New York Comic Con: A Beginner’s Guide

Want to attend a big convention but overwhelmed by the process behind San Diego Comic-Con? On the east coast and can’t afford to fly to California? Or are you just honestly interested in attending New York Comic Con but aren’t sure how to go about it? This post is for you!

I live in New York City and have been attending New York Comic Con since 2010, so I put together this basic guide for anyone who’s interested in attending and doesn’t quite know where to start. Keep in mind, a lot of the information in this post will be specific to the current year, or not even be relevant anymore. ReedPop (the company behind NYCC) is constantly changing its process, and I’m basing a lot of these tips off of previous years. I’ll update this post for 2024 as things get announced.

What Is NYCC?

New York Comic Con (NYCC) is a four-day comic and pop culture convention held annually in the Javits Convention Center in New York City. It’s not quite got the scale or spectacle of its west coast cousin, but it is considered the second biggest convention in the United States.

When Is NYCC?

Since 2010, New York Comic Con has been held the first weekend in October. This year (2024), it is Thursday, October 17 through Sunday, October 20. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are full days, with the convention floor open from 10am-7pm (Artist Alley is open until 8pm) and programming running from around 10:30-11am to 10pm. Sunday is a shorter day, with everything ending at 5pm.

Who Goes to NYCC?

Unlike SDCC, where you can almost completely count on a show or a film having a panel, NYCC can often be hit or miss with its guests. As a frequent attendee, I have fun every year and can always find something to enjoy, but a lot of people hold out for specific guests and can be disappointed when those guests don’t appear. While special guests will start being announced in spring, the schedule doesn’t get released until September – well after tickets go on sale – with the full schedule not being available until probably the week before the con. Basically, if you want to go, buy your tickets when they go on sale. If you wait to see who is attending, you may miss out on tickets. Don’t expect anyone or anything specific to be there, and just plan to have a good time regardless.

Movie studios tend to skip NYCC, so I wouldn’t expect any huge film news to come out of it. There are some exceptions, though. There was a panel for Pacific Rim: Uprising in 2017. There were quite a few film panels in 2018 – How to Train Your Dragon, The Mortal Engines, and Hellboy are a few movies that set up shop in Madison Square Garden. 2021 had a Ghostbusters: Afterlife panel with the full cast that ended with a surprise screening of the film.

NYCC’s guests tend to come more from TV, books, and comics. Marvel is a perennial presence, primarily with comics-focused panels. Prime Video likes to show up, along with Starz and Hulu. More network studios attend SDCC because most shows aren’t filming yet, whereas a lot of stuff is in production in October, so a lot of the TV panels at New York Comic Con tend to be mid-season or streaming shows.

Keep in mind when checking the site, NYCC usually only puts guests on the website if they are doing an autograph or photo op session. These guests are attending usually on their own behalf and not because of work obligations. The guests listed on the website will NOT be the only guests who you’ll be able to see at the convention. If an actor is coming as part of a panel for their show, they aren’t usually mentioned except in the panel description. NYCC is a content-based convention, not a guest-based convention, so often the guest list will look “weak” because many of the major players are appearing on behalf of the studio to promote their current or upcoming project and not doing anything extra.

How Do I Get Tickets?

First of all, I’d recommend signing up for the NYCC newsletter. That way you’ll get emails from them about important things like badge sales, guest announcements, and so on. You will also need to sign up for Fan Verification once that opens up, more on that later. I’d also suggest following NYCC on their various social media platforms, particularly Twitter. (Yes, I know. Still the best source.)

A few days before the badge sale, if you signed up for the newsletter and Fan Verification, you will be emailed a link to a virtual waiting room. This is a unique link that will expire after you buy the maximum number of badges, so don’t share it with anyone! On the date and time of the sale, click the link and join the queue. In last year’s presale, attendees were instructed to click the link exactly on time, and if they had gotten there early, to refresh when the sale went live. The sale usually goes live at 10am Eastern.

You can only buy badges through the link emailed to you by ReedPop, regardless of when you are buying. If you did not receive an email with a link, you will need to contact customer service.

NYCC badges are first come, first served. The badges will be held in your cart for a specified amount of time while you fill out the necessary information and assign the badges. Each person can only be assigned 1 badge per type.

