New York Comic Con 2026: The Comics Are Back, and We Couldn’t Be Happier! – Collectors Confessions

Of course, the first family of comics had arrived! But the evening had one more surprise in store. When we left the Harvey Awards, the convention floor had already closed.

For the first time, we got to see something that most NYCC attendees probably never will: New York Comic Con without the crowds.

There were no packed aisles, no endless lines, and no thousands of people trying to navigate the show floor.

Just the massive displays, booths, and an almost completely empty convention center.

It was surreal.

The following morning, when we arrived at 10 a.m., the floor was relatively manageable. But as the day progressed, the crowds grew until the convention was packed.

Within a matter of hours, we had experienced NYCC empty, moderately crowded, and filled with people.

It was a fascinating perspective on just how enormous this event really is.

Artist Alley: Where the Heart of Comics Lives

As we normally do, we attended the convention on Saturday. This year, however, we were joined by my oldest daughter Colleen and her fiancé Matt.

One lesson we’ve learned from years of attending NYCC is that if you want to spend meaningful time in Artist Alley, you need to get there early.

Located on the lower level of the Javits Center, Artist Alley is where fans can meet the writers and artists responsible for their favorite comic books.

It’s also one of our favorite parts of any convention.

At Collectors Confessions, we’ve been fortunate enough to interview an incredible number of comic book creators. While speaking with them virtually is always a pleasure, there’s something special about finally meeting them in person.

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This year gave us plenty of opportunities to do just that.

We caught up with Curt Pires, whose projects include Lost Fantasy, Fireborn, and Super Mondo Mega Mutts. We also met Fred Kennedy, the writer behind the wonderfully outrageous Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre.

Yes, that’s really the title.

Other familiar faces included Eric Palicki, Alex Segura, Tony Fleecs, Jimmy Palmiotti, Sean Von Gorman, Lee Loughridge, Ed Brisson, and David Pepose.

Tony Fleecs, in particular, has become a familiar presence on our show, and we’re looking forward to welcoming him for his fifth appearance.

We also encountered actor Thomas Jane, who portrayed the Punisher on the big screen and had been honored at the Harvey Awards the previous evening, along with entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, better known as Gary Vee, who has entered the comic book world.

One of the more emotional moments in Artist Alley was seeing the memorial honoring the recently departed Joshua Cassara.

It was a touching reminder that comic books aren’t simply products to collect or stories to read. They’re works of art created by people whose talent and imagination leave a lasting impression on the industry and its fans.

Artist Alley remains one of the most important parts of New York Comic Con because it gives fans the opportunity to connect directly with the people behind the stories.

And that connection is something no online marketplace or social media platform can truly replace.

Toys, Original Artwork, and Pop Culture Everywhere

Of course, New York Comic Con is about much more than comic books.

The convention floor was filled with toys, collectibles, original artwork, and merchandise representing virtually every corner of pop culture.

One of the standout displays came from NECA, which showcased an impressive assortment of collectibles.

There were figures featuring the Muppets and Sesame Street characters, along with upcoming horror collectibles that should have fans of the genre excited.

We also spotted DuckTales and Darkwing Duck figures, bringing back memories of classic animated television.

Another annual highlight for me is the Alex Ross booth.

This year was particularly special because it featured original artwork from his recent book Marvel Dimensions.

We recently had the opportunity to interview Alex Ross about the project on Collectors Confessions, making the experience of seeing the artwork in person even more meaningful.

There’s something almost magical about original comic book artwork. Seeing the actual pieces that become the pages of a published comic offers a completely different appreciation for the artistic process.

Unfortunately, much of that artwork is well beyond my collecting budget!

We also visited the Pro Wrestling Tees booth, which featured upcoming wrestling collectibles, and spent time looking at vintage toys throughout the convention.

Cosplay Takes Center Stage

No trip to New York Comic Con would be complete without celebrating the incredible cosplay. Every year, the creativity and dedication of the cosplay community seem to reach new heights.

From elaborate armor and detailed props to costumes that look as though they’ve stepped directly off the comic book page, the craftsmanship is extraordinary.

One of the highlights for us was seeing our friend Sam place third in the Masters cosplay competition. She reportedly invested approximately 800 hours into creating her costume.

Think about that for a moment.

Eight hundred hours of planning, building, designing, and perfecting a costume simply for the love of the characters and the craft. That level of dedication deserves recognition, and we couldn’t be happier for her.

Cosplay has become an essential part of the NYCC experience, and the passion these fans bring to the convention is truly infectious.

The Comic Books Are Back!

Now let’s talk about what made NYCC 2026 especially exciting for us. The comic books.

For several years, one of our biggest complaints about New York Comic Con was the noticeable decline in comic book dealers on the main show floor.

