General pop cultureAutographs: YesPhoto ops: Yes
FAN EXPO Chicago
Rosemont, IL · Midwest
- Operator
- FAN EXPO HQ (Informa) — formerly Wizard World Chicago / Chicago Comicon
- Venue
- Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
- Typical timing
- August — most recent Aug 14, 2026; next Aug 20, 2027
- Scale / guests
- Not listed
- Mail-in signing
- Not listed
- Booking or vendor contact
- Epic Photo Ops account portal epo.io for autograph/photo-op service
Autograph notes
Yes — paid, pre-sold: autograph tickets sold through Epic Photo Ops, "FAN EXPO's official Photo Op & Autograph provider"; each ticket = 1 signature; remaining autographs sold at the guest's table in cash; selfies not included. Photo ops include one 8x10 print, up to four extra people, and autograph and photo-op fees are separate
Notes
Founded 1972 as Nostalgia '72, acquired by Wizard Entertainment in 1997, sold to Informa's Fan Expo unit in Aug 2021 and rebranded in 2022 — the Wizard World Chicago successor event. 2026 guests included Mel Gibson, Kurt Russell, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan. Premium formats such as $749.99 on-stage packages with a loaded autograph are offered