2022 saw the return of 4-day tickets and VIP tickets. VIP tickets include perks such as a reserved seat in the Empire and Main Stage panel rooms, first access to the show floor, and a private lounge, among others. (Full benefits can be found here.)

This year there will be four separate sales – three presales (one for last year’s VIPs, one for Popverse Superfans, and one for people who were previously Fan Verified) and one general sale. More information on Popverse Superfans here. Purchasing a membership before the presale should grant you access. However, only people who were Fan Verified in 2023 are eligible for that presale. If you need a Fan Verification account, that will open at some point before the general sale. 

When Do Badges Go on Sale?

Important Dates for NYCC 2024

• Wed, May 29, 12PM: VIP Presale. This is for anyone who attended with a VIP badge in 2023.
• Wed, June 5 @ 12PM: Popverse Superfan Presale. This is for anyone who has purchased a ReedPop Superfan membership.
• Sun, June 9 @ 10AM: Fan Verification Presale. For anyone who was Fan Verified in 2023. Note, you did not need to actually attend NYCC 2023, you only needed to have an active Fan Verified account.
• Mon, June 10: Fan Verification Opens. If it is your first time attending, you can now create your profile in order to participate in the general sale. Also, if you bought tickets for someone who is attending for the first time, now is when they can create their profile and accept their tickets.
• Wed, June 19 @ 11:59PM: Fan Verification Closes. If you want to participate in the general sale for tickets, you must have your profile created by the deadline. If there are still tickets available after the general sale, they will reopen Fan Verification at some point.
• Wed, June 26 @ 12PM: NYCC Onsale. Open to everyone provided they created a Fan Verification profile before the deadline.

If you miss the window for Fan Verification before the sale date, it will reopen after the sale, usually within 24-48 hours.

For more information about Fan Verification, please visit the NYCC FAQ page or click here. All times listed are given in Eastern Time.

How Much Do Badges Cost?

NYCC Badge prices for 2024 (price does not include fees or shipping):

• VIP: $575
• 4-Day: $240
• Single Day (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday): $75
• Sunday Kids: $30
• NYCC at Home (virtual ticket): $5.99/month

More information about badges can be found here.

As of 2018, you can manage your badges (and anything loaded onto your badges – autographs, etc.) through your Fan Verification (Showclix) account.

Starting in 2021, NYCC is offering a lower-priced ticket to access digital content, which includes live video panels for major panel rooms, audio streams for smaller rooms, exclusive digital panels, and access to the recordings for 30 days after the con.

There is no official resale platform for 2024. Buying from third-party vendors carries risks. If possible, it’s best to buy direct, be it through Facebook groups or on the NYCC subreddit.

Do Tickets Sell Out?

It is difficult to determine how quickly badges will sell out (if at all) in any given year. VIP and 4-Day badges, being limited, are guaranteed to sell out, and may not even be available by the time the general sale comes around. As for regular days, they almost always sell out in this order: Saturday, Friday, Sunday, Thursday. In fact, Thursday almost never sells out entirely.

It is recommended to make time on the day of the sale, because you cannot count on tickets being available after.

As of 10/2/24, VIP, 4-Day, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Sunday Kids are sold out. Thursday is still available.

What Is Included with My Badge?

A New York Comic Con badge grants you entrance to the Javits Convention Center for the day specified on your badge. Unless otherwise specified (some events require separate tickets – this will be clearly stated on the schedule), anything inside the Javits Center is accessible with your badge. NYCC doesn’t really have a lot of offsites like SDCC does, so that’s not something you have to worry about. As a regular attendee, you are also eligible for the Pre-Show Reservations.

VIP badges have additional perks, which can be found here.

What Are Pre-Show Reservations?

Good question! Whereas in previous years, certain things (exclusives, autographic signings, seats in panels) were distributed via random lottery, as of 2021, some exclusives, private autograph signings, and seats in panels on both Main Stage and Empire Stage will be done in advance of the con via Reservations, which is “first-come, first-served”.

Reservations work similarly to the badge sale, in which you are randomly sorted into a queue and given access to the form in groups. As with badges, you will be emailed a link prior to the sale.

