Frequently Asked Questions - Awesome Con (original) (raw)
Washington DC'S Comic Con | April 23 - 25, 2027 | Walter E. Washington CC
Frequently Asked Questions[email protected]2026-02-27T13:56:15-05:00
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Awesome Con takes place March 13-15, 2026!
Registration Hours
(Doors open when Registration opens)
Friday, March 13th
11 AM – 7 PM
Saturday, March 14th
8 AM – 6 PM
Sunday, March 15th
8 AM – 4 PM
Exhibit Hall Hours
(includes Artist Alley & Autographing)
Friday, March 13th
1 PM – 8 PM
Saturday, March 14th
10 AM – 7 PM
Sunday, March 15th
10 AM – 5 PM
EVENT Hours
(includes Panels, Screenings, Gaming, and Special Events)
Friday, March 13th
1 PM – 10 PM*
Saturday, March 14th
10 AM – 10 PM*
Sunday, March 15th
10 AM – 5 PM
*No re-entry into the WEWCC after 9pm
General FAQs
Awesome Con is Washington DC’s Comic Con! Awesome Con is a celebration of geek culture, bringing over 60,000 fans together with their favorite stars from across comics, movies, television, toys, games, and more! And just like DC, we’re smart, family-friendly, and inclusive – as Awesome Con is home to:
- The Science Fair, an area of Awesome Con exploring where science and science fiction meet!
- The Book Fair, an area of Awesome Con dedicated to authors and book dragons alike!
- Awesome Con Jr, an all-ages destination for the next generation of fans
- Pride Alley, a celebration of queer creators and fans curated by GeeksOUT
- Anime Yokocho, our returning area for all things Anime!
Badge FAQs
All attendees ages 3 and up need a badge to attend.
A Kids Badge can be purchased for children aged 3 to 12 years old, and it is valid for all three days at Awesome Con. Children ages 13 and up need a regular badge to attend. Children ages 2 and under do not need a badge.
Please visit our badge page for information on purchasing your badge.
Yes! Badges purchased prior to the Mailing Deadline will have the option to be mailed. However, please note that we do not ship badges internationally, which includes Canada and Mexico or to territories outside the domestic United States.
BADGES WILL NOT BE MAILED IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOUR ORDER.
If you have a problem with your badges, please contact [email protected].
Most badges will be mailed within 3 weeks of the Mailing Deadline. If you do not receive them within a week of the show, please contact us at [email protected].
Yes, as long as you did not opt for shipping when you purchased your badge, you can pick it up at the show! Simply bring your confirmation email with QR code onsite to Registration (either printed or on your phone) to pick up your badge.
If you are local to DC (or will be in the area early) we have also partnered with local businesses to offer retailer pickup locations. You can learn more about it here. (Please note that not all badge types are eligible for retailer pickup and if you opted to have your badge shipped, your badge is not eligible for pickup.)
Yes, you can upgrade or swap your badge type! (If you purchase it in time to have it mailed, any changes will need to be made BEFORE the Mailing Deadline!) Here’s how:
- Go to Leap Conventions
- Click on the CUSTOMER LOGIN button on the page
- Click on CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP (If you don’t already have an account, if you do, go to step 5)
- Create a new account using the same email address you used to purchase your tickets
- Verify your email address and sign in to your account
- Click on your name in the top right
- Select MY ORDERS
From there you will see the option to Upgrade, Swap (downgrade), or edit your personal information. Please note that any price difference will not be refunded.
Badges do not need to be activated.
Your badge is your key to priority line access. It has an extra panel on the side which you will get hole-punched by Awesome Con Crew each time you take advantage of it.
Badges (other than Club Awesome) are 100% transferable. All you need to do is pass the physical badge or badge confirmation on to the new party. To update the name and email assigned to the badge, follow the steps below:
- Visit Leap Conventions
- Click on the CUSTOMER LOGIN button on the page
- Click CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP (If you don’t already have an account, if you already have an account, go to step 5)
- Create an account using the same email address you used to purchase your badges
- Verify your email address and sign in to your account
- Click on your name located at the top right
- Click MY ORDERS
- Click on the order you want to update
Badges that are lost, stolen or damaged cannot be replaced. Please take care of your badge—it is your only valid entry into the event. The QR code in your confirmation email is not a valid entry product.
We’re sorry, but a badge is required for entry. If you are unable to return home to retrieve your badge, a new one will need to be purchased (subject to availability). The QR code in your confirmation email is not a valid entry product.
Awesome Con badges are non-refundable.
Club Awesome is by far the awesomest way to experience the con. Club Awesome and Club Awesome Reserve memberships entitle you to tons of amazing perks! You can read all about them here!
Sorry, the benefits of a Premium or Club Awesome badge badge only apply to one person. If you have a friend or another family member who also wants the perks of the Premium or Club Awesome badge, they will need to purchase one as well.
