day and weekend passes are on sale now and can be purchased online at purplepass.com. Three-day passes cost $112.98, while single-day passes range from $60.12 to $71.12, depending on the day. For the latest updates and the complete 2026 schedule of events, download the official Pensacon app on your smartphone.
For complete details on Pensacon 2026, visit pensacon.com or follow @Pensacon on Facebook and @PensacolaPensacon on Instagram.