Attendees can reserve one (1) seat in a select number of panels between the Main Stage and Empire Stage, one (1) private autographing session per day attending, as well as one (1) Funko shopping opportunity. You can only reserve a spot for yourself and must use the email address tied to your badges. You must also activate your badge prior to the event (or, if you are picking up your badges at Will Call, immediately after receiving them). You do not need your physical badge, or to have activated your badge, to make a reservation. You do, however, need to have a badge associated with your Showclix account.

Unlike with the lotteries, which left 50% of seats available for people to grab on the day of the con, 100% of seats in Main Stage and Empire Stage will be done through reservations. There will be a stand-by line, but seating is not guaranteed that way. Main Stage seats about 2000 people, and Empire Stage seats about 3000. For 2024, you can reserve up to four (4) for Thursday, five (5) for Friday and Saturday, and three (3) for Sunday.

Also worth noting that you cannot make reservations for conflicting events, so if there are two things in different rooms that you want to see and they overlap at all (even if one starts at the same time another one ends), you will have to choose one or the other for the reservation.

Learn more about Reservations here.

Important Dates for NYCC 2024 Reservations

• Tues, September 17 @ 12PM: VIP Funko Reservations. Only open to attendees with VIP badges, only for reservations for Funko exclusives.
• Thurs, September 19 @ 12PM: Funko Reservations. For all other attendees (if eligible), only for reservations for Funko exclusives.
• Tues, September 24 @ 12PM: VIP Private Autographing Reservations. Only open to attendees with VIP badges. VIP badge holders are guaranteed seats in all panels and do not need to sign up for panel reservations.
• Thurs, September 26 @12PM: Private Autographing & Panel Reservations. For all other attendees (if eligible).

If you are unable to get a panel reservation, there is a standby line for both Main and Empire Stages. Standby is NOT GUARANTEED, but it is statistically unlikely that everyone with a reservation will attend a particular panel, so it is possible to get in via standby.

If you were unable to get a private autographing reservation, there is unfortunately nothing you can do.

If you were unable to get a Funko reservation, they do open the booth after the last reservation time for the day, but stock will be severely depleted by then.

How Do I Get My Badge?

Badges purchased by September 22 will be mailed via USPS. If you purchased tickets for multiple people, all tickets will ship to you, and then it is up to you to distribute them. (A badge is not tied to a person until it is activated, so it doesn’t matter who gets which badge.) Badges have begun mailing. If you have not received your badge yet, do not panic. NYCC is two weeks later than usual this year, and badges ship in waves.

If you purchase a badge after September 22, you need to take your email confirmation to Will Call. They usually have Will Call open a day or two before the convention so that you don’t have to show up that morning and get your badges.

International attendees can choose to have their badges mailed or pick up at Will Call.

Will Call Hours

Tuesday, October 15: 5pm-8pm
Wednesday, October 16: 8am-7pm
Thursday, October 17: 7am-8pm
Friday, October 18: 8am-8pm
Saturday, October 19: 8am-8pm
Sunday, October 20: 7am-5pm

Where Should I Stay?

NYCC usually offers a limited number of reduced-rate hotel rooms. These are generally fairly close to the convention center. Being a resident, I’ve never done this, but it’s nowhere on the scale of SDCC’s “Hotelpocalypse”. To book a hotel through the official convention block, click here.

However, New York City is HUGE. If you’re willing to use public transportation, you can probably find somewhere cheaper if you don’t mind staying a bit further out. (I commute from Brooklyn every morning.) With the 7 line extension, which stops across the street from the Javits, it’s pretty easy to get to and from the convention every day. The nearby PATH station and Penn Station make it easy to commute in from New Jersey, as well.

Keep in mind that in New York City, short-term AirBnB rentals are not legal unless the tenant is present. Please don’t contribute to our housing crisis! There are tons of decently-priced hotel rooms if you’re willing to travel, and we have several hostels if you just need some place to crash.

So…Now What?

You’ve got your ticket, you’ve got your hotel and travel booked, now it’s time to focus on the convention itself. For information about stuff like the prop weapons policy, selfie sticks, and things of that nature, check out the NYCC Fan FAQ.