* There is an exception to this rule for photo ops. Epic Photo Ops allows more than more person in a photo op, so your photo op guest may use your priority line access privilege with you in this case.
* Additionally, if you have a child 10 and under with a Kids badge, they area allowed to accompany you in the expedited lined, but they will not receive any additional Premium/Club Awesome benefits.
Information on press registration can be found on our press page.
Information on professional badge registration can be found on our pro badge page.
Guest, Programming, Photo Ops & Autographing FAQs
Celebrity and creator guests are announced regularly! For more the latest information, check out the guest page.
Most guests appear for all three days, but we also list the specific days they will be attending on our guest page.
No badge type includes an autograph or photo op. They must be purchased separately.
Generally, yes! Access to most programming panels is included with your badge. However…
- Some guests may have a panel that requires an additional paid ticket to attend. This information is typically divulged when the guest is announced.
- Other guests may require a panel reservation process due to their demand. This information may not be divulged when the guest is announced as the level of a guest’s popularity may not always be immediately apparent. Awesome Con reserves the right to implement a reservation system for panels that are trending toward overflowing or becoming unsafe.
With all programming panels, attendance cannot be guaranteed. Each panel room has a maximum capacity which is determined by a fire marshal, and once this capacity is hit, fans will no longer be able to gain entry.
Please keep an eye on our Programming page for the autograph/photo op schedule. It is generally released closer to the show.
You can view autograph and photo ops pricing and pre-purchase them via the Epic Photo Ops website. If you have an issue with your purchase, please contact Epic Photo Ops directly for assistance.
If the celebrity autograph or photo op you’re looking for is not listed for pre-purchase, they may have opted to sell onsite only and we will not have advanced pricing to share.
Many guests will take cash or credit, but you will need to confirm at their table.
For authors signing as part of the Book Fair, please see our Book Fair page for more information regarding signings.
For our comics guests, please inquire at their table.
Typically our celebrity guests will have headshots, included in the cost of the autograph, to be signed at their table.
For our author and comics guests, typically they will not have anything to provide. You would need to purchase and item or bring your own.
Typically, yes, but not always. The signing of personal items is done at the guests’ discretion and may require an additional charge at their table. Our celebrity guests will sign one item per autograph ticket, if you want more than one item signed, additional autograph tickets will need to be purchased.
For our author/comics guests, generally you would need to bring your own item. Please see our Book Fair page on limits for authors signing as part of the Book Fair.
It is up to each guest whether they will take a selfie or not. If they indicate in advance that they will take selfies, it will be listed on their autograph page on the Epic Photo Ops’ website, otherwise, you would need to ask at their table.
A photo op is a professionally taken photo in front of a backdrop by our partner, Epic Photo Ops. Minutes after the photo is taken, you will receive a printed copy (a digital copy is also available for purchase).
A selfie would be a photo taken at the guest’s table using your phone.
Graders and authenticators at the show will be added to our Autograph page when available.
Our Send In Service partner will be added to our Autograph page when available.
Other FAQs
We do have a paid crew program! (Sorry we do not have any unpaid volunteer positions.) You can find out more about it here.
The link to our exhibitor form can be found here and the link to our Artist Alley/Maker’s Market/Author’s Lane application can be found here.
We recommend all children under 18 attend with an adult, and all children under 13 must have an adult with them while attending Awesome Con.
Yes, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center has Mamava breastfeeding and pumping pods! Head to Mother’s Station 1 – outside 103 or Mother’s Station 2 – L St. North whether you want to breastfeed in private or pump. You can find information about unlocking a Mamava pod on this website or use code 8008.
Yes! Awesome Con strives to create an inclusive and friendly environment for all of its attendees. We are happy to provide a variety of services to help you enjoy your experience! You can find more information and our full policy here.
Information about the entrance and the accessibility entrance can be found on this page: Floor Plans & Maps
Costumes and cosplay are totally welcome at Awesome Con! We love our cosplayers and love to see your creativity. However, we do have some policies you should be aware of if you’re cosplaying for the convention. You can read our policy in full here!
We have a zero-tolerance policy against harassment. You can read our harassment policy in full here.
Outside food and drink is not permitted inside the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, but if you need to keep some snacks or water (no glass bottles) on you for medical reasons, that’s okay.
We do not restrict the type of bag you can bring to the show. All bags will be subject to inspection by security before entry.
There is no bag check inside the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
There is complimentary wifi in the “Convention Center Connect” Lounges located in the Grand Lobby, Concourse A, Concourse B, Metro Entrance, L Street Entrance near rooms 156 and 140, across from 143C, Uptown Cafe and Downtown Cafe, and 2nd and 3rd floor Wing seating areas.
Yes, we do offer special discounts on hotels in the DC area. You can book a room in one of the official hotels through our partner, Connections Housing, via our travel page.
We’re always looking for new, interesting, and fun programming! Fill out an application here!
Guest suggestions can be sent over to [email protected]