The Ultimate Convention Checklist (2026)

Everything you need to know before your next con. Our ultimate convention checklist covers packing essentials, survival tips, budgeting, and type-specific guides for anime, comic and gaming events.

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For fans of any kind of media, a good convention can be a life-changing experience. However, for the unprepared, they can quickly become overwhelming, confusing and a little bit stressful. Whether you’re a newcomer or a veteran, having a handy set of rules to follow can help you make the most of your experience. With this in mind, we’ve built the ultimate convention checklist for all kinds of events; from a master guide to modern cons to more focused anime, comic con and gaming convention checklists, this guide covers everything you need to know.

So, whether you want to know how to prepare for a convention, what to bring to a convention, or how to make the best use of your time, get comfy, bookmark this page and join us as we unveil the ultimate convention checklist for anime, comic, gaming and fandom-focused events.

How to Prepare For a Convention

Millions of people attend fan conventions every year for one reason: they’re fun! However, if you’re unprepared, it can be hard to enjoy all the experiences that modern conventions offer. Without a basic convention survival guide, you run the risk of having all the boring but important logistics like ticketing and rule-checking stop you from getting the most of your con experience. So, to help you avoid common convention mistakes and use your time wisely, it’s best to do a little bit of prep work in advance, we promise, future you will be eternally grateful!

Below, you’ll find a foolproof convention preparation checklist split across a few key categories.

Tickets, Passes, and Logistics

No matter what convention you’re attending, step one will always be to buy and confirm your tickets. Where possible, try to buy your tickets directly from the event organizer or the venue; if that’s not possible, use verified third-party ticketing websites like Ticketmaster or Eventbrite.

Next, check you’ve received a confirmation email and that all the dates and times are correct. If you’re attending a big con with lots of side events and panels, be wary of slots being filled in advance; a top convention checklist tip is to check if add-on passes can be booked online. With your tickets sorted, next comes travel and accommodation. Hotels and trains can sell out fast for bigger cons, so try to book these at the same time as your tickets; remember to double check dates and times before clicking buy, and save all key details in the same place.

Here’s what the start of your convention preparation checklist should look like:

• Tickets booked through a verified site
• Confirmation email received and saved
• Add-on passes booked and saved
• Hotel and travel tickets booked and saved
• Dates and times double checked

Convention Rules and Policies

Like any big public event, conventions have rules and policies that attendees are expected to abide by to ensure everyone stays safe and has a good time. Whether this is your first con or you’re a longtimer, best practice is to check and note down key rules and policies in advance.

Add these steps to your convention preparation checklist:

• Banned and allowed items list checked
• Late-entry and re-entry policies checked
• Code of conduct and harassment policies checked
• Bag and cosplay prop policies checked
• Photo and video recording rules checked
• Health and safety guidelines checked
• Venue and event policies saved / printed

Schedules and Budgets

There’s always a lot to do at conventions, but those things are often expensive. Long before the convention starts, it’s a good idea to check what events are scheduled and build yourself a loose itinerary of things you’d like to do, alongside a personalized convention budget guide. Most modern cons post updated schedules on their official apps. As part of your convention preparation checklist, visit the con’s website, download the official app, highlight must-do activities across each of the days you’re attending and note them down in a custom itinerary.

Next, from your own experience or information in convention spending guides, add the likely cost of each activity to your main budget. Generally speaking, you’ll want around $200-$500 a day to cover food, drink and merch (but be aware that things like signings can cost $100+).

Your next convention preparation checklist items should be:

• Schedule checked on the official convention website
• Official convention app downloaded
• Must-do events highlighted
• Personal itinerary made
• Must-do events budgeted for
• Daily budget made and accounted for

Top First-Time Convention Tips

While the above information covers all the most important aspects of convention preparation, there are a few extra things that are worth mentioning for first-timers. Learning how to survive a convention in real-time can be stressful, so here are a few top convention tips for beginners.

