FanExpo 2026.
For the past few months, I was in two minds as to whether I would head out to Toronto this year. Not only because I'd been pushing the exercise regime hard and wanted to keep up that gaining momentum, but I also wanted to push the writing harder than ever. Not only the craft of writing (as in what I write and how I write, and pushing narratives to new and dark places), but also the business of writing. As yet, I don't make nearly enough money from writing, so I'm hustling hard.
Anyhow. This came up in a convo with one of my best friends, Terri, a while back. While she's in Canada, she's not in Toronto, so she and her husband Matt (and I love them both) have less travelling to do than I would. Having told her of my reluctance previously, she spoke as a friend would, on some, 'it'd be a shame, but I understand.' With Mama repeatedly stressing that I work hard and that I need a break, I caved and booked the trip about a month out.
With the benefit of hindsight, that was a mistake. Booking so late left less availability, which ultimately resulted in a higher fare and rooming at a hotel much further away from the usual spot. Still, I went, and got to catch up with my Canadian friends, relax mind and body, relax the diet and shovel a lot of nachos and pancakes into myself.
And go to FanExpo.
For the uninitiated, FanExpo is, "FOUR DAYS OF FUN-FILLED, FAN CULTURE. If you're into comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming, or cosplay, come share our playground. You'll feel out of this world – and right at home. Find your fandom family at FAN EXPO Canada. All 135,000 of them."
I'm given to understand that the footfall this year was 135,000 people across the four-day weekend, which is the last Thursday through Sunday in August. And in case you hadn't guessed from the footfall numbers, it's fucking massive. A four-day weekend of fandom, from panels and audience Q&A sessions with guests, to workshops, cosplay, comics and memorabilia. Whether it's Star Trek, Star Wars, Dr Who, Freddy Krueger/Nightmare on Elm Street, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Sailor Moon, Tokyo Ghoul, etc., odds are good you'll find your fantastical fandom here.
For those who've asked me how I find/found the convention, my answer is still the same: there's very little that moves me about it. Primarily because the dedicated horror programming has dwindled over the years. Gone are the days when the Rue Morgue Festival of Fear had a presence. The HWA (Horror Writers Association) still has a presence at FanExpo. Both David Thirteen and Andrew Robertson from the local (Ontario) chapter had reached out to me ahead of time asking if I was in town for FanExpo, and if I was interested in doing a panel, for which I'm always grateful, as and when I get the invite. This year saw them with a book nook, where we could also sign and sell books where we could connect with readers. This for me was key, because I love getting to talk genre and game with other such creatives. I give the nod to Shawn and his girlfriend for spending some time at my table where we could talk - Shawn, if you're reading this, I hope you push ahead with your ideas; you've got this covered, boss.
My feeling is that horror continues to get short shrift in the realm of entertainment media where other genres wouldn't. Yes, I'm aware that An American Werewolf in London won an Oscar/Academy Award for best make-up all those years ago, but Oscar nods - let alone wins - for horror films are few and far between. Famously, high-street book stores may have no more than one column of book shelves devoted to horror, and countless others devoted to the likes of cookery, chick-lit, and the latest foray into writing a book/biography by some celebrity or other. Still, I love the genre - and I have a love for the people who work in that genre and celebrate that genre. For my Canadian friends, as I continue to tell them, they're the main reason that I get out to Toronto in the summer and FanExpo is mostly incidental - which is why I'm in Toronto for little over a week, whereas FanExpo is only for a few days.
One of the things that FanExpo has gotten right is adding variety to the convention menu. Now: some 130,000-plus people to cater for is a tall order. That being said, gone are the years where you could only get hotdogs, burgers and pizza segments that (if memory serves), were either pepperoni or plain. A few years ago, there was a sushi counter which, despite it being pricey, was a welcome revelation. Last year had Turkish/Lebanese food, which despite being mushy (and I'm pretty sure the culprit of a loose bowel) was another foray into some much-needed menu variety.
Previous years had me buy comic titles to fill gaps in my collection. These have now, for the most part, been filled, and my collection spans several-hundred original issues which are primarily across The Amazing Spider-Man, The Spectacular Spider-Man, and Web of Spider-Man. As for the Spider-Man t-shirts available at FanExpo, well, your mileage may vary, but it's been too long since I've seen anything worthwhile that I'd wear. Ironically, given the scale of FanExpo, the Hot Topic apparel shop in the Eaton Centre downtown has, in my opinion, better variety. So forbid if you can't find the exact superhero shirt you want in store, there's vast variety available at there online shop.
Of course, FanExpo wouldn't be FanExpo without the cosplay. While the Darth Vader and Storm Trooper guard imperial march through the Expo is sadly a thing of the past, there's still the cosplay to revel in. The countless costumed flock to FanExpo over the four-day weekend: iterations of Dr. Who, Pennywise (be it the Tim Curry or Bill Skarsgård version), Spider-Man (be it the Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield or Tom Holland version) or even Nicolas Cage's The Spider from Spider-Noir. That spectacle is one thing that never gets old about the Expo.
Of course, I'll continue to go back to FanExpo, but - again - there's little about it that moves me. There's some ...but little. Still, that and time with my friends out there is enough. At least, for now.
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