Ottawa Comiccon

 Canada’s capital is about to get a whole lot bigger! The 12^th edition of Ottawa Comiccon will descend upon the EY Centre from September 5–7, bringing with its hordes of fabulous fans and more than 300 exhibitor booths spread across 100,000 square feet of shopping madness. Specialized retailers and creators will unveil a world of collectible wonders—memorabilia from film and television, original artwork, video games, T-shirts, comic books, graphic novels, toys, statues, replicas, and much more that defies description. Every fantasy fiction genre imaginable will be represented in the sprawling exhibition hall: sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming in all its forms, and, of course, bandes dessinées and comic books. The best cosplayers in the country will be omnipresent, bringing heroes to life at every turn.

Several beloved celebrities will join the festivities to greet fans, pose for photos, and sign autographs. Ottawa Comiccon 2025 proudly welcomes the dynamic duo of Australian actor Bob Morley—best known for his breakout role as Drew Curtis on Home and Away and his commanding turn as Bellamy Blake on The CW’s The 100—and his real-life wife, Eliza Taylor (The 100, Quantum Leap). Wrestling legend Rob Van Dam, the high-flying WWE Hall of Famer and former ECW World Heavyweight and Television Champion, whose Five-Star Frog Splash and martial arts prowess made him one of the most admired wrestlers in the world, will also share impactful memories with his fans.

The guest list reads like a who’s who of fan favourites: Trailer Park Boys stars John Paul Tremblay, Mike Smith, and Robb Wells; Luke Cage himself, Mike Colter; everyone’s favourite villain, Vincent D’Onofrio (Daredevil, Full Metal Jacket); the always terrifying Robert Englund, AKA Freddy Krueger, alongside scream queen Heather Langenkamp—stars of the original A Nightmare on Elm Street; John Kassir, the voice of the Cryptkeeper in HBO’s Tales from the Crypt, The Giant Slayer, and Deadpool in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance; and Canadian actor and stuntman Mathieu Coderre (Scream VI).

Ottawa Comiccon’s artist alley will spotlight some of the finest creative minds in the business, including Ed Brisson(Uncanny X-Men, Batman Incorporated, Ghost Rider), Mark Bagley (Ultimate Spider-Man, Thunderbolts, Trinity),Todd W. Langen (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Gisèle Lagacé (Money shot Comes Again, Exorsisters, Gwenpool),Richard Comely (Captain Canuck), Ken Steacy (Spawn, Star Wars, Astro City), Martin Slam Duncan (Frankenstein Visions, Dracula Visions),  James Raiz (Transformers: Armada, Hulk: Destruction, Wonder Woman), Geof Isherwood(Dr. Strange, Conan, Namor), Anthony Ruttgaizer (The Last Mammal on Earth, The First Hero, Chances for Survival), Mike McKone (Fantastic Four, Teen Titans, The Amazing Spider-Man), J. Torres (Teen Titans Go, Batman: Knightwatch, Adventure Comics), Mike Rooth (Conan the Barbarian, The Swamp Thing, TMNT: The Last Ronin), and Jack Briglio (Thunderboom, DC: Legion, Growing Up Enchanted).

The Masquerade—Ottawa Comiccon’s eagerly anticipated main event—will light up the stage on Saturday, September 6, at 7:00 p.m. Dozens of amateur cosplayers will showcase their costume-making talents and bring their heroes from comics, Japanese anime, and video games to life. NEW! A brand new cosplay competition has just been launched in Canada, and not just any competition: Cosplay-Eh!^TM – the Canadian Cosplay Championship is a high-level national championship aimed at crowning Canada’s cosplay elite. The finalists from Ottawa will parade during the masquerade. The winner and runner-up will be crowned on Sunday during the masquerade awards ceremony.

Cosplay-Eh!^TM aims to showcase the cream of the crop of cosplayers and costume designers to promote and recognize the art of cosplay—a passion and an essential element in the success of events focused on pop culture and Japanese animation. Canada is brimming with talent, and Cosplay-Eh!^TM aims to shine a spotlight on it. Finalists will be selected from across the country and invited to participate in the finals, which will take place each summer in Montreal, culminating in the awarding of the title of cosplay king or queen. The first finals will be held in July 2026 during Montreal Comiccon.

Throughout the weekend, fans will encounter some of the most spectacular cosplayer groups in Canada. The Capital City Garrison—home to the 501st Legion of Eastern Ontario and an alliance of over 75 Star Wars costumed villains—will roam the grounds, supporting charities and local community events under the motto “Bad Guys Doing Good.” The members of IKV Rising Thunder Bird will delight fans with their fierce embodiment of all things Klingon. The KAG (Klingon Assault Group), thriving for over three decades, will share their love of Star Trek and good times. Ottawa’s League of Super Heroes will parade their passion for screen-accurate costumes and charitable causes, while the Ottawa chapter of the Doctor Who Society of Canada will continues its mission of promoting adventurous social interaction and intelligent exchange across time and space. And fear not: Ottawa’s Capital Ghostbusters will be on hand to ensure no paranormal activity spoils the celebrations (will they succeed?).