• Be prepared for lines: Many first-timers underestimate how long lines for events and vendors can be; wait times for popular events and stalls can be as long as 1-2 hours.
• Wear comfy shoes: Even at smaller cons, you’ll be on your feet all day either getting to or waiting in line for activities, so do your feet a favor and wear comfortable shoes.
• Charge your phone: You’ll need your phone to check schedules, pull up passes and save details when you make new friends; charge at the hotel and bring a power pack!
• Don’t rely on Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi and cell service at busy events is often fairly poor; save all important info like schedules, tickets and passes offline to save yourself some stress.
• You’re in a captive audience: Food and drink vendors know you’ve not got many options; be prepared for high prices and check the venue’s rules for bringing food in.

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The Ultimate Convention Packing Checklist

With the basics covered, we can start thinking about your convention packing list. Whether you’re attending a gaming con, an anime expo or any kind of fan convention really, there are a few essentials you’ll need to bring and keep safe to ensure your experience goes smoothly.

Convention Essentials List

When considering what to bring to a convention, start with the types of things you’d need for any kind of extended event. From important devices and IDs to cash and clothing, make sure to begin your convention packing checklist by ensuring all the below items are accounted for.

• Convention tickets and passes
• Hotel booking confirmation
• Transit tickets
• Driver’s license / valid ID
• Wallet, cash and cards
• Phone
• Electronics (consoles, portable media players etc.)
• Chargers and charging cables
• Refillable water bottle
• Snacks (pre-packaged / easy-to-store e.g. chips, fruit, cereal bars)
• Medication and first-aid supplies (prescriptions, ibuprofen, band-aids, epi-pens etc.)
• Hand sanitizer
• Comfortable shoes

What to Pack in Your Day Bag

What do people forget at conventions? You’d be surprised! One of the best convention tips for beginners (or anyone really) is to bring a light, mindfully-packed day bag along with you filled with all the things you need to survive a long convention day; primarily, the below items.

• Deodorant
• Tissues
• Hand sanitizer
• Pain relievers (ibuprofen, paracetamol etc.)
• Refillable water bottle and snacks
• Reusable shopping bag / tote
• Notebook and pen
• Travel umbrella and/or poncho
• Light jacket or hoodie

Merch and Autograph Essentials

No convention checklist is complete without a section about merch and all the kit you’ll need to get things signed by your favorite creators. If your ideal convention experience involves a few stops at merch stalls and autograph booths, leave room for these items in your day bag.

• Poster tube
• Protective sleeves (TCG penny sleeves, comic book bags etc.)
• Folder / binder
• Marker or paint pen
• Extra tote bag (for unexpected purchases!)

Must-Haves for Gaming Cons

This section is a bit specific, (think of it like a tabletop convention checklist subcategory!) but for good reason, as cons dedicated to interactive hobbies like TCGs and games like D&D can require attendees to bring a few extra things with them if they want to join in with the fun. 

• Dice and portable rolling trays
• Tokens (damage counters etc.)
• Character sheets
• Rule sheets and reference materials
• Deck boxes
• Play-mats
• Notebooks, pens and pencils

What Not to Bring to a Convention

Understanding what not to bring to a convention is just as important as creating a foolproof convention packing checklist. Bring too much stuff and you’ll get tired quickly, bring stuff that breaks the rules and you’ll get kicked out. Keep in mind that you’re packing for the day you’re going to have, not one that you’ve imagined; try to factor this into your convention checklist.

Heavy and Unnecessary Items

If you’re wondering how to not get tired at a convention, it starts with keeping your bag light. With your essentials on your person and in your bag (and factoring in the merch you’re likely to buy), consider how much extra weight you can comfortably carry around for an entire day.

