LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas Comic Con brought celebrities, comic book enthusiasts, cosplayers, gamers, and fans together in Little Rock over the weekend for three days of pop-culture entertainment. There were also celebrity appearances, panels, Q&As, and fan experiences.
The annual convention was held September 18–20 at the Statehouse Convention Center, located at 101 E. Markham St. Little Rock, AR 72201. This gave attendees an opportunity to meet performers and creators, participate in panels, attend celebrity Q&As, and shop with vendors and artists. Additionally, fans could celebrate their favorite movies, television shows, comics, wrestling, anime, and other areas of popular culture.
Presence News’ William Barber was on-site Saturday, September 19, documenting the convention and its attendees through photographs and firsthand observations.
Among the highlights of the day was the opportunity to meet several of the convention’s celebrity guests. These included Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, actress Adrienne Barbeau, and professional wrestler Dustin Rhodes. He is widely known to wrestling fans for his longtime Goldust character.
Meeting the Stars of Arkansas Comic Con
For attendees, one of the biggest attractions of Arkansas Comic Con was the opportunity to meet recognizable names from entertainment and popular culture.
Dee Snider, best known as the frontman of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister, was among the featured guests at this year’s convention. His appearance gave fans an opportunity to meet the musician and take photographs with him.
Actress Adrienne Barbeau was also part of the celebrity lineup. Barbeau is known for roles including Escape from New York and Swamp Thing, among other television and film appearances.
Professional wrestler Dustin Rhodes was another featured guest. Rhodes has had a long career in professional wrestling and became particularly recognizable to fans through his Goldust persona.
Meeting these guests provided one of the memorable aspects of the convention experience. Fans were able to interact with entertainers whose work has influenced multiple generations of pop-culture audiences.
Q&As Give Fans a Chance to Connect With Celebrities
Celebrity Q&As were another major part of the weekend.
During Saturday’s convention, attendees gathered at the Main Stage to hear guests answer questions. They also discussed their careers and experiences in entertainment.
The official Arkansas Comic Con information states that celebrity Q&As and panels were included with paid admission. The convention also featured fan panels covering various interests within the broader pop-culture community.
The Q&A format gave fans an opportunity to hear directly from performers. At the same time, it allowed members of the audience to participate by asking questions.
For many convention attendees, these discussions can provide a different experience. This is a contrast to simply meeting a celebrity at a table or taking a photograph.
Cosplay Takes Center Stage
Cosplay was another prominent part of the Arkansas Comic Con experience.
Throughout Saturday, attendees could be seen wearing costumes inspired by characters from movies, television programs, comics, video games, anime, and other forms of entertainment.
The convention also held a costume contest Saturday afternoon, with categories for children, masquerade, and craftsmanship. According to the event’s official information, the craftsmanship category required costumes to be at least 60 percent handmade.
The variety of costumes helped create an atmosphere in which fans could not only celebrate their favorite characters but also express their own creativity.
For photographers covering a convention, cosplay also provides an opportunity to document the community and the effort attendees put into their costumes.
More Than Celebrity Appearances
Although celebrity guests were a major attraction, Arkansas Comic Con offered considerably more than autograph and photo opportunities.
The convention featured artists and vendors, video gaming, tabletop gaming, fan groups, performances, panels, and other activities throughout the weekend. The official event information also highlighted photo opportunities, workshops and gaming tournaments among the available programming.
Artists and exhibitors filled portions of the convention space. This gave attendees opportunities to browse comics, artwork, collectibles, memorabilia and other merchandise.
Fan groups also contributed to the atmosphere, providing displays and activities connected to different fandoms.
A Weekend Built Around Fandom
Arkansas Comic Con’s three-day schedule gave fans multiple opportunities to participate in the convention.
The event opened Friday afternoon and continued through Sunday at the Statehouse Convention Center. Saturday, when Presence News attended, ran from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Meanwhile, Sunday’s final day ran from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For attendees, the weekend provided a chance to step into a shared space. Here, different parts of popular culture could come together under one roof.
From celebrity appearances and Main Stage programming to fan panels and cosplay, the convention offered something for a wide range of interests.
Presence News at Arkansas Comic Con
For Presence News, attending Arkansas Comic Con provided an opportunity to document the event firsthand. The team captured the experience through original photography.
Meeting guests such as Dee Snider, Adrienne Barbeau and Dustin Rhodes added a personal dimension to the coverage. In addition, attending the Main Stage Q&As, fan panels and walking through the convention floor provided a broader look at the event itself.
Arkansas Comic Con concluded Sunday, September 20, following three days of programming at the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock.
For fans who attended, the weekend offered opportunities to meet familiar faces, discover new creators, celebrate favorite characters, and connect with fellow members of the pop-culture community.
Sources:
Arkansas Comic Con — Official Event Guide
Adrienne Barbeau’s official Arkansas Comic Con guest page
Arkansas Comic Con — Official FAQ
Editor’s Disclaimer: This article is based on Presence News’ on-site reporting at Arkansas Comic Con on September 19, 2026, including firsthand observations and original photography. Event details, schedules, guest information and programming were supplemented with information provided by Arkansas Comic Con’s official event materials. The views and experiences described in this article reflect the reporting and observations of the author and are not intended to represent the views of Arkansas Comic Con or its guests.
