Fan Expo New Orleans returns to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for three days, Friday, January 8 through Sunday, January 10, 2027, bringing the city's biggest pop-culture weekend of the year - and one of its best card-shopping opportunities - back to the riverfront. Produced by Fan Expo HQ, the team behind one of the largest convention circuits in North America, the New Orleans stop packs celebrity guests, comics, gaming, cosplay, and a massive exhibitor floor into the same hall that hosts the region's largest events.
For collectors, the draw is scale. The exhibitor floor consistently features trading card vendors alongside comic dealers, with Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Lorcana, and Dragon Ball singles, slabs, and sealed product, plus sports card tables mixed among the memorabilia booths. Comic collectors will find one of the deepest back-issue selections that ever assembles in Louisiana, from golden and silver age keys to modern variants, much of it CGC graded. Funko Pops, toys, statues, original art from artist alley, and celebrity autograph opportunities round out a floor that takes a full day to walk properly.
The convention runs all three days, with Friday typically opening in the afternoon and Saturday and Sunday running full daytime hours - exact times post at fanexpohq.com as the show approaches. Saturday is the peak day for guests, cosplay, and crowds; Friday offers the calmest shopping, and Sunday brings end-of-show deals as vendors look to lighten their load.
Ticketing is tiered: single-day tickets, multi-day passes, VIP packages with early floor access and perks, and separately purchased celebrity autograph and photo-op sessions. Kids' pricing is family-friendly, with young children typically admitted free with a paying adult. Buying online in advance is cheaper than the door and skips the longest lines.
The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center at 900 Convention Center Boulevard stretches along the Mississippi River within walking distance of the Warehouse District and a short ride from the French Quarter. Paid parking is available in surrounding lots and garages, though rideshare, the Riverfront streetcar, and hotel walking routes are often easier on peak days. January in New Orleans also means mild weather and post-holiday hotel rates - a good weekend for an out-of-town collecting trip.
Fan Expo suits practically everyone: families get a full weekend of entertainment beyond the card tables, serious TCG and comic collectors get inventory depth no regional card show can match, cosplayers and fandom communities get their annual showcase, and casual attendees get to meet stars of screen and page. Sports-card-only purists will find fewer dedicated tables than at a card show, but crossover collectors will leave with full bags.
Tips: buy advance tickets, target Friday or Sunday for serious shopping, bring cash for artist alley and smaller vendors, and set a firm budget - a floor this size is built for impulse buys. Wear comfortable shoes, and if autographs are a priority, book those sessions the moment they go on sale.
For tickets, guest announcements, hours, and floor maps, visit fanexpohq.com/fanexponeworleans or follow Fan Expo New Orleans on Facebook and Instagram.