Elijah Wood, William Shatner are at Planet Comicon KC this weekend. What to know
Pop culture converges at Bartle Hall this weekend with the return of Planet Comicon Kansas City.
Now in its 27th year, the annual festival has welcomed stars from popular television shows and movies, comic book writers and illustrators, cosplayers, and vendors to celebrate their favorite superheroes and characters. The event drew over 70,000 attendees from all parts of the United States in 2025.
Tickets for adults range from $42 for a day pass to $98 for three days, with cheaper prices for those under age 13. Each day brings new activities and costumes for visitors, which means what they see Friday might not be around Sunday.
The same rings true for the celebrities visiting Kansas City for the event. Some will be here every day from March 27-29, while others are here just on select days.
Actors from iconic movie and television franchises like “The Lord of The Rings” and “Supernatural,” artists from beloved rock bands Iron Maiden and Slipknot, and even a few athletes will fill up celebrity row in Kansas City this year.
Here’s who you can see and what to expect at Planet Comicon in 2026.
What celebrities are in Kansas City for Planet Comicon?
Planet Comicon Kansas City’s celebrity row features the following guests. Autograph and picture costs vary depending on who you are hoping to meet, so check with their booths to learn more:
- Lorraine Bracco: The Oscar-nominated actress is known for roles in “Goodfellas” and “The Sopranos.”
- Deron Cherry and Neil Smith: The Chiefs Hall of Famers will be in attendance for a live podcast recording, and will meet with fans after.
- Keith David: Emmy-winning actor voiced for Dr. Facilier in Disney’s “The Princess and The Frog,” among hundreds of other appearances.
- Bruce Dickinson and Nicko McBrain: Dickinson is the lead singer and McBrain is the drummer for the legendary 1980s British metal band Iron Maiden.
- Ernie Hudson: The actor plays Winston Zedmore in the classic 1980s film “Ghostbusters.”
- Jared Padalecki: His most prominent roles are Dean Winchester on “Supernatural” and Dean Forester on “Gilmore Girls.”
- Lou Diamond Phillips: He gained national recognition for his portrayal of singer Ritchie Valens in the biopic “La Bamba”
- Elijah Wood and Sean Astin: Fans can meet both Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee from “The Lord of The Rings” movie trilogy.
Other actors from franchises like “Twilight,” “Star Trek,” “X-Men,” “Smallville” and more will also be in attendance throughout the weekend.
Video games, tabletop games, cosplay meetups and the ability to purchase merchandise from vendors are also available during the convention.
Guest panels at Planet Comicon
If you aren’t paying extra to meet the guests, you can hear them discuss their careers during panels over the weekend. The panels come at no extra charge, but seating is first-come, first-served:
- Lost Boys vs Young Guns with Lou Diamond Phillips, Kiefer Sutherland and Alex Winter, 6 p.m. on Friday, March 27.
- From the Enterprise to Infinity with William Shatner, noon on Saturday, March 28.
- Still Sparkling: A Twilight Reunion with Peter Facinelli, Maggie Grace, Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz and Jackson Rathbone, 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 28.
- The “Duality” of Corey Taylor with the Slipknot frontman, 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 28
- One Ring to Rule them All with Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, noon on Sunday, March 29
Where to park for Planet Comicon Kansas City?
Planet Comicon says it has added the Poindexter Garage for guests to pre-purchase their parking spots ahead of the convention for $35 per day.
There are also over 40,000 parking spaces in the downtown area. Many are paid lots, but free street parking is available on a first-come, first served basis.
You can also park farther away and take the free KC Streetcar to the stop at 14th and Main streets, the closest to the Kansas City Convention Center.
This story was originally published March 25, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
