Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Photo Courtesy of Mirvish Productions
FAN EXPO Canada is back in full force this year with incredible programming, exciting panels, and special celebrity guests. Whether a fan of fantasy, horror, sci-fi, comics, gaming, anime, YouTube, or all of the above, FAN EXPO Canada has something for everyone over four full days at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from August 25-28, 2022.
New this year, FAN EXPO Canada has partnered with Buffer Festival, the world’s largest digital-first film festival to bring fans an even bigger experience. Taking place August 26-28 in the North Building, FAN EXPO Canada x Buffer Festival will feature video premieres, screenings, red carpets, meetups, and a star-studded award gala. Creators expected to attend include Cyanide and Happiness (cyanideandhappiness), Elle Mills (elleofthemills), Malinda Reese (missmalindakat), Marie Stella (laframbuesaa), Rebecca Parham (rebeccaparham), Thomas Ridgewell (tomska), and many more. Fans can discover the new Buffer Festival Creator Zone which will include workshops, demos, creator meet and greets, and a variety of creator merchandise for sale. For more details, visit bufferfestival.com.
Additional new programming added to this year’s convention include Tattoo Alley, where fans can watch master artists at work or get themselves inked up right on the show floor; FAN EXPO Canada has partnered with Wattpad, Dundurn Press, and local writers’ group WCYR (The Writers' Community of York Region) to bring booklovers Author Alley - bringing the best homegrown literary heroes to the show floor; the brand-new Horror Stage will bring genre fans four days of specially curated horror-related demos, interactive shows, and exciting guests; additionally this year has a dedicated Podcast Theatre withlive podcast recordings where fans can gather and sit in on a live recording of their favourite podcasts including Jay and Silent Bob Get Old, The Friendship Onion, Dwarven Moss, and more.
There is no shortage of cosplay attractions at this year’s show including the return of the hugely popular competition, The Masters of Cosplay Grand Prix. The Masters of Cosplay Grand Prix holds the Maple Leaf Qualifier to name a Canadian winner, immediately followed by the Grand Finale where the eight city champions from across North America, including the just-named Canadian winner, will compete to be named the 2022 Master of Cosplay.
Bringing the entire family? The FAN EXPO Family Zone offers attendees a world of discovery and adventure. This year, fans of all ages can experience the magic of a Harry Potter “Sorting Hat” ceremony, a Jurassic Park-themed activity area featuring a dino dig and Jurassic Crafts, play TheFloor is Lava game, or draw on life-sized comic books. In addition, guests can enjoy wizardly games, medieval battles, hands-on experiences, costumed characters, photo ops, games, crafts, and more. Young fans and fans who are young at heart can cap off summer by having a blast with nonstop programming that the whole family can experience.
And of course the roster of celebrity appearances and events keep rolling in! Here's what we know so far about who will be there...
The Kids in the Hall: Iconic Canadian comedian group consisting of Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson invite fans to join in an exclusive night of songs, sketches, and hilarious true stories. Dave, Bruce, Kevin, Mark and Scott revisit their comical legacy and some of their beloved characters with new perspectives. For tickets fanexpohq.com/fanexpocanada/kids-in-the-hall
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Cast members from the Canadian Premiere production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will take part in a panel - - Journey to the Stage with the Canadian Cast. Learn about the journey to bring the eighth story in the Harry Potter canon to life on stage in Toronto. The panel will take place Friday August 26th at 1:00 pm and will be moderated by Richard Crouse, author, and film critic for CP24 and Newstalk 1010. Autograph and selfie opportunities will be available following the panel.
Stranger Things: Stars Finn Wolfhard, Jamie Campbell Bower, and Grace Van Dien are announced to attend the 2022 convention and will be on hand for autographs, photo ops, and Q&As. On Friday, Grace Van Dien’s solo panel takes place, followed Saturday by Jamie Campbell Bower’s solo panel, and rounding out on Sunday with a panel with Joseph Quinn, Finn Wolfhard, and a surprise guest.
An Unexpected Reunion of the Four Hobbits: On Saturday, August 27, prepare for an unforgettable evening! Join Pippin Took (Billy Boyd), Merry Brandybuck (Dominic Monaghan), Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin), and Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) as they reunite onstage. Journey from the Shire, to the Mines of Moria, to the depths of Modor. Lord of the Rings fans can rejoice, as we bring together the lovable Hobbits for this special event, the Four Hobbits: An Unexpected Reunion. Limited tickets are still available: fanexpohq.com/fanexpocanada/the-four-hobbits
Jay and Silent Bob Get Old: join your fave stars from Clerks as Kevin Smith (Silent Bob) and Jason Mewes (Jay) sign autographs, take pictures (as themselves and in character), answer fan questions, and maybe make a quick stop at Quick Stop. For tickets: fanexpohq.com/fanexpocanada/jay-and-silent-bob-show
The Friendship Onion Podcast Live - Sunday, August 28: Lord of the Rings stars Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd are doing a live taping of their podcast, The Friendship Onion. Fans can watch as they bring all the amazing elements of their show to life for the audience including tongue twisters, riddles, and much more. Tickets start at $35. Fans who upgrade to VIP receive priority seating and have the chance to take a special, one-of-a-kind photo with Dominic and Billy at The Friendship Onion podcast table after the show. Upgrades are limited, so act now! purchase.growtix.com/eh/FAN_EXPO_Canada_2022
A few of celebrities confirmed and making an appearance...
Levar Burton (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
Katee Sackhoff (The Mandalorian, Battlestar Galactica)
Sons of Anarchy stars Charlie Hunnam, Ryan Hurst, Emilio Rivera, and Theo Rossi
William Shatner (Star Trek)
Matthew Lewis (the Harry Potter film series, All Creatures Great and Small)
and soooo many more!
For a complete and updated list of guests, info and tickets, visit fanexpocanada.com