ADA Info

I’m not very familiar with the ADA requirements and availability but I can give a brief overview. This is only going to be about the Javits Center – I have not attended panels at any of the offsites and do not know their capabilities. I would recommend contacting ReedPop for more information, or contacting the venues directly.

ADA wristbands can be picked up on site only (no application necessary) at any of the ADA Accessibility Centers for the attendee and one (1) companion. There is an ADA line and seating area in all Javits panels on a first come, first served basis. Seating is not guaranteed, so they recommend arriving at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the panel. Photographs and non-lottery autographs also have an ADA line.

The Javits is fully accessible with ramps, automatic doors at street level, restrooms and elevators available for people with impaired mobility. Payphones are accessible and equipped with volume and TTY capability for the hearing impaired. There is no on-site parking at the Javits, and this year NYCC is not running any shuttles, but all city buses are wheelchair-accessible, as are many official NYC taxis. This will also be helpful if you want to go to any of the offsites, which can be several blocks away.

Motorized wheelchairs are available to rent – manual wheelchairs are available at no fee – but must be reserved in advance. Call 212-216-2196 for more information.

Interpreters for the hard of hearing can be provided but must be arranged in advance. They cannot be accommodated on site. Contact ReedPop at adanycc@ReedPOP.com at least three (3) weeks in advance of the con. Contact the same email for all closed captioning, Braille/large font print, guided tours, or other forms of effective communication requests.

Guide dogs and other service animals are allowed provided they are leashed or harnessed (unless doing so restricts their duties, in which case you must be able to maintain control). No venomous, poisonous, predatory, or overly large animals are allowed. No emotional support, therapy, or companion animals.

For more information on the Medical Assistance program at NYCC, click here.

Activate Your Badge

When you receive your badge, either in the mail or at Will Call, you need to activate it! So much stuff at NYCC relies on “tapping” your badge (having the RFID in your badge scanned), and if it isn’t activated, it won’t work. So save yourself some hassle and activate in advance.

Activating your badge is easy. If you receive your badge in the mail, there will be instructions included, giving the website to visit. You log in with your Showclix account and go to “Manage Your New York Comic Con 2024 Profile”. Then you activate your badge(s) using the 8-digit code on the back.

If you have properly activated your badge, it will replace the “activate badge” button with a picture of the badge.

Make a Schedule

Once the schedule starts getting released, make your own! I make a spreadsheet, but once the updated app for 2024 is released, you can make a schedule on that. Odds are that you will not get to do everything you want, so I suggest focusing on one thing each day and concentrate on getting to do that. Then everything else you get to do is just extra.

Keep in mind that not everything that happens at the convention will be on the NYCC website! If you’re not already, follow your favorite vendors, stars, authors, artists, etc., on Twitter and keep an eye on announcements. I’d also recommend making frequent visits to forums like Friends of Comic Con or the NYCC subreddit for news. Individual booths have their own schedules for giveaways and signings, some of which require nabbing a wristband or ticket first thing in the morning. Several studios usually have activations in the Crystal Palace (the Javits lobby). Doing any of these require waiting in line, so keep that in mind when making your schedule!

Speaking of lines, aside from the Main Stage and Empire Stage, which are cleared after every panel, panels are first come, first served and DO NOT clear. If there is a panel you really want to see, and you want a good seat, I’d recommend aiming for the panel right before it, and then trying to move up when people leave at the end.

Have a backup plan! And make sure your backup plan has a backup plan. I usually have three separate schedules, with Plan A being the stuff I really want to do, and Plans B and C being stuff I’m interested in that I wouldn’t mind doing if I can’t do whatever is on Plan A.

NYCC 2024 Hours

Show Floor/Artist Alley:

Thursday: 10am-7pm*
Friday: 10am-7pm*
Saturday: 10am-7pm*
Sunday: 10am-5pm

*Artist Alley closes at 8pm

Despite earlier indications that the show floor would be open later this year, it looks like it will still be closing at 7pm Thursday-Saturday, as usual.

Panels:

Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday: 11am-10pm
Saturday: 11am-10pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm

Panel times are approximate. The convention center does stay open a bit past the last panel, especially on Sunday, to allow people time to leave.