Heavy and unnecessary items to leave off your convention packing checklist include:

• Oversized bags / suitcases
• Heavy books and binders
• Metal props
• Unnecessary collectibles
• Clothing you’re unlikely to wear

Valuable and Prized Possessions

Cons can get very busy, and while most people practice good convention etiquette, you can never be 100% shielded from bumps, bangs and absent-mindedness. To avoid hassle and help you to stay focused on having fun, plan to leave expensive, unnecessary items at home.

Unless needed for a specific activity, consider going without items like:

• Rare / high-value collectibles
• Expensive jewellery and watches
• Fragile / expensive camera lenses
• Rare / high value gaming equipment
• Fragile / irreparable cosplay pieces
• Irreplaceable items of personal significance

Dangerous and Banned Items

One of the most important first time convention tips for beginners is to carefully review both the event’s and venue’s banned items lists to double check that none of your belongings are likely to get you thrown out; this is especially important for fake-weapon-wielding cosplayers!

Any good convention survival guide will ward you off bringing in items like:

• Metal props
• Fake weapons (e.g. fake guns, bladed weapons and sharp-edged props)
• Pyrotechnics and fog machines
• Laser pointers
• Drones and micro-mobility devices (hoverboards, segways, etc.)

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The Ultimate Anime Convention Checklist

From this point on in our ultimate convention checklist, we’ll start focusing on guidance for specific types of modern fan conventions. Let’s start by discussing what to bring to an anime convention to help you make the most of your time and avoid common convention mistakes.

Complete Anime Convention Packing Checklist

Anime cons are all about cosplay, panels, photos and merch, so you’ll need to be prepared for long, social days and quite a bit of physical activity! Use the guidance below to build your first anime convention checklist, or if you’re a veteran, to supplement your existing plans!

Essentials

• Tickets, passes and ID
• Wallet, cash and cards
• Comfortable day bag
• Deodorant
• Refillable water bottle and snacks
• Pain relievers (ibuprofen, paracetamol etc.)

Cosplay Care / Repair

• Repair kit (safety pins, needle + thread, adhesive, scissors)
• Wig care kit (T-pins, hair ties, hairspray, wig caps etc.)
• Makeup touch-up kit (blotting paper, powder, lash glue etc.)
• Body / face tape
• Blister pads / band-aids
• Comfortable shoes

Electronics

• Phone
• Camera
• Charging cables
• SD cards
• Power pack

Autograph Kit

• Poster tubes and sleeves
• Markers / paint pens
• Painter’s tape (to hold prints down for signings)

First Time Anime Con Tips

In addition to filling out the above checklist for anime conventions, we recommend first-timers take some time to learn a bit about anime convention etiquette to best-navigate the unique quirks we’ve come to expect from anime-focused events; consider the below anime con tips:

• Pack a cosplay emergency kit: Even the most well-made cosplay can be vulnerable to damage when walking around a hot, crowded convention hall; cosplay emergency kits filled with helpful tools like pins, glue and thread can help you fix issues on the fly!
• Make the most of artist alley: Most anime cons have a dedicated section for artists, crafters and creators to showcase their work, sell exclusive merch and host meetups with their fans; if merch, signings and photos are your game, head over to artist alley!
• Be mindful when taking photos: Snapping photos of and with cosplayers is a big part of modern anime cons, but remember, there are real people under all that gear; always ask before taking photos and ensure that you initiate conversations respectfully.

The Ultimate Comic Con Checklist

Ask a random member of the public what they know about conventions and, chances are, they’ll name-drop Comic-Con. Whether it’s the main event or a smaller comic-focused con you’re visiting, use the below comic convention checklist to make sure you’re well-prepared.

Complete Packing Checklist for Comic Cons

Panels, celebrity guests, exclusive collectibles and signings are the name of the game when it comes to comic cons, drawing massive crowds and (unfortunately) long lines. To help you make the most of your time, make sure to pack all the essentials on our comic con checklist.

Essentials

• Tickets, passes and ID
• Wallet, cash and cards
• Comfortable day bag
• Deodorant
• Refillable water bottle and snacks
• Pain relievers (ibuprofen, paracetamol etc.)

