Texas hosts some of the largest and most diverse fan conventions in the United States. From Houston’s massive Comicpalooza to Dallas’s anime scene and San Antonio’s summer con culture, there is a recurring event for every fandom on the calendar — spread across all five major cities, nearly every month of the year. This page is your statewide planning hub for 2025 and 2026 convention seasons. Always verify dates, badge prices, and venue details directly with each event before purchasing tickets or booking hotels, as schedules and policies change.
Major Recurring Texas Conventions
| Convention | City | Type | Venue | Typical Season | Verify |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comicpalooza | Houston | Multi-genre comic con | George R. Brown Convention Center | Late May – early June | Confirm at official site before buying badges |
| FAN EXPO Dallas | Dallas | Multi-genre comic con | Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center | Summer | Check fanexpodallas.com for current dates |
| AnimeFest | Dallas | Anime convention | Renaissance Dallas Hotel | September | Confirm hotel block availability early |
| DreamHack Dallas | Dallas | Gaming / LAN festival | Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center | May | Verify at dreamhack.com/dallas |
| Anime Matsuri | Houston | Anime convention | Marriott Marquis Houston | March – April | Check animematsuri.com for badge tiers |
| San Japan | San Antonio | Anime convention | Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center | August | Confirm at sanjapan.org |
| Alamo City Comic Con | San Antonio | Comic con | Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center | November | Verify at alamocitycomiccon.com |
| Anime Frontier | Fort Worth | Anime convention | Fort Worth Convention Center | December | Confirm at animefrontier.com |
| Texas Frightmare Weekend | DFW area | Horror convention | The Westin Dallas Park Central | May | Verify at texasfrightmareweekend.com |
| SXSW Gaming | Austin | Gaming / multi-genre | Austin Convention Center | March | Check sxsw.com/gaming for badge bundles |
By Convention Type
Comic Cons
Texas’s biggest comic cons draw celebrity guests, publisher panels, and massive dealer floors. Comicpalooza at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston is one of the state’s largest multi-day events, while FAN EXPO Dallas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center anchors the DFW summer calendar. Alamo City Comic Con rounds out the fall season in San Antonio each November. See the Venue Directory for parking and transit details at each location.
Anime Conventions
Texas has a strong anime convention circuit running nearly year-round. Anime Matsuri kicks off spring in Houston, AnimeFest takes over Dallas in September, San Japan brings the summer heat to San Antonio in August, and Anime Frontier closes the year in Fort Worth each December. Hotel room blocks typically sell out weeks in advance — book early.
Horror & Dark Conventions
Texas Frightmare Weekend, held at The Westin Dallas Park Central in the DFW area each May, is the state’s premier horror convention, featuring genre film guests, vendors, and late-night screenings. It is a must-attend for horror fans in the region. Verify the current hotel and badge lineup at the official site before booking.
Gaming Events
DreamHack Dallas is the state’s flagship LAN festival, filling the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center with competitive play, BYOC setups, and esports stages each May. SXSW Gaming in Austin runs as part of the broader SXSW ecosystem in March, offering demos, panels, and industry access alongside the music and film tracks.
Multi-Genre Weekends
Several Texas cons deliberately cross fandom lines. Comicpalooza and FAN EXPO Dallas blend comics, sci-fi, gaming, and pop culture under one roof. If your crew has mixed tastes, multi-genre cons give everyone a reason to attend. Check the Con Calendar for the full annual spread.
Convention Planning Checklist
San Antonio specifically? See our detailed San Antonio Convention Survival Guide — cosplay policies, parking lots, badge tier breakdowns, and hotel picks for San Japan, Alamo City Comic Con, and more.
- Choose your badge type. Most Texas cons offer single-day, weekend, and VIP tiers. Decide how many days you need before early-bird windows close — prices rise as the event approaches.
- Book your hotel early. Official hotel blocks at the host venue or nearby partner hotels sell out fast, especially for anime cons. Prioritize walking distance to the convention center to avoid shuttle waits.
- Confirm badge pickup windows. Some events offer pre-registration pickup the evening before the show opens. Picking up early saves you from badge-line delays on day one.
- Review bag and prop rules. Each con publishes a weapons and prop policy. Check it before building or packing any costume piece — enforcement at the door is real.
