The legendary Ayr Comic Con is officially making its grand return to the coast this summer for an absolute belter of a pop-culture festival!
As you can imagine, thousands of geeks, gamers, and families are getting ready to flock to South Ayrshire on Saturday 11th July 2026 for our most highly anticipated town centre takeover yet. This year, we have changed up our plans to streamline the entire festival—meaning we are packing all the market stalls, gaming setups, and costumed characters completely under one historic roof. On top of that, general admission to the event is completely free for everyone! To help you navigate the big day, we have put together the ultimate guide to making the absolute most of your time inside the venue and around the town. Here is how to create an unforgettable summer day out at Ayr Comic Con.
Find the Next Ayr Comic Con Event
Our coastal takeovers bring the community together for unforgettable weekends throughout the year.
Looking for upcoming dates, times, and event announcements? To see when we are next heading to the coast, check out our official event schedule.
Step Inside the Main Ayr Comic Con Hub
To start things off, you will want to make your way straight to Ayr Town Hall on New Bridge Street to dive into the main event. By bringing everything into this single flagship location, you can explore multiple floors of geeky goodness without worrying about the unpredictable Scottish summer weather.
Once you cross the threshold, your very first stop has to be the main auditorium to check out the Ultimate Geek Market. We have hand-picked an incredible mix of specialist vendors from all over Scotland. You will find long-boxes packed with rare comic book back-issues, tables loaded with collectible Funko Pops, anime figures, and custom indie art pieces you simply cannot buy on the traditional high street.
Unleash Your Inner Gamer
When you are ready to move on, follow the buzz of retro synths and clicking buttons to track down our dedicated Free-to-Play Arcade & Gaming Zone.
To give you an idea of what to expect, this area requires absolutely no coins, tokens, or entry tickets. You can just walk right up and enjoy unlimited play on a massive selection of classic retro arcade cabinets and modern consoles running all day long. It is the perfect spot for parents to show off their old-school Pac-Man skills or for friends to settle scores on Mario Kart.
Hunt for Pokémon Cards and Meet Your Heroes
What’s more, the ultimate family day out at Ayr Comic Con keeps getting better as you explore the upper levels and side halls.
The Card Den Specialists: Trading card game fans need to keep their eyes peeled for our specialist card tables. They bring the absolute rarest card binders and fresh booster packs for Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Magic: The Gathering, making it the perfect place to upgrade your deck accessories.
Character Meet & Greets: Make sure your phone batteries are fully charged! We have an awesome lineup of iconic superheroes, sci-fi icons, and beloved kids’ characters roaming the corridors all afternoon. These photo ops are entirely free and provide the perfect memory for the little superheroes in your squad.
Refuel and Explore the High Street
At the end of the day, after a massive afternoon of walking the avenues and exploring the event stalls, it is time to relax and show off your loot.
Because Ayr Town Hall sits right in the beating heart of the town centre, stepping outside means you are just seconds away from fantastic local spots. You can grab a quick slice of pizza, sit down for a family meal at a local cafe, or head over to a traditional Ayrshire pub to review your haul. If the weather plays nice, take a short dander down toward the beachfront or the river—the beautiful seaside backdrops are absolute perfection for snapping a scenic photo in full cosplay!
All in all, are you ready for an unforgettable summer weekend on the coast? Gather your squad, support the independent traders, and we will see you at the historic Ayr Town Hall for the return of Ayr Comic Con!
Apply to Trade at Our Next Show
Are you a local maker, artist, or geeky trader? Our Ayr events are the perfect place to showcase your stock to thousands of passionate fans across three busy venues. Because spaces fill up fast for every single tour stop, we highly recommend applying early.
