Mark your calendars, Bay Area geeks: FandomCon Silicon Valley is returning to San Jose from April 10-12, 2026, and if past years are any indication, it's going to be a packed weekend of cosplay, panels, and vendors extracting money from your wallet with alarming efficiency.

Say what you will about fan conventions — and plenty of people do — but they're one of the purest examples of voluntary commerce in action. No government subsidies needed, no tax increment financing deals, no "public-private partnerships" that mysteriously benefit only the private side. Just thousands of people showing up because they want to, spending money because they choose to, and generating economic activity for San Jose's hotels, restaurants, and rideshare drivers in the process.

Conventions like FandomCon are a reminder that when you give people something they actually want, you don't need a city bureaucrat to write a strategic plan about it. The fandom economy — conventions, merch, artist alleys, independent creators — has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry nationally, and Silicon Valley is a natural home for it. Tech workers with disposable income and a deep love for IP? That's the target demo, and they show up.

For those unfamiliar, FandomCon typically features celebrity guests, fan panels, gaming tournaments, and enough merch booths to drain a savings account. It's a three-day celebration of the stuff people actually care about, which is refreshing in a region where we're usually asked to celebrate a new protected bike lane or a transit project that's only four years behind schedule.

If you're in the South Bay or willing to make the trek from SF, it's worth checking out — even if you're not the cosplay type. Supporting events that thrive without taxpayer handouts is something we can all get behind.

More details should surface as the event gets closer. We'll keep you posted.