Comic-Con, CCXP, Gamescom: How to Do the Great Fan Events Like a VIP

Five events set the rhythm of the geek year: studio panels and exclusives in San Diego and New York, the global games industry in Cologne and Tokyo, and Brazil's own giant in São Paulo. All of them draw huge crowds. The difference between a great trip and an exhausting one is preparation.

The calendar

• San Diego Comic-Con. The original, at the San Diego Convention Center; the 2026 edition ran 23–26 July. Badges are sold online, require a Comic-Con Member ID and sell out fast.
• Gamescom, Cologne. Europe's largest games fair; 2026 ran 26–30 August, opened by Opening Night Live on the 25th.
• Tokyo Game Show, Makuhari Messe. Its 30th-anniversary edition ran 17–21 September 2026: two business days, then three public days.
• New York Comic Con, Javits Center. Four days, 8–11 October 2026.
• CCXP, São Paulo Expo. The next edition, CCXP26, runs 3–6 December 2026.

At a convention, the scarcest resource is not the exclusive. It is your energy.

Going like a VIP

Most events now sell premium tiers, and they are worth reading closely. At CCXP26, for example, the Epic Pass covers all four days and adds Spoiler Night on 2 December, a collectible kit and an exclusive entry line one hour before general opening. At Tokyo Game Show, the business days are reserved for industry visitors. Everywhere, the true luxuries are time and space: a hotel you can walk back to, a plan for the halls and a seat at the panel that matters.

• Create official accounts and sign up for newsletters early; ticket sales and hotel blocks open months ahead.
• Book a hotel within walking distance and use the room as your mid-day base.
• Pick one or two must-see panels per day and arrive early; the big halls fill quickly.
• Plan for exclusives: many brands sell them through queues, lotteries or event-linked online pre-orders.
• Carry a power bank, water and a light bag, and wear shoes made for ten hours on concrete.
• Ask before photographing cosplayers, and be courteous with queues and staff.

Beyond the big five

Lucca Comics & Games in Tuscany, Japan Expo near Paris, Anime Expo in Los Angeles and Brasil Game Show in São Paulo all deserve a place on the list. Always confirm dates on the official sites before booking flights, because schedules can change. And wherever you go, keep one afternoon free for the city itself: the food, the neighbourhoods, the local shops. Some of the best memories of a convention trip happen outside the halls.