Melbourne pop culture fans are in for a treat as Oz Comic-Con returns on June 6–7th, transforming the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre into a vibrant hub of fandom, creativity and community.

Headlining the Melbourne event is Gordon Cormier, the rising star captivating audiences worldwide as Aang in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Stepping into one of pop culture’s most beloved roles, Gordon has won over fans with his heartfelt performance, introducing a new generation to the Avatar universe while honouring the spirit of the original animated series.

A fast-growing fan favourite, Gordon will appear live on stage at Oz Comic-Con Melbourne for panel sessions and audience Q&As, with opportunities for fans to meet him throughout the weekend via autograph signings and photo sessions.

Alongside celebrity appearances, Oz Comic-Con Melbourne 2026 will deliver a packed schedule of interactive experiences. Attendees can explore gaming zones, hear from industry experts during in-depth panels, and discover original work from some of Australia’s most exciting illustrators, writers and pop culture creators.

Cosplay takes centre stage with the Australian Championships of Cosplay, one of the country’s premier costume competitions, complemented by meet-and-greets with local cosplay talent. Fans can also browse artist alley, take part in workshops, enjoy fan-favourite competitions and get their hands on exclusive merchandise.

From lifelong collectors and passionate cosplayers to gamers and first-time attendees, Oz Comic-Con Melbourne offers something for every kind of fan, with more guest announcements still to come.

Oz Comic-Con Melbourne Features:

As you weave your way through the show floor of Oz Comic-Con, keep your eyes peeled for interactive opportunities that are only possible in a convention setting.

Below are a few highlights, or a bucket list if you wish, for Oz Comic-Con.

Stages:

• Main Stage
  The Main Stage is where you go to catch the Q&A panels with our Film & Television guests and to catch the Cosplay Championship, Cosplay Competition and Cosplay Parades! 

• Workshop Theatre

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more passionate, engaged and thoughtful group than the fans that converge on Oz Comic-Con for each event. The community showcase is hosted at the Community & Workshop Stage. These Panels are a great way to tell or teach like-minded people about a topic you

are passionate about. Panels can be Q&A style, a moderated affair, interactive or a story journey. Within this space, we can cater to many different topics including cosplay, drawing, crafts, photography, editing and more. https://ozcomiccon.com/panel-applications/

• Music & Entertainment Stage

Look no further than the Music and Entertainment Stage, the perfect venue for live pop culture performances featuring dancing, singing, and maybe even a lip sync competition (or two)! https://ozcomiccon.com/occ-music-entertainment-stage/ 

• Lip Sync Battles
  It’s time to LIP SYNC FOR YOUR….eternal bragging rights!
  Can’t sing but can absolutely nail the silent solo? Watched every season of RuPaul and want to live out your lip-syncing fantasies live on stage? Do you miss Dubsmash? Then this is the competition for you! Limited registration spots are available, so be sure to register asap! You can enter as an individual or as a group! Register or read more here: https://ozcomiccon.com/occ-music-entertainment-stage/

Comics:

Artist Alley

A space to celebrate art in pop culture, Artist Alley is a colourful, creative district filled with original and fan art. Take the opportunity to interact with the creative geniuses behind your favourite comic books, graphic novels, literature, and artistic projects – a truly unique and authentic way to get to know local talent as they make waves in the global scene.

It’s in Artist Alley that you can purchase a unique commission, designed and drawn just for you or shop for prints and artistic creations such as novels, jewellery, clothing, and homewares. No matter what you like, you’ll find a creator suited to your interests, whether it be superheroes, manga, sci-fi, fantasy, horror or indie.

• Comics Lounge
  The Oz Comic-Con Comics Lounge supported by Kings Comics is a great spot to take a break from the busy show floor, pull up a beanbag and have a read through of some of our extensive comics and manga library. Pick out something new to try, flick through an old favourite, discuss your favourite titles with other fans in the space.

  Also happening in the Comics Lounge will be a range of industry panels and discussions with some of Australia’s top comic artists, writers and publishers. Meet your favourite artists, chat with other fans, discuss your favourite titles, check out new titles on offer and learn more about comics.
  Ever wanted to learn what goes into creating your very own comic? Would you like to learn from an industry professional? LOOK NO FURTHER! We’ve got a range of workshops in every city to cater to your creative desires for both kids and adults. Check back closer to the day to see the full schedule of events!

Cosplay

• Cosplay Central
  Cosplay Central is the meeting place and undeniably the unmissable destination for all cosplayers and cosplay fans at Oz Comic-Con. Meet local cosplay talent for tips and tricks, grab your mates for the perfect photo op in front of cosplay sets and get your photo snapped by local cosplay photographers. https://ozcomiccon.com/occ-cosplay-central/
• Cosplay Parades
  Oz Comic-Con hosts a variety of Cosplay offerings at the event for different skill levels.The Cosplay Parade is a great event showcasing the talent of cosplayers at Oz Comic-Con! It gives everyone the chance to get up on stage and strut their stuff without the stress of competing. Taking place both Saturday and Sunday.