The schedule for 2024 is here. Yes, it sucks trying to sort/filter into anything resembling a viable view. The way I go through it is individually by location. The app is much better for this!

Buy Autographs and Photo Ops in Advance

Some special guests have autographing and photo sessions that can be purchased. These are available on the NYCC website and can be bought either at the con or in advance. I recommend buying anything you want in advance, as they may not be available day-of. Keep in mind, not all of the guests attending NYCC will have these sessions.

You can buy autographs and photo ops here.

If you bought a photo op in advance, you will get an email closer to the convention with your scheduled time. For autographs, check the schedule. Some guests will have multiple autograph sessions, and some will only have one. 

If a guest is listed as doing autographing but is not listed on the Epic website, this means that they are only accepting payment at the table, so you will purchase the autograph on site.

Remember, the focus of New York Comic Con is not only autographs and photo ops; it’s the panels, the show floor, and Artist Alley as well. That isn’t to say there won’t be good guests, but year-to-year, people tend to focus only on the guests doing autos and get disappointed that there aren’t bigger names. If that’s what you’re going for, you might be happier at a smaller, fan-run convention or something like Fan Expo, which tend to emphasize the guest/fan interactions more.

Look at the Maps

Closer to the convention, various maps will pop up on the New York Comic Con site. These maps are your friends! There is a show floor map, a convention center layout, and other helpful guides. If there is something specific you want to do, make sure you check out the map so you have an idea of where you’re going.

In general, when you first enter the convention center, you’re in what is called the Crystal Palace. The Crystal Palace has Registration and Will Call as well as various installations and exhibits.

The convention floor is Level 3 and has multiple entrances along the Crystal Palace.

Panels are split between the main Javits building and Javits North (the new extension that opened in 2021).

The 2024 maps are here.

Do Your Research

If you are the type who just wants to go and do things on the fly, that’s cool! But if you’re like me and you need to know where things are and what’s going on, you’ll need to do your research. Many people expect ReedPop to notify them of everything, and this is just not going to happen. The NYCC social media will keep you apprised of things like important dates and when the official schedule releases, but so much of a major convention like this is at the hands of individual booths, which have nothing to do with ReedPop.

1. Exclusives. NYCC lists some exclusives on their website, but it’s far from a comprehensive list. If you are a collector, you’ll have to track down a lot of this information on your own. Check the #NYCC tag on Twitter, visit reddit and other forums, check social media for companies who have a perennial presence at the con.
2. Autograph signings. If a guest is in the Autograph Area, their schedule will be available on the website. But so many booths have their own signing schedule that you’ll have to find. Comics publishers (like Marvel, DC, Image) and traditional publishing houses (Harper Collins, Macmillan) will post their schedules close to the con. 7 Bucks a Pop is a vendor that always hosts their own signings. Each booth will have their own policies as to whether the signing is free or with a purchase and whether or not you need a wristband/ticket (and how and when to get those).

3. 

   Swag giveaways. Some booths will let you know in advance what freebies they’ll be giving away! Book publishers usually have advance copies of upcoming releases that they’ll pass out at the booth. Some booths do scavenger hunts. SYFY used to give away free t-shirts in the past. If you see someone will really cool swag, ask where they got it – most people are more than happy to spread the love.

4. Activations and offsites. Studios are big fans of “activations” (interactive exhibits) and often times something like the Starz or Amazon booths will be devoted to a particular show. In 2022, the Prime Video booth was promoting Peripheral. Usually, they will reveal this information on social media in advance of the con. As for offsites, there traditionally haven’t been that many, but occasionally there will be something (like 2019’s DC Universe Headquarters).
5. After parties. NYCC hasn’t quite got the crazy nightlife aspect that SDCC has, but there are usually a few after parties that pop up. (Sonicboombox always has at least one.) Tickets for these can usually be found on Eventbrite, and you’ll have to check social media to hear about them. These go on sale in advance, so start checking in late August or early September. If you wait too long, they’ll be sold out. If there is an Official After Party, like 2023’s Return to Shining Vale, an email invitation will go out to anyone with a badge for the day of the party; these go fast, so you have to be quick.