There were plenty of toys, celebrity appearances, merchandise booths, and entertainment promotions, but the comics themselves sometimes seemed harder to find. This year, that wasn’t our experience.

We were pleasantly surprised by the number of comic book vendors throughout the convention.

DC Comics also made a major impression with an enormous booth, a welcome sight after years when the publisher didn’t have a comparable presence at the show. But the real excitement for collectors was found among the dealers. And the books on display were extraordinary.

We saw an Action Comics #1, multiple copies of Amazing Fantasy #15, Avengers #1, and The Incredible Hulk #181. There were also foreign editions of classic Marvel comics, including an international version of Hulk #181. But the biggest surprise for me involved the Fantastic Four.

We counted ten copies of Fantastic Four #1 at the convention, including a couple of lower-grade examples.

Ten copies of one of the most important Marvel comic books ever published, all at the same convention!

While that particular book didn’t come home with us, we did purchase some significant Fantastic Four comics this year. And they weren’t the only major purchases.

From Dollar Bins to Museum-Worthy Comics

One of the best things about comic book collecting is that it can be enjoyed at virtually any budget. Sure, New York Comic Con had books worth enormous amounts of money displayed on dealer walls. But we also found something that made us just as happy.

Dollar bins!

Yes, there were actual $1 comic book bins at NYCC.

We also found $3 and $5 bins filled with books waiting to be discovered.

For collectors like us, digging through bargain bins is one of the most enjoyable parts of attending any comic convention.

You never know what you’re going to find.

Sometimes it’s a forgotten favorite. Sometimes it’s an issue you’ve been searching for. Other times, it’s a comic you’ve never seen before but simply can’t leave behind.

Vendors including Royal Collectibles and Zapp Comics were among the familiar dealers we enjoyed seeing at the show. The variety of available comics was refreshing, from inexpensive back issues to some of the most desirable key issues in the hobby.

That’s what a comic convention should offer.

Something for everyone.

Our Biggest NYCC Comic Book Haul Ever

Another first for us this year was deliberately hunting down New York Comic Con exclusive variant covers. We’ve seen convention exclusives many times before, but this year we decided to seek out specific books we wanted for our collection.

Tracking down the different booths and finding those covers added another enjoyable element to our day.

We also managed to pick up some giveaways along the way. But the biggest surprise came from the comic book dealers.

We arrived at NYCC without any intention of making the kind of purchases we ultimately made.

Yet somehow, by the end of the convention, we had purchased four major wall books.

Four!

We spent more money than we’ve ever spent at a comic convention, and honestly, we hadn’t planned on doing anything close to that. Sometimes collecting works that way.

You walk into a convention with a budget and a plan, and then you see a book you’ve been searching for. Or perhaps you discover something you never expected to encounter.

Suddenly, that carefully constructed plan starts to change. For us, this was one of those conventions. Along with our major purchases, we came home with bargain-bin finds, convention exclusives, and some terrific additions to our Fantastic Four collection.

We’ll be showcasing the entire haul, including all four major wall books, on our Collectors Confessions YouTube channel.

Why New York Comic Con Still Matters

It’s easy to criticize large conventions.

Tickets can be expensive. The crowds can be overwhelming. Food, transportation, and merchandise can quickly turn a day at the convention into a significant expense. And for collectors, the temptation to spend money is everywhere. Believe me, we know!

But New York Comic Con offers something that is becoming increasingly important in a world dominated by online shopping and digital communication.

It brings people together.

Where else can you meet your favorite comic book creators, examine rare pieces of original artwork, discover vintage collectibles, see incredible cosplay, and browse comic books ranging from dollar-bin bargains to legendary first appearances, all under one roof?

For us, this year’s convention was a reminder of why we started Collectors Confessions in the first place. We love comic books. We love the stories behind them. We love the people who create them. And we love sharing those experiences with other collectors.

Attending the Harvey Awards, reconnecting with creators in Artist Alley, watching the convention transform from an empty hall into a packed celebration of pop culture, and bringing home our biggest NYCC haul ever made this year’s trip unforgettable.

Most importantly, it felt like the comic books themselves were once again taking center stage.

New York Comic Con has grown into something far bigger than its original comic book roots, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

But those roots still matter.

And based on our experience this year, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic about the future of comics at NYCC.

Will we return next year? We certainly hope so.

In fact, we’re considering attending multiple days because there’s simply too much to experience in one.

We’d also love to expand our Collectors Confessions coverage and bring even more of the convention to our audience.

For now, though, we’re going to enjoy our new additions to the collection, reflect on an incredible weekend, and start planning our next adventure. Because if New York Comic Con 2026 taught us anything, it’s that no matter how long you’ve been collecting, there’s always another discovery waiting around the corner. And sometimes, that discovery comes straight off the wall.

Banner Image: NY Comic Con entrance. Image Credit – Collector’s Confessions