Oz Comic-Con Brisbane Locks In September 19 and 20 at BCEC
Pop culture takes over South Brisbane again this month, with Oz Comic-Con confirmed for the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on September 19 and 20. Doors open at 9.30am both days and run through to 4.30pm, giving fans two full days to work through panels, autograph lines, cosplay parades and a show floor packed with stalls. This marks the convention’s seventh year in Brisbane, and organisers have leaned into the anniversary with one of the bigger guest lists the city has seen in a while.
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What’s Confirmed So Far
The headline name is Miranda Otto, known for her role in The Lord of the Rings and more recently in Chernobyl. She’ll appear across both days for photo sessions, autographs and at least one live panel. Joining her is a run of voice acting talent, including Brandon Rogers, Lizzie Freeman, Adam McArthur and Griffin Burns, all of whom are also doing the Sydney leg of the tour the following weekend. Anyone who follows the con circuit will recognise a few of the returning names too, among them David Hewlett and Todd Haberkorn, both regulars at Oz Comic-Con over the years.
Guest lists at these events shift right up until the weekend itself, so it’s worth checking the official guest page before you lock in your Saturday or Sunday. A cancelled flight or a scheduling clash can pull someone off the roster with little notice, and the last thing you want is to plan your whole day around someone who’s no longer there.
Photo and Autograph Tokens
If you want a photo with any of the headline guests, you’ll need to buy a token separately from your entry ticket. These sell in limited batches and tend to go fast for the bigger names, so buying online ahead of time beats trying your luck at the door. Meet and greet packages, which usually bundle a photo with an autograph and a short chat, are also worth grabbing early if there’s someone specific on your list.
The Cosplay Competitions Are the Real Drawcard for Many
Ask anyone who’s been to a few of these and they’ll tell you the Main Stage cosplay events are where the energy peaks. The Queensland Championship of Cosplay runs across the weekend, and this year’s winner walks away with $1,500 cash, on top of the usual bragging rights. There’s also a standalone Cosplay Competition and colourful parades that loop through the show floor, giving people who didn’t enter a chance to see the costumes up close without fighting for a stage-side seat.
For newer cosplayers or people thinking about entering next year, the Community and Workshop Stage runs sessions on costume building, prop making and photography throughout the weekend. It’s a lower pressure environment than the main competition floor and a good spot to pick up tips from people who’ve been doing this for years.
Where the Two Stages Differ
The Main Stage handles the big-ticket items: guest Q&As, the cosplay championship and the parades. The Community and Workshop Stage is smaller and more hands-on, built around panels and demonstrations rather than performance. If you’re short on time and can only catch one, go by what you actually want out of the day. Star power and competition drama belong on the Main Stage. Skills and how-to content belong at the workshop end.
Gaming, Trading Cards and the Show Floor
Beyond the guests and cosplay, the show floor covers a lot of ground. There’s a dedicated tabletop gaming area, a Magic: The Gathering zone, console and PC gaming setups, and a retro gaming corner for anyone chasing a bit of nostalgia. The Trading Post and The District sections handle merch and collectibles, while Artist Alley gives independent illustrators, comic creators and makers a space to sell directly to fans. If you’re after something specific, an artist print or a rare card, it pays to swing past early on the Saturday before the good stock disappears.
There’s also a Comics Lounge for anyone who wants a quieter spot to sit and read, which is a nice touch given how loud and busy the main halls get by early afternoon.
Getting Tickets and Getting There
General admission and specialty ticket options are available through the official Oz Comic-Con site, and tickets are also sold at the door unless a session sells out beforehand. Given how popular the Saturday tends to be, buying online in advance is the safer bet if you don’t want to risk missing out.
BCEC sits right on the Brisbane River at South Brisbane, an easy walk from South Bank and well served by train and bus. If you’re driving, expect the closer car parks to fill up fast on both mornings, so budget extra time or look at parking a bit further out and walking in.
What to Expect If It’s Your First Time
First-timers often underestimate how big the venue gets by mid-morning. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a portable charger, and if you’re chasing a specific guest’s autograph line, get there close to doors opening rather than waiting until after lunch. The event runs the same hours both days, 9.30am to 4.30pm, so there’s no early or late session to work around, just two full days to plan across.
Whether you’re coming for Miranda Otto’s panel, the cosplay championship, or just to spend a day surrounded by people who love the same shows and games you do, Oz Comic-Con Brisbane’s seventh outing looks set to be one of the fuller lineups the city has hosted.
