GalaxyCon Raleigh

GalaxyCon Raleigh is coming to the Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center from July 29 to August 1, 2027. It's a four-day festival that brings together celebrities, artists, writers, voice actors, cosplayers, entertainers, creators, wrestlers, fan groups, and panelists to celebrate comic books, pop culture, sci-fi, fantasy, anime, and gaming. Raleigh is one of eight US cities on the circuit, and this stop rounds out the summer with over 300 hours of programming.

There's a lot to sink your teeth into over the long weekend. The Costume and Cosplay Contests are a big part of it, with more than $4,000 in cash prizes plus medals and trophies. For the adult crowd, the Deep Space Boutique is an 18+ marketplace with provocative vendors, bold performances, and after-hours workshops. On the guest side, James Marsters plays a concert on Saturday, July 31, and there are photo ops with Eugene Cordero, Tawny Newsome, and a Star Trek: Lower Decks duo.

One thing to keep in mind: the convention center is sold out, so the North Carolina State Fairgrounds is serving as a second venue running simultaneously from Friday through Sunday. Non-stop shuttles run between the two, and the fairgrounds has its own events and free parking. Kids under 5 get in free, and kids 5-9 are free on Thursday and Friday.

The hours run late most days. Thursday is 2 PM to 1 AM, and Friday and Saturday both go from 10 AM to 1 AM. Sunday is 10 AM to 8 PM. The exhibit hall closes a bit earlier: Thursday 2 PM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM. Single-day passes are $45 for Thursday, $65 for Friday, $80 for Saturday, and $65 for Sunday. If you're planning to stay for the whole thing, a 3-day pass is $145 and a 4-day pass is $155. There's also a 4-day VIP pass for $465, and a 4-day Premium Reserve VIP pass for $2,750, with only 20 of those available.