• Cosplay Competition
  For those not quite ready for the Championship of Cosplay but a step above the Cosplay Parade. The Cosplay Competition is the competition for mainstream competitors. This event is perfect for you to showcase your crafting, needlework or armour build talents. Entry into the Cosplay Competition is by application ahead of the show, so if this is something you’re interested in being sure to check out the applications here: https://ozcomiccon.com/occ-cosplay-competitions-parades/ 

• Kids Cosplay Parade
  The kid’s cosplay parade is a great way for our littlest cosplayers to get into the cosplay spirit! Kids can go on stage either on their own, in a group, or, for those who are either too little or too shy, with a guardian.

• Cosplay Photographers
  Coming to Oz Comic-Con in cosplay? Local cosplay photographers will be present, ready to take your photo in Cosplay Central. The best part? All photo sessions are complimentary! https://ozcomiccon.com/oz-comic-con-official-cosplay-photographers/

The District 

• Cosplay Meetups
  Whether you’ve gone all out or you’re just in casual cosplay, be sure to swing by our Cosplay Meetups for some serious fun with fellow fans! Don’t miss out on the chance to snap some epic group pics at our photo wall and create memories that’ll last a lifetime. Let’s get ready for a weekend of awesome shenanigans! https://ozcomiccon.com/occ-the-district/

• Trading Post
  If you’re a part of a collectible community, and trading is a part of that, welcome to the Oz Comic-Con Trading Post! A space where collectors can meet and trade with each other, or even just talk about common interests and show off collections! http://ozcomiccon.com/the-trading-post/

• Bingo & Scavenger Hunts
  If you’re looking for even more free activities to fill your weekend at Oz Comic-Con with even more potential prizes to win then Oz Comic-Con Show Bingo and Quokka Quest Scavenger Hunts are definitely worth checking out. Free to play and a fun way to explore through the whole show! https://ozcomiccon.com/bingo-scavenger-hunts/

• Scribble Wall

Our epic scribble wall returns to The District for 2025. For all you colouring addicts out there, it’s time for you to scratch that itch to leave your mark!

• CommUnity Space
  Welcome to the Oz Comic-Con CommUnity Space. A safe and inclusive haven for members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community at the show.

The CommUnity Space is designed to be a place where attendees can come together to socialize and celebrate their love for all things queer pop culture. We provide a welcoming atmosphere where you can engage in activities, discussions and meetups that centre around queer representation and diversity in pop culture. Read more about the space and what’s on here: https://ozcomiccon.com/comm-unity-space/   

Gaming

• Gaming Zone and Esports Tournaments

Australian Esports League (AEL) joins forces with Oz Comic-Con bringing their free play gaming zone and esports tournaments to each show. AEL recognises the importance of building ‘grassroots’ esports, delivering a gaming experience like no other to the broader gaming community.

The gaming zone will showcase the latest games and products, with an opportunity for attendees to battle it out against their mates and other attendees.  https://ozcomiccon.com/occ-console-gaming/

• Generation Games Retro Gaming
  Hey, you’re finally awake. From NES to N64, Sega Mega Drive to Atari 7800, come and kick it old school with a mix of retro gaming consoles in the Generation Games Retro Gaming area! Be sure to stop by to try your hand at an old classic and enjoy the nostalgia, or introduce it to your offspring for the very first time!

• Tabletop Gaming Library
  Not one for console games? No problem! We got you covered with a library of tabletop games to satisfy your needs. Ticket to Ride, Pandemic, Catan. Heard of those? Maybe you like Zombie Dice, Small World, or Red Dragon Inn? Well, this year Oz Comic-Con is giving you access to all of these games, and more! We’ll be using our tabletop resources to bring you a two-day gaming extravaganza.

Get along to the Tabletop Gaming Zone featuring a library of over 40 different games you can play. https://ozcomiccon.com/oz-comic-con-tabletop-gaming/

• Magic: The Gathering – Learn to Play

We’ll have a dedicated zone for all attendees to try their hand at a game. Available for new and veteran players alike! Join the team from AEL at Oz Comic-Con Xmas Edition for an exciting opportunity to dive into the world of Magic: The Gathering! Whether you’re a seasoned player or brand new to the game, our “Learn to Play” zone is perfect for everyone. 

• Local TTRPG Groups – Learn to Play
  From Pathfinder to D&D, if you’re looking to play some TTRPG’s at Oz Comic-Con, we have you covered! Local groups will be on hand to guide you through one shot campaigns across the weekend. Whether you are a seasoned player, or this is your first time, you are welcome to participate. Characters will be generated by DMs so players are all on the same level (1 to 5).

  Campaigns will be taking place during Oz Comic-Con each day! https://ozcomiccon.com/oz-comic-con-tabletop-gaming/ 

• Just Dance Stage

So you think you can Just Dance? Well, you’ll be able to show everyone your moves at the Just Dance stage. Open for free play all weekend. Play as a group, or individually, the party at Oz Comic-Con starts here. https://ozcomiccon.com/occ-console-gaming/

Dr Pickles Tattoo Alley 

• Feeling Brave? Would you trust a stranger to pick your next tattoo?

Would you put your arm into a mystery hole, where the end result is a tattoo?

Dr Pickles is now inviting Oz Comic-Con Patrons to try their unique Tattoo Mystery Hole experience! https://ozcomiccon.com/dr-pickles-tattoo/

For tickets and the latest event updates, visit ozcomiccon.com/melbourne.