MCM Comic Con London is back at ExCeL London from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026, kicking off the October half-term with a packed programme for families. Alongside the celebrity guests, there’s a dedicated family zone, hands-on craft workshops, kids’ cosplay and author panels for young readers.
Children aged four and under go free with a paying adult, and there are discounted tickets for five to ten-year-olds. Organisers say tickets are selling fast, so it’s worth booking soon at mcmcomiccon.com.
The Treehouse: MCM’s family zone
The Treehouse is the heart of the action for younger visitors. It offers free face painting, arts and crafts and stage entertainment across all three days.
Highlights include the Kids Cosplay Showcase for under-12s in any costume, storytime sessions with Drag Queen Story Hour UK and Small Fries Games, a Dance Party with limbo and musical statues, and plenty of mischief with Nutty Magic Ollie.
If little ones need a break, a dedicated Chill Out Space offers somewhere quieter to relax and recharge.
Halloween crafts and creative workshops
With half-term landing just before Halloween, many workshops have a spooky twist. Kids can make monster masks, Halloween paper chains, friendly ghost characters and brick-built creepy models.
There are gentler options too, including leafy hedgehogs, butterfly stained glass art, mermaid bracelets, dragon wings and a rocket wand. Sunday also sees MCM’s first ever Kids’ Paint and Sip, with apple juice in place of wine. Craft supplies are limited and run on a first come, first served basis.
Author panels for young readers
Bookworms are well catered for. Percy Jackson author Rick Riordan and novelist Annabelle Oh will discuss The Wild Zone, the first book in the new Camp Half-Blood series. A.F. Steadman, author of The World of Skandar, joins a panel on creating fantasy worlds.
For teens and grown-ups, Veronica Roth, V.E. Schwab and Patrick Ness are among the authors appearing.
Treehouse highlights by day
Friday 23 October: Pumpkin Portraits craft (12pm), Interactive Storytime with Small Fries Games (12pm), Drag Queen Story Hour UK (1pm), Classic Party Games (2.30pm), Nutty Magic Ollie (4pm) and Watermelon Monsters craft (4.45pm).
Saturday 24 October: Spooky Chain Gang Halloween craft (10.30am), Kids Cosplay Showcase (12.30pm), Dragon Wing Making (1.40pm), Drag Queen Story Hour UK (2.30pm), Dance Party (4pm) and Witch’s Academy: Create Your Spell Book (6pm).
Sunday 25 October: Kids’ Paint and Sip (11.30am), Kids Cosplay Showcase (12.30pm), Monster Maker Masks (12.45pm), Brick-or-Treat Halloween Builders (2.20pm), Classic Party Games (3.15pm) and Origami for Kids, ages 5-10 (4pm).
Need to know: MCM Comic Con London runs 23-25 October 2026 at ExCeL London. Under-5s go free with an adult ticket holder. Find tickets and the full schedule at mcmcomiccon.com.
Photo credit: ASV Photography