This is just an example of things you’ll need to find out on your own. NYCC is one of the biggest conventions in the country, and not everything that happens at it is “con official” (i.e. run by ReedPop), so it isn’t up to ReedPop to announce it.

Download the App

ReedPop puts out an NYCC app, updated every year with the current information on panels, signings, and anything official. I have never been a fan of the app, but I know others find it very handy! 

Download the app here.

Prepare Your Bag

What kind of bag you bring depends entirely on you. I usually bring a backpack and an extra tote to carry anything I buy. I almost always just buy art at NYCC, and having a separate bag prevents the prints from getting bent. You don’t have to bring a backpack if you don’t want, but depending on how long you’re going to be at the convention, and how much you intend to buy, I’d suggest carrying one. NYCC usually has free bags available somewhere, so if you don’t want to bring an extra, you’ll still be able to grab one somewhere.

Here’s a small list of things that will be helpful to you during your time at NYCC:

• Portable phone charger or extra battery – Outlets are few and far between. There are two charging stations on the mezzanine near the stairs to the Main Stage. In past years, some booths have had charging stations set up, but there will not be many ports available, so bring spares and backups to keep your phone charged! (I also recommend turning off push notifications from the NYCC app, should you choose to download it.)
• Hoodie or light jacket – October in NYC is unpredictable, weather wise. Sometimes it’s warm and sunny, and I’m okay in jeans and a t-shirt. But some years it was chilly and rainy, and I needed a hoodie and an umbrella. Plus, while the show floor can get stuffy, the panel rooms are usually air conditioned. Best to layer!
• Refillable water bottle – It’s very important to hydrate at a convention. There are water fountains all over the place, and bottled water is expensive.
• Rubber bands (for posters) or a poster tube – If you’re planning on purchasing posters, I’d bring your own tube. (Some vendors will also sell tubes.) But a lot of booths give out posters as freebies, and if you get any of the signings in the lotteries, they’ll usually give you a poster for the cast to sign, and it can get awkward carrying them around. So bring something to roll them up!
• Plastic sleeves – Buying comics or art? You’ll want something to protect your purchases! If you forget, don’t worry. There is always a booth in Artist Alley that sells these.
• Snacks – Is there food in the Javits? Yes, there is. But it’s pricey, so I’d recommend bringing your own. (This is allowed, don’t worry!)
• Deodorant – A lot of people go to NYCC. People sweat. You wouldn’t think this would need to be specified, but it does.
• Cash – There are ATMs in the Javits, if you don’t mind paying the fees. But if you can go to a bank before the convention and grab some cash, I would. Everywhere in the Javits takes cards, and now so do most vendors and artists. But wi-fi in the convention center is spotty, so bring cash. How much depends on you, but I wouldn’t bring everything in cash, just in case.

Food

I briefly touched on this before, but it’s important, so I’ll go a little more in depth. There is a food court on the lower level of the Javits with quite a few food options. There are also a couple of places in the Crystal Palace to grab a quick bite, including two Starbucks. For the past several years, there have been “fandom” food trucks just outside the convention center. However, the food is NOT cheap – even the drinks in the vending machines are $4 – so I’d recommend bringing your own.

The Javits allows outside food, so I always bring my own with me. If you’re coming in early, search Google for grocery stores near where you’re staying and grab some essentials. (My standard con food is peanut butter sandwich, Goldfish crackers, fruit snacks, beef jerky, and protein bar.) Depending on where you’re coming from, you’ll probably pass by a deli on your way to the con in the morning, so you can duck in and pick up something there. 

There is seating available in the food court and sporadically in the Crystal Palace, but it’s not uncommon to see people sitting on the floor, on the stairs, or on the curb outside (weather permitting). Basically, sit wherever you find the space, so long as you’re not in the way.

If you need a break from the con, or if you want dinner on your way out, Hudson Yards features a variety of restaurants. Also, if you walk a couple blocks up to 10th Ave or 9th Ave, there are plenty of relatively inexpensive restaurants for you to choose from. NYC is a city of food. There are literally thousands of restaurants. You will be able to find something you like.