Queue Amenities

• Notepad and pens
• Fold-able chair
• Travel games / cards
• Portable media player
• Comfortable clothing

Electronics

• Phone
• Camera
• Charging cables
• SD cards
• Power pack

Collectibles Kit

• Protective sleeves (TCG penny sleeves, comic book bags etc.)
• Poster tubes
• Folders / binders
• Markers / paint pens
• Painter’s tape (to hold prints down for signings)

First Comic Con Tips

As one of the biggest and most popular types of cons, it’s likely that Comic-Con or a similar event will be many people’s first convention. For newcomers, we’ve put together a few first comic con tips built from experience to help ensure your first con becomes just one of many.

• Plan your schedule around panels: Getting into high-demand panels can be tricky, so plan your schedule around must-see events and try to get in line early; have a plan B ready too, as it’s not uncommon for guests to cancel and things to change abruptly.
• Be prepared for long lines: Comic-Con alone attracts tens of thousands of people a year, so vendors and panels are often very crowded; factor wait times into your daily schedule to minimize disappointment; we recommend 1-2 hours for popular activities.
• Study event rules beforehand: To protect creators and ensure a smooth experience for guests, most cons have strict rules for meet-and-greets, signings and photo-ops; make sure to review these policies online before the event to avoid issues on the day.

The Ultimate Gaming Convention Checklist    

When working out what to bring to a gaming convention, focus on the game-specific gear you’ll need and consider how much time you’ll spend seated while playing. Preparedness and comfort are the pillars of a good gaming convention checklist; keep these things in mind. 

Complete Gaming Convention Packing Checklist

Gaming conventions are all about group activities that often require a lot of unique kit like dice, play-mats and decks. Whether you’re attending a con based around specific types of games like D&D or a generalized event, consider these gaming convention checklist items.

Essentials

• Tickets, passes and ID
• Wallet, cash and cards
• Comfortable day bag
• Deodorant
• Refillable water bottle and snacks
• Pain relievers (ibuprofen, paracetamol etc.)

Clothing and Comfort

• Comfortable shoes
• Warm jacket
• Extra layers
• Travel pillow
• Foldable chair

Electronics

• Phone
• Camera
• Gaming handhelds
• Charging cables
• SD cards
• Power pack

RPG convention checklist

• Dice and portable rolling trays
• Tokens (damage counters etc.)
• Character sheets
• Miniatures
• Rule sheets and reference materials
• Deck boxes
• Play-mats
• Notebooks, pens and pencils

First Gaming Convention Tips

Gaming conventions can require a little more planning than other cons as you’ll need to bring all the right gear, register for activities and make sure you’re comfortable during long gaming sessions; building on this, here are some top tips to make the most of your first gaming con.

• Invest in a supportive backpack: Both the gear you bring and the merch you buy at gaming cons can add a lot of weight to your day bag. One of the first items on your gaming convention checklist must be a comfortable, secure and supportive backpack.
• Remember to register for events: You’ll need to register with the con’s organizers if you want to get involved in official tournaments and activities; any good board game or D&D convention checklist will include points for game registration and timetabling.
• Be mindful of table etiquette: If this is your first gaming convention, take some time to learn what’s expected of you during sessions; good gaming convention etiquette involves arriving on time, letting others speak and being mindful of others’ belongings.

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The Ultimate Convention Survival Guide

Learning how to survive a long convention day can be surprisingly tricky. One thing to keep in mind is that, for most cons, there will be more events scheduled than you can possibly attend, so it’s all about pacing yourself and highlighting a few must-do activities to structure your day.

Consider this; your goal shouldn’t be to do everything, but to enjoy the things you actually do!

