Portsmouth Comic Con 2026: 46 stellar snaps of people sporting phenomenal costumes on day one

Sci-fi and fantasy fans have pulled out all the stops as thousands of people arrived in the city for an action-packed weekend of Comic Con fun.

The spotlight has been shone on people’s imagination and creativity as Guildhall’s beloved two-day Comic Con returns for yet another year.

The first day (Saturday, May 2) of the festival has been a fabulous success, with an estimated 4,000 people attending the site to get involved in the extensive programme of activities.

Despite a downpour in the afternoon, guests continued to immerse themselves in the wonderful experiences on offer, with new attractions - the Lego zone and Nerf Arena - also going down a treat.

Making its return is the iconic Star Wars Experience, with the Joker Squad creating an immersive entrance for visitors. Droids, displays, music and sound set the scene, with multiple photo opportunities.

Inside the Guildhall, queues were spotted in the special guest area with people eager to snap a picture with the likes of Friday Night Dinner’s, Tom Rosenthal, Doctor Who’s, Jemma Redgrave, and Jonathan Hyde.

Andy Grays, chief executive of the Guildhall Trust, said: “There’s quite a bit of additional content this year - everything is just a bit more. There’s a bit more Star Wars - I think the Star Wars walk through on stage is particularly exciting, the Ghostbusters element as you come through the main gate is much more evolved and developed, and as you walk around and go into all sorts of areas, there’s additional quirky things. I like the very fact that there’s quite a few surprises around every corner.

“The thing I always enjoy each year is the cosplay parade. I also feel that it’s quite emotional because people put so much effort into their costumes.”