GalaxyCon returns to the Raleigh Convention Center this week. What to know.
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- GalaxyCon returns to Raleigh with over 45,000 expected attendees in 2025.
- New free two-day street festival set for July 26–27 on Fayetteville Street.
- Celebrity guests include William Shatner, Susan Sarandon and Grant Gustin.
GalaxyCon, a four-day convention where nerdy fandoms collide, returns to Raleigh this week with a new free offering.
The event is set to draw more than 45,000 unique attendees. It’s the largest GalaxyCon show in the country and last year generated an estimated $9.75 million in direct economic benefits.
“We hope people come have a good time, get to make new friends and have great experiences,” said Mike Broder, founder and president of GalaxyCon.
The convention starts Thursday, July 24, and continues through Sunday, July 27.
This year, the show is adding a free, two-day street festival on Fayetteville Street.
And for next year, organizers are already planning for Animate! Raleigh, an anime and animation-focused convention, Jan. 9-11, and a new horror-themed convention, Nightmare Weekend, in October 2026.
What is GalaxyCon?
One of the biggest events held at the Raleigh Convention Center on Salisbury Street, GalaxyCon features celebrity and industry panels, concerts, cosplayers, vendors, creators, photo-ops, live wrestling and other events.
When is the free street festival?
The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday on Fayetteville Street between Davie Street and City Plaza.
It will be free with or without a GalaxyCon ticket and will feature music, food trucks, live pro-wrestling, celebrities, vendors and cars that reference pop culture and movies.
“There’s other successful street festivals in Raleigh,” Broder said. “There’s Bluegrass, Hopscotch. And we were like ‘We could do something cool outside.’”
Are tickets still available?
Some tickets are already sold-out, including four-day passes, four-day deluxe passes, three-day passes, three-day deluxe passes and Saturday-only tickets.
Tickets to for single-day passes on Thursday, Friday and Sunday were still available as of Monday morning, as were after 3 p.m. tickets for Saturday.
Purchase tickets at galaxycon.com/pages/galaxycon-raleigh-tickets.
What celebrities will be there?
Celebrities will speak at panels, sign autographs, moderate events and take fan photos.
As of July 21, the following celebrities are set to appear: Ben Schwartz; Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis (“Thelma and Louise”); “Star Trek’s” William Shatner; Giancarlo Esposito; Clark Gregg; Andy Serkis; Jason Isaacs; Grant Gustin and Tom Cavanagh (“The Flash”); Josph Mazzello; Wayne Night; “Beverly Hills 90210” castmates Gabrielle Carteris, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Brian Austin Green and Tori Spelling; Michael Rooker; Sean Gunn; Scott Patterson; Travis Willingham and Laura Bailey.
Voice actors include several rom the show “Hazbin Hotel,” John Dimaggio, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Roger Craig Smith, Kellen Geoff, Steve Downes, Jen Taylor, Ian Cardoni, David Matranga, Roger L. Jackson, Harry Bleden, Dana Synder, Kenny James, Bob West, Daniel Ross and Samantha kelly.
Guests are subject to change. Many will be available all four days, but some have limited appearances.
What cosplayers will be there?
Yes, many people dress up from their favorite movies, video games and shows. But several professional cosplayers will attend including: Astravoid Cosplay, Heartless Aquarius, Stella Chuu, BMO Cosplay, Astral Pioneer, Ava Leeign, Perlertricks, The Tinker Tank, Toxiekat and Alliecat.
What about gaming?
The Video Gaming Arena and the Tabletop Realm areas will be located in the Sheraton Raleigh, 421 S. Salisbury St.
The Video Gaming Arena includes an arcade, gaming stations, retro gaming, Rock Band and Just Dance stages.
The Tabletop Realm includes a board game cafe, trading card game spaces, tabletop RPGs, Magic The Gathering tournaments, live Dungeons & Dragon’s adventures, mini painting workshops and guest cosplayers.
Access is included in the GalaxyCon tickets, or people purchase a gaming ticket for $25 to get in.
What are the hours?
GalaxyCon is open 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
The exhibit hall is open from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Where do I park?
There are many parking garages near the Raleigh Convention Center in downtown Raleigh, with many offering a flat daily event price during the weekend.
For more info, go to downtownraleigh.org/getting-around/parking
This story was originally published July 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM.