Below are a few tips to help you avoid burnout at conventions and maximize your enjoyment:

• Eat and drink well: Walking around stalls, playing in tournaments and chatting with friends can be surprisingly tiring, amid all the excitement, it can be easy to forget to eat! Make sure to drink water regularly and eat proper food, don’t just rely on snacks.
• Take regular breaks: A great convention tip for beginners is to consider that you will crash eventually, so factor breaks into your schedule beforehand. Take some time to chill in a quiet area and rest your body and your mind in between planned activities.
• Avoid over scheduling: Nobody can do everything at a convention in one trip, they just aren’t designed that way. When building a convention checklist, pick one or two must-do activities for each day and leave some gaps in your schedule for exploring.
• Pack efficiently: Lugging around a heavy, oversized, ill-fitting bag will become tiring and stressful quickly. Try to pack as efficiently as possible using a bag that you can carry comfortably for extended periods of time without feeling restricted or frustrated.
• Set meetup points: You and your friends might have different ideas of what to do at a convention all day; rather than force people to do things they’re not too interested in, set some time aside to explore independently and plan to meet at a set spot later.
• Prioritize comfort: You’ll find it hard to enjoy all the fun of a convention if all you can think about is how much your feet hurt or how chilly it is; make sure that you dress presentable but also that you’re comfortable in shoes and clothing you already trust.

The Ultimate Convention Budget Guide

When budgeting for a convention, there’s one thing you should keep in mind; the con itself will cost more than your ticket! To help prepare you for expected costs and make sure you bring a sensible amount of cash, below we’ve compiled a basic convention spending guide.

Convention Spending Guide

At the time of writing (2026), here are some rough price ranges for a few convention staples:

• Ticket: $40-$150 (single day) / $150-$300 (weekend) / $500-$1000 (VIP package)
• Hotel: $200-$400 per night
• Inner-city transit: $10-$50 per day
• Parking: $20-$40 per day
• Food: $30-$70 per day
• Merch: $100-$300 per day
• Signings / photo-ops: $50-$150+ per op
• Artist alley purchases: $50-$100
• Emergency money: $100-$200

Top Convention Money-Saving Tips

How much you’ll actually spend at a convention will depend on multiple factors like the size of the con, where it’s being held and the kinds of things you want to do at the event, but the total cost is always going to be fairly high. Consider these tips to help maximize your budget:

• Pre-buy snacks: Venue-permitting, bring some nutritious, energy-boosting snacks like cereal bars or fruit with you in your day bag to avoid spending big on vendor food.
• Bring a refillable water bottle: A sturdy, well-sealed, refillable water bottle should be one of the first things on your convention checklist to help keep you hydrated all day.
• Set a strict merch limit: There’s a lot of temptation at your average con, but by practicing a bit of restraint, you can make sure you only buy things you’ll really enjoy.
• Browse before you buy: When you arrive, do a lap of all the stalls and note down a few key items you’re interested in, then take your time deciding what you really want.
• Sort bookables ASAP: The sooner you book your tickets, hotel and transit passes, the cheaper they’ll be, forward-planning will help you maximize your spending budget.

The Ultimate Guide to Good Convention Etiquette

Convention etiquette is the glue that holds the whole event together by ensuring everybody respects each other’s boundaries and enjoys a fun communal experience. To help you avoid common convention mistakes, here’s a rundown of some key rules you should keep in mind:

• Know con and venue rules: Both the con and the venue will have published policies and rules that will let you know what is and isn’t allowed on-site, read and save them!
• Keep your hands to yourself: Good convention etiquette is to avoid touching props, people and merch without their explicit permission; always respect others’ boundaries.
• Ask before snapping a picture: Cosplays are amazing works of art, but they’re also worn by real people; ask before snapping a picture to avoid catching people off guard.
• Don’t block walkways: Be mindful of where you stop and chat with your friends, find areas away from walkways and paths in front of stalls to keep traffic flowing smoothly.
• Be a patient queuer: Queuing isn’t fun, but voicing your frustrations won’t change things; entertain yourself quietly or try to make friends with other amenable queuers.
• Study and respect panel rules: In-con panels can have general and specific rules for things like waiting in line, Q&As and photography, find, study and respect them.
• Be mindful of personal hygiene: There can be a lot of physical activity involved in cons that we don’t really take note of, freshen up every few hours to account for that!
• Avoid haggling with artists: Artists have put a lot of consideration into how they price their pieces; good convention etiquette is to respect this unless told otherwise.
• Be kind to staff and volunteers: Without the hard work of volunteers, venue and event staff, there’d be no con to enjoy, so be kind and respectful when you see them.