- Plan your parking or transit. Major venues like the George R. Brown and Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Centers have on-site and nearby garages, but they fill up. Know your backup lots and check event-specific parking guides on the Venue Directory.
- Map out your food plan. Convention center food is expensive. Research nearby restaurants or pack snacks. Most Texas venues allow sealed bottles and food from outside in attendee bags.
- Identify a backup event or activity. Panels fill up, guests cancel, and hall traffic peaks unpredictably. Have a short list of backup programming, vendor hall targets, or nearby off-site activities so the day stays fun even when your first plan falls through.
City-by-City Convention Anchors
Austin — Austin’s convention anchor is SXSW Gaming each March, running inside the Austin Convention Center as part of the larger South by Southwest festival. It offers a rare combination of game demos, developer panels, and indie showcases that no standalone gaming con can match. See the Austin Geek Guide for year-round events and venue info.
Dallas — Dallas is the most convention-dense city in Texas. FAN EXPO Dallas dominates the summer at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, while DreamHack Dallas owns May for gamers and AnimeFest anchors September at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel. The city’s infrastructure supports back-to-back con weekends with ease.
Fort Worth — Anime Frontier at the Fort Worth Convention Center has established itself as the state’s premier December anime event, giving fans a dedicated end-of-year con in a venue that is easy to reach from across the Metroplex.
Houston — Houston’s two major convention anchors split the calendar: Anime Matsuri at the Marriott Marquis in spring, and Comicpalooza at the George R. Brown Convention Center in late May. Together they make Houston one of the strongest two-con cities in the state.
San Antonio — San Antonio runs a reliable two-event cycle: San Japan in August and Alamo City Comic Con in November, both at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The venue’s downtown location makes it easy to combine con attendance with a full weekend in the city. Check the San Antonio Geek Guide for hotels and dining near the convention center.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest anime convention in Texas?
Anime Matsuri in Houston and San Japan in San Antonio are among the state’s largest dedicated anime cons by attendance, though exact figures vary by year and are best confirmed through official announcements. Anime Frontier in Fort Worth has grown steadily since its launch and draws a large regional crowd each December. Attendance rankings shift — check recent post-event reports for the most current picture.
Are there any free comic cons in Texas?
Most major Texas comic cons require paid badges. However, Free Comic Book Day (the first Saturday in May each year) gives fans free comics at participating local shops statewide — it is not a convention, but many shops host signings and cosplay events around it. Check with your local comic shop for how they celebrate it. For full convention experiences, badge prices vary widely by tier, and early-bird rates are the most accessible option.
When is FAN EXPO Dallas?
FAN EXPO Dallas typically takes place in summer at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. The exact dates shift year to year, so confirm the current schedule at fanexpodallas.com before booking travel or purchasing badges. Hotel blocks tied to the event also fill quickly once dates are announced.
Is Comicpalooza family-friendly?
Comicpalooza at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston actively programs for all ages, including kids’ activities, family-friendly panels, and a broad vendor floor. As with any large convention, some vendor booths carry mature merchandise — parents should walk the floor with younger kids. Check the official Comicpalooza site for any age-specific badge pricing or kids’ programming details for your target year.
What Texas conventions allow costumes?
Virtually every convention listed on this page welcomes costumes, including Comicpalooza, FAN EXPO Dallas, AnimeFest, San Japan, Alamo City Comic Con, Anime Matsuri, Anime Frontier, and Texas Frightmare Weekend. Each event publishes its own costume and prop policy — particularly around weapons, full-face masks, and prop size — and rules can change between years. Always read the current costume policy on the official event site before you pack your build.
Con Resources & Deep Dives
Planning your Texas convention season? These guides cover everything from choosing between competing events to navigating accessibility, volunteering for a free badge, and setting up at Artist Alley.
Convention Comparisons
- FAN EXPO Dallas vs. Comicpalooza Houston — Which Con Is Right for You?
- San Japan vs. Anime Matsuri — Texas Anime Con Comparison
Cosplay & Prop Rules
Attending on a Budget
Accessibility
Film & Literary Festivals
- Fantastic Fest Austin — Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival Guide
- ArmadilloCon Austin — Science Fiction & Fantasy Literary Convention
Selling at Conventions
Schedules, venues, badge prices, and policies are subject to change. Confirm all details through official event channels before purchasing tickets or making travel arrangements.