Comic Con Finds a Growing Audience in Arkansas

Comic conventions have evolved far beyond their beginnings as gatherings devoted solely to comic books. Today, they are sprawling cultural hubs, drawing fans of superheroes, science fiction, fantasy, anime, video games, and every corner of pop culture, from blockbuster franchises to cult favorites. In Arkansas, these events are attracting ever-larger audiences and generating meaningful economic activity, reflecting a nationwide surge in niche fandom communities.

That energy was on full display earlier this month when Northwest Arkansas Comic Con 2026 took place on Jan. 17 and 18, marking a strong return after last year’s cancellation. Thousands of attendees filled the Rogers Convention Center to celebrate their passions, meet creators, compete in cosplay contests, and connect with celebrities, including actors and voice actors. Organizers with VXV Events called the weekend a major success and said additional conventions are planned throughout the year, signaling what they expect will be a strong year for comic con fans across the state.

Sold Out Tickets and Packed Lines in Fayetteville

Northwest Arkansas Comic Con had been canceled the previous year due to bad weather, making this year’s return a long-awaited event for fans eager to experience new attractions and programming. Despite concerns that economic uncertainty or weather-related caution might limit attendance, fans turned out in large numbers. Officials with VXV Events, a Jackson, Mississippi–based company, said that two-day weekend tickets sold out. While exact attendance numbers were not officially confirmed, organizers estimated that as many as 7,500 people attended each day at the Rogers Convention Center.

Attendees queued to meet celebrities, purchase autographs and photographs, and explore merchandise from a wide range of third-party vendors. The turnout highlighted what organizers describe as a growing and increasingly prosperous comic convention industry.

Star Power and Fan Engagement

Fan engagement was a defining feature of the convention. Guests at Northwest Arkansas Comic Con ranged from actors such as Edward James Olmos of Miami Vice and Diedrich Bader of The Drew Carey Show to performers from the Red Dead Redemption video game series. The roster also included voice actors from cartoons and anime.

The three actors from Red Dead Redemption 2 drew particularly large crowds, with long lines throughout the day and standing-room-only attendance during their Saturday Q&A panel.

“It’s incredible to see so many people come out,” said Rob Wiethoff, the voice of Red Dead Redemption protagonist John Marston. “It’s really cool because we already have something in common. You meet a complete stranger and can celebrate something we all have in common.”

Other voice actors, along with Khary Payton, known for his role on The Walking Dead, also attracted long lines. Much of the audience skewed younger, with many attendees dressed in costume for the convention’s cosplay competitions. At the same time, several celebrities drew older fans.

Diedrich Bader said smaller conventions allow for more meaningful interactions with fans, experiences often unavailable at larger events. “As an actor, you’re trained to always look forward. Comic cons are about looking back. It’s nice to know that my years of doing this mean something to people,” he said.

The convention generated significant economic activity, with attendees eager to spend on autographs, photographs, and merchandise.

Joey Mills of VXV Events said organizers initially worried that economic pressures might make fans hesitant to spend on celebrity interactions. Those concerns did not materialize at the company’s first two events of the year, including Northwest Arkansas Comic Con.

“People continue to show up in greater numbers year after year, which means we can make them a little bit bigger and a little bit better every year,” Mills said.

Devoted Fans and Lasting Impact

Wiethoff and fellow Red Dead Redemption actors Roger Clark and Benjamin Byron Davis ran out of time during their one-hour Q&A panel, with more than a dozen fans still waiting to ask questions about the Western-themed video game released in 2018.

The actors were equally thrilled by the devotion and engagement of their fans. “It’s just a wonderful, wonderful blessing to see the effect our work has had, even seven years after,” said Clark, who portrays Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2. Each of the three performers also took extra time during and after autograph sessions to speak with fans. Joey Mills said that level of engagement has been consistent across recent VXV events in Arkansas.

At the Little Rock Comic Con, for example, actor Lou Diamond Phillips spent additional time interacting with fans and taking selfies.

Joey Mills, communications director with VXV Events, said, “If we can bring that big Comic Con experience to these smaller markets, that’s an underserved audience. Those are people who would love for something like this to show up in their town. It’s been gangbusters for this company since we started doing these. It’s just grown year after year.”

Mills described guests like Phillips as ideal participants because of their generosity and willingness to engage. VXV aims to curate a lineup that spans movies, television, anime, cartoons, and video games, mixing well-known headliners with niche stars.

“A bonus for us is someone like Khary Payton from the live-action The Walking Dead, but most of his work is in voice acting,” Mills said. “He’s got a tiger in The Walking Dead, and he voices a bunch of characters for DC animation. He hits multiple fandoms.”

More Events Planned Across Arkansas

Across the United States, more than 1,000 comic conventions are held each year, with many taking place in smaller or mid-sized cities rather than only in major markets like San Diego and New York City. DiMarket, a market research firm, estimates that the comic con industry will grow from $20 billion in 2025 to more than $34 billion by 2031.

Arkansas is keeping pace with this national trend. Little Rock Anime Fest is scheduled for February 7 and 8, and Fayetteville Arkansas Anime Fest is planned for April 11. Space Con 2026 will take place May 16 and 17 in Hot Springs. The state’s largest comic convention of 2026 is set for September 18 to 20 at the Little Rock Statehouse Convention Center, while a Pokémon Fest is scheduled for October 18 in Fayetteville.

With successful events already underway in Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Hot Springs, organizers say more conventions are planned for additional events in the coming years. They view this as a sign of growing enthusiasm among comic con fans across Arkansas and anticipate a strong lineup of events throughout 2026.