Essential First-Time Convention Tips

Cons, even smaller ones, can be overwhelming. To help first-timers minimize their anxieties and set themselves up for an amazing con experience, this penultimate section will go over a few first-time convention tips for beginners in the form of a concise first convention checklist.

• Start with a day ticket: The best way to prepare for a full convention is to start with a day trip; try out a day ticket for an event close to your home to see if cons are for you.
• Pick 2-3 must-do activities: Lines, scheduling issues and cancellations can make it tough to see and do everything; pick a few must-do activities to streamline your plans.
• Arrive prepared and early: Find a map of the venue and con layout online and study it before you arrive; arrive around 1-2 hours before doors open to avoid hectic rushes.
• Dress comfortably: Wear shoes you trust, comfy clothes and a light and supportive day bag to help prevent aches and pains from hindering your convention experience.
• Bring water and snacks: Keeping your energy and hydration levels up will help you enjoy your first con experience; bring your own water and snacks to avoid long lines.
• Be ok with skipping things: It’s almost impossible to see and do everything at your average con; don’t be afraid to skip activities if plans start to change during the event.
• Save important details offline: Save key items like tickets, schedules, itineraries and maps offline in your phone or as print-out to avoid issues with poor on-site Wi-Fi.

Nerd Culture’s Complete, Compact Convention Checklist

With all the top tips and tricks for surviving any kind of fan convention covered, let’s create a concise, bookmark-able list that you can come back to before every new event. Whether you need a complete anime convention checklist, a comic con checklist or a foolproof convention survival guide, use the below checkpoints to ensure you’ve got everything you need sorted. 

Before the Event

• Event ticket and passes confirmed
• Travel and parking planned
• Event schedule reviewed
• Personal itinerary created
• Event rules and policies reviewed
• Budget planned and accounted for

Packing Essentials

• ID
• Wallet, cash and cards
• Phone
• Charger and power packs
• Refillable water bottle and snacks
• Medication
• Personal hygiene products
• Comfortable shoes and clothing
• Light and supportive day bag

Optional Extras

• Cosplay care / repair kit
• Poster tubes
• Protective sleeves
• Autograph supplies
• Gaming kit (dice, cards, rules etc.)
• Reusable bag / tote
• Camera and SD cards
• Personal media player / gaming handheld

Convention Survival Guide

• Wear comfortable shoes
• Arrive early and prepared
• Regularly hydrate
• Eat proper food
• Take frequent breaks
• Set a merch limit
• Respect convention etiquette

Wrapping Up Your Convention Checklist

Convention checklist: complete! If there’s one thing you take away from this guide, it should be that preparation makes any convention more enjoyable. By being smart about what you bring, prioritizing comfort, budgeting ahead of time and knowing what to expect, you can free yourself to truly enjoy the convention experience with as little stress and anxiety as possible.

Remember, while different types of cons have unique requirements, the same basic advice applies to all events; book your tickets and passes in advance, pack intentionally and lightly, dress comfy and respect convention etiquette, tick these boxes and you’ll have a great time.

As a final tip, bookmark, save, or print this guide to make preparing for your next convention as smooth as possible. If you’re on the fence of going to your first con or need a crew/friend to go with, consider checking out Nerd Culture; we’ll connect you to the people who get you. And if your next con is soon, we hope you have an amazing experience!