FanExpo Cleveland returned to the Huntington Convention Center this weekend, and if the energy on the floor was any indication, this may have been the expo’s biggest and most electric year to date. The headliners alone set the tone: Hayden Christensen — Anakin Skywalker himself — and Brendan Fraser of The Mummy fame anchored a guest list that stretched across decades of beloved film and television.

But as any seasoned expo attendee will tell you, the celebrities are just one layer of the experience. The real heartbeat of FanExpo Cleveland is the community that fills that convention hall — and this year, it was overflowing with it.

“Northeast Ohio has always had the creative talent. FanExpo is where that talent puts on a costume and shows the world.”

A sea of cosplay, creativity, and community

From the moment you walked through the doors, you were greeted by the convention’s unofficial ambassadors: a squad of Stormtroopers whose aim, true to canon, left something to be desired. They set the tone perfectly — playful, immersive, and deeply committed to the bit. Beyond them, the floor stretched in every direction with an astonishing variety of cosplayers: full-on furry characters, a Ghostbusters crew complete with proton packs, and meticulously crafted costumes spanning every era of pop culture.

It’s a reminder of what makes events like this matter. Northeast Ohio has no shortage of creative talent, and FanExpo gives that creativity a stage — one shared equally by the fan in a hand-sewn costume and the professional artist behind a vendor table.

Artists, authors, and 1,000+ vendors

More than 1,000 vendors packed the hall, and the range was staggering — original art prints, collectibles, props, vintage comics, handmade goods, and everything in between. Among the standout exhibitors was Caleb Thusat, a Hudson, Ohio-based comic author whose booth featured a collection of his currently available books, including The Neverland and Flytrap.

Flytrap was the one that stopped me in my tracks. The pitch — Back to the Future meets The Terminator — is exactly the kind of high-concept hook that makes you pick up the book before the sentence is even finished. Thusat currently has a Kickstarter live for his next comic project, and based on the quality of what was at his table, it’s worth your attention. His Instagram

The celebrity guest lineup

The 2026 guest roster was a genuine cross-generational mix — from original TMNT cast members to Broadway stars to anime voice acting legends. Here’s the full lineup:

• Hayden Christensen — Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
• Brendan Fraser — The Mummy
• James Marsters — Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel
• Cary Elwes — The Princess Bride, Saw
• Jonathan Frakes — Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Gates McFadden — Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Josh Holloway — Lost, Yellowstone
• Jaime Pressly — My Name Is Earl, Joe Dirt
• Ethan Suplee — My Name Is Earl, American History X
• Helen Hunt — Mad About You, Twister
• Lilli Cooper — Wicked
• Krystina Alabado — Mean Girls (Broadway)
• Joel Perez — Hazbin Hotel, Fun Home (Broadway)
• Judith Hoag — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Armageddon
• Robbie Rist — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Brady Bunch
• Ernie Reyes Jr. — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
• Brian Tochi — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Revenge of the Nerds
• Kenn Scott — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Adventures of Johnny Tao (director)
• François Chau — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Lost
• Thomas Lennon — Reno 911!, American Dad
• Cedric Yarbrough — Reno 911!, The Goldbergs
• Anime voice acting stars: Eric Vale, Luci Christian, Sonny Strait, Ian Sinclair, Monica Rial, Linda Ballantyne, Katie Griffin, David Matranga, and Griffin Burns

Beyond the screen and stage celebrities, FanExpo Cleveland also drew an impressive contingent of comic book artists and anime voice acting talent. On the comics side, the expo featured artists whose work spans some of the most recognizable titles in the medium, bringing original art, signings, and a direct line to the creative minds behind the panels. The anime voice acting roster was equally strong, with fan favorites Eric Vale, Luci Christian, Sonny Strait, Ian Sinclair, Monica Rial, Linda Ballantyne, Katie Griffin, David Matranga, and Griffin Burns all in attendance. This lineup drew long lines from the dedicated anime community throughout the weekend. For fans of the art form in any medium, this corner of the convention floor was every bit as exciting as the headliner autograph area.

Mark your calendar for 2027

FanExpo Cleveland has already announced its return, and if 2026 sets the bar this high, next year’s event has a strong foundation to build on. Whether you’re a first-timer or a multi-year veteran of the convention floor, it’s worth locking in early.