Getting to the Javits

There are multiple ways to get to the Javits! If you are staying in one of the “official” convention hotels, then you are probably within walking distance. The Javits is located on 11th Avenue between 34th Street and 39th Street. The main entrance is located between 37th and 38th Streets.

If you are not within walking distance, there are still multiple different ways (other than, you know, Uber, Lyft, taxi). 

1. The 7 train to Hudson Yards. The 7 is the easiest way to get to the Javits, and you can transfer to the 7 from virtually any other line in the city. Most trains you will transfer to the 7 at Times Square, but for the BDFM lines you will transfer at Bryant Park, and the 456 will transfer at Grand Central. Take the 7 train to the very end of the line – Hudson Yards station. It is almost directly across the street from the Javits. Make sure you check the MTA website for any service changes before leaving. (It is not unusual for the 7 to not run on Saturday/Sunday.)
2. ACE or 123 lines or New Jersey Transit to Penn Station. If you are coming from New Jersey, you will probably be taking NJT, which will take you to Penn Station. You can also take the A, C, or E (or 1,2,3) trains to Penn and walk from there. From Penn Station you will want to head to 34th St and walk in the opposite direction of the Empire State Building, almost all the way to the river. 
3. PATH train. If you are coming from New Jersey, you also have the option of taking the PATH train. Depending on where in New Jersey you are staying, you can take the PATH to World Trade Center and take the E to Penn Station, or you can take the PATH to 33rd St and 6th Ave and walk to Javits from there.
4. The M34 bus. The M34 bus goes down 34th Street to the Javits, if you don’t want to walk. You want to be on the north side of the street to head west to the Javits. The M34 is a select bus, which means that you must have an additional “ticket” that can be acquired by using your Metrocard at one of the machines at the bus stop.
5. The ferry. If you are staying in New Jersey, you also have the option of taking the ferry across the Hudson. There is a terminal on 39th St, just behind the Javits.

About NYC public transit: If you take any NYC public transit (bus, subway) or the PATH train, you will either need to purchase a Metrocard or, even better, if you have a card or mobile app with tap to pay, you can just pay directly at the turnstile. A Metrocard can be purchased at any subway station – from a machine or from an attendant. There is a $1 fee for new cards, and you can put any amount you want on it. A one-way trip is $2.90. In-station subway transfers are free and some places allow out of station transfers for free. (Check the map for these stations.) You can transfer from subway to bus or bus to subway one time for free; the transfer is good for up to 2 hours.

Getting in Line

NYCC is notorious with their poor line-handling. NYCC lines (outside the convention center, at least) can get chaotic and confusing.

One important thing to remember is that there are three separate entrances to the Javits. The one closest to 34th Street is for professionals, exhibitors, press, ADA, and VIPs. If you have a regular attendee badge, you are to use either the entrance on 11th Ave between 37th and 38th Streets (Green Entrance North) or the entrance on 34th Street between 11th and 12th Avenues (Green Entrance South).

If you are attending with a friend and you have different badge types (i.e. one Pro and one regular), and you want to enter together, you will both need to use one of the Green Entrances.

The convention center opens at 8am, at which point you are funneled into the building – going through security (metal detectors and bag check) and tapping your badge – and down into the Queue Hall. No matter what you are doing, you are directed to the Queue Hall. Exclusives? Queue Hall. Convention floor? Queue Hall. Panels? Queue Hall.

NOTE: If your panel is in the Javits North extension (Empire Stage, any of the 400 rooms), you do NOT need to line up in the Queue Hall and can go directly to the extension to line up at the panel room.

Once the inside show floor line is full, they stop letting people into the building and the line resumes outside. They do not start letting people inside again until after the inside line has been admitted to the show.

Inside the Queue Hall, they have separate lines depending on what you’re there for.

• The LEFT side of the Queue Hall will be for people attending a Main Stage panel.
• The RIGHT side of the Queue Hall is the “everything else” line. If you want to go to any other Javits panels, the convention floor, or Artist Alley, you line up here.

Again, if you are lining up early for panels in Javits North (Empire Stage, 400s panel rooms), you should be able to head straight there, as that building has its own entrance.

