Spooky Empire is back in Orlando for Memorial Day weekend, May 29–31, 2026. Three days of horror film celebrity meet-and-greets, autograph signings, a sprawling vendor floor, film screenings, costume contests, and enough pop-culture nostalgia to keep you occupied from the moment the doors open until they shut. Whether you’re a lifelong horror devotee or a first-timer who just wants to shake hands with a genre icon, this is one of the best-attended genre cons in the Southeast — and Orlando is where it’s been calling home for two decades.
What Is Spooky Empire?
Spooky Empire started in Orlando in the early 2000s as a regional horror gathering that drew a modest but loyal crowd of genre enthusiasts. Over the following two decades it grew steadily into one of the largest dedicated horror conventions in the United States, with a reputation for pulling substantial celebrity guest lineups, maintaining a genuinely fan-friendly atmosphere, and keeping the programming diverse enough that you can spend a full three days on the floor without running out of things to do.
The convention is built around a few core pillars: celebrity Q&A panels where guests discuss their careers and answer audience questions, individual autograph and photo-op sessions, a vendor floor stocked with independent artists, vintage merchandise dealers, custom prop makers, and small press publishers, organized film screenings, and one of the more serious costume contests on the Florida con circuit. The crowd tends to skew older than a lot of pop-culture cons — this is a horror-specific event — but the atmosphere is welcoming across generations, and the cosplay community here brings genuinely creative work.
When and Where
Spooky Empire Spring 2026 runs Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). Check spookyempire.com for the specific hall and building assignment, as large conventions at the OCCC sometimes shift between the North and West buildings from year to year.
The OCCC sits on International Drive in the tourist corridor on the southwest side of Orlando. If you’re staying near Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, or along I-Drive itself, you may be within walking distance or a very short rideshare ride. If you’re coming from downtown Orlando or the airport, the convention center is roughly 15 minutes west via I-4.
What to Expect
Spooky Empire typically releases its full guest and programming schedule in the weeks leading up to the event. Rather than listing specific names that may have changed, head to spookyempire.com for the confirmed guest roster and panel schedule before you go.
That said, the general shape of the weekend tends to be consistent:
Friday, May 29 — The vendor hall opens and the weekend officially begins, usually with a softer crowd. Friday is a good day to move through the floor without the bottlenecks that come on Saturday. Smaller panels run throughout the day, and opening-night parties give the weekend its first social momentum.
Saturday, May 30 — The peak day. The biggest celebrity panels land here, the costume contest typically takes place on Saturday, and the floor is at full capacity by midday. If you have a priority photo op or signing to get to, plan your route in advance. Late-night programming and off-site events tend to be scheduled for Saturday as well.
Sunday, May 31 — Crowds thin out considerably on Sunday, which has its own appeal. Last-chance signings are available before guests wrