C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo)

About This Event

C2E2 is the Midwest's largest pop-culture convention — three days of comics, cosplay, celebrity panels, and artist alley filling McCormick Place, with single-day tickets available for anyone who just wants a taste rather than the full weekend.

It's younger than you might guess for something this big: the first C2E2 ran April 16–18, 2010, drawing an estimated 20,000–30,000 people. It was built by ReedPOP, the same company behind New York Comic Con and PAX — not a homegrown Chicago operation, though it's grown into one of the city's biggest annual conventions regardless. Attendance now tops 100,000 a year, more than triple that first show.

Worth knowing before you go: single-day tickets start at $50, a full 3-day pass at $137 — check c2e2.com for exact pricing tiers and hours, which vary by day.