See more of C2E2 2025 with a Popverse Superfan membership. Here a guide to everything happening at the Chicago event, including how to watch the big panels from anywhere in the world!

Whether you're a brain, a beauty, a rebel, a jock, a recluse or something else, you can't miss C2E2 in Downtown Chicago. This year's event, taking place April 11 through 13, brings together some of the best comic creators, literary stars, cinematic stars, and overall celebrities under one roof – along with the most eclectic shopping experience you'll have all year. If that somehow isn't enough, there will also be interactive demos, deep discussions, screenings, and parties that'll leave you with no shortage of things to do.

And did we mention it'll also be host to hundreds of amazing cosplayers coming to see and compete in the US finals of the global cosplay championships?

Here are just eight reasons to look forward to Chicago's C2E2 2025.

The largest comic con artist alley in North America

Meet the people who write and draw your favorite characters in C2E2's Artist Alley. In what has become the largest Artist Alley in all of North America, C2E2's massive talent showcase allows you to meet, converse, buy, and possibly commission these talented artists, writers, and creatives to give you something memorable - and something from the people who created the comics that led to your favorite superhero movies & TV shows. Everyone from Foxtrot creator Bill Amend to DC comics (and movies & TV) writer Tom King, our favorite comic creator Steenz, prolific Spider-Man artist Humberto Ramos, and more. Here's a complete list

Meet your favorite celebrities

In addition to having celebrities from the worlds of comics & lit, C2E2 is bringing together stars from movies, TV, and games.  During C2E2, you can see and meet stars from The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars movies, the Outlander TV series, the Red Dead Redemption franchise, and the saga that is Power Rangers. You don't need to wear a costume - but it never hurts, especially when you get a photo with them!

And if you can't make it, Popverse is livestreaming all the big C2E2 2025 panels here.

See your favorite characters come to life with cosplay

In addition to all the celebrities here all weekend, there will also be hundreds of amazing cosplayers dressed as some of your favorite characters. Come and see the pageantry on the display, get yourself a character experience for you and your friends and family, and…. Who knows, maybe you'll be inspired to cosplay yourself! After all, cosplay supplies will be on sale all weekend long.

Get your gift-buying done with Chicago's most bizarre bazaar of the year, C2E2

You don't need to wait until Chriskindlmarket to buy your gifts for the year, as C2E2 will be host to nearly a thousand vendors ranging from large-scale manufacturers to local stores, and over 500 artists who will be making things all weekend right in front of you. Shop rare collectible imports, one-of-a-kind items, and classic items you lost in your childhood - all in one place.

Saunter into the C2E2 Tavern

Kick up your spurs at a fully immersive themed lounge called the Tavern. It's where you can grab a drink, catch your breath, trade trinkets with your fellow travelers, and take part in a quick (or long) tabletop game organized by our game master friends from Rough Magic.

Grab a hold - and a memory with a wrestling star

Chicago is Wrestletown USA, and during C2E2 weekend there will be enough wrestlers to fill out a battle royale. The stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling will be in town for Friday's WIndy City Riot event at the Wintrust Arena, and you can find them during the day at C2E2. NJPW ace Hiroshi Tanahashi will be here, joined by the likes of Zach Sabre JR and Gabe Kidd and possibly a few surprises thanks to our friends at Pro Wrestling Tees.

WWE icons Matt Hardy, Kane, Jerry 'The King' Lawler, and Rikishi will also be there, as well as stars from AEW including Willow Nightingale, the Outrunners, and the very nice, very evil Danhausen.

A brain. A beauty. A rebel. A recluse. And you.

Stars from the iconic Chicago smash hit The Breakfast Club are reuniting at McCormick Place for C2E2 - and this time not for detention. Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy, and Judd Nelson are returning to the city that made them stars for the 40th anniversary of the iconic coming-of-age film, and you can make memories with them with an autograph, a photo op, and rare reunion panel on the C2E2 Main Stage.

And yes, we're livestreaming the Breakfast Club reunion live from the C2E2 Main Stage here.

Find lit that fits

Chicago loves books, and C2E2 loves authors. After seeing a ginormous appetite for prose authors in 2024, C2E2 2025 is back with a line-up straight from the bestsellers list. At this year's event at McCormick Place, you can meet (and get books signed) from Tomi Adeyemi (Children of Blood and Bone), Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files), TJ Klune (The House in the Cerulean Sea), Timothy Zahn (Star Wars' Thrawn creator), and more.

Chicago's C2E2 2025 takes place Friday, April 11 through Sunday, April 13 at the McCormick Place. 

See more of C2E2 2025 with a Popverse Superfan membership. Here a guide to everything happening at the Chicago event, including how to watch the big panels from anywhere in the world!