What time should you line up? Well, that depends entirely on you. You can get there early if you want to, but unlike SDCC, is it really not necessary to camp out for anything at New York Comic Con. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend it. There isn’t a lot close by that’s open all night to get food or use the restroom, it’s all pavement, and it will be October, so the weather is difficult to predict.

If you want to be among the first on the floor, to Artist Alley, or what have you, you will want to get to the Javits no later than 9:30am. This is usually when the Queue Hall gets full, and they stop letting people in the building. If you have no reason to be there early and want to avoid lines, get to the Javits after 10:30am. By this time, the outside queue will mostly have been let into the building, and you should be able to get inside with minimal fuss.

Follow NYCC Lines on Twitter for real-time updates on the status of various lines!

What’s in the Javits?

Here’s a basic overview of stuff that’s available in the Javits Center.

• Food court. Check out the “Food” section for more.
• Lost and Found. Located in the Security Office.
• Wi-fi. It’s not great, but there is free wi-fi available during NYCC.
• Coat Check. There is a coat and bag check across from the Starbucks on the lower level of the Crystal Palace (Level 2). Cost is $7 per item (2024 price). There is also a coat check on Level 2 of the extension behind the elevator bank. You can not use anything with wheels (except regular-sized strollers and wheelchairs, of course) on the show floor without an ADA sticker.
• ATM. There is a Chase ATM near the food court. I believe they also set up ATMs on the show floor but I am not positive.

Main Stage and Empire Stage Panels

If you were unsuccessful at getting a Main Stage panel seat in the Pre-Show Reservations, you can line up in the stand-by lines for another chance. Main Stage stand-by will be located in the Queue Hall. The Empire Stage is located in the Javits extension on the fifth level, and the stand-by line is usually located directly across from the room.

Hit the Floor

Don’t miss the floor! Use the map if you’re interested in something specific, but if not, just browse! The floor at NYCC is home to publishers (books and comics), studios, TV shows, and various vendors featuring all sorts of geeky merchandise. If you’re interested in signings or giveaways, the booths generally have paper copies of their schedule to hand out so you know when everything is.

The floor is crowded, so be mindful of others when walking. If you have a backpack, make sure you don’t smack anyone with it when you turn around. If you’re in cosplay, pay attention to any oversize props you may have. Don’t stop suddenly in the middle of the aisle and generally just try to keep the flow moving until you can step aside and out of the way.

If you see a cosplayer you like, be polite! Cosplay is NOT consent. Ask if you can take their picture, and move off to the side so as to not block the aisles. If you’re really into cosplay, you can check out one of the many cosplay meetups, or a lot of cosplayers convene directly in front of the Javits on the Inner Roadway.

Make sure you visit Artist Alley, as well! A lot of artists open up commissions before the convention, so keep an eye out for that. NYCC always posts a list of the artists attending with a sample of some of their work, so you can scroll through that and see if anything catches your eye.

Meet People

Every year, New York Comic Con hosts several fan meetups! Set aside in their own room, you can check the schedule for the show or genre you’re interested in, and then go and meet like-minded fans. The NYCC subreddit usually has a thread for making connections.

I’ve also met quite a few people by just talking to the people nearby me in line, or sitting beside me in panels. Cons are a great way to meet people who share your interests.

Cosplayer?

There is a cosplay changing room on Level 4 of the Javits in Cosplay Central. Cosplay Central also has a repair station if you get a rip or something comes loose and you need a quick fix. They also have, for the past several years, set up photo op spots with props and a backdrop.

Need a Break?

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, you can head outside the convention center for a bit for some fresh air, or visit the Quiet Room, on the lower level, near the Autograph Area.

Did I Forget Something?

Probably! I tried to make this as comprehensive as possible, but when you’re a local who’s been attending for years, it’s hard to think of what new attendees might need to know. If there’s something I didn’t cover, or that isn’t covered in any of the pages I linked to, feel free to ask, and I’ll do my best to answer. You can tweet @TheGeekiary or you can tweet me @jamiesugah. (Also, if any of the links are dead, please let me know. I do my best to keep this current, but I don’t usually verify the links every year.)

I hope I see some of you at NYCC this October!

Last updated 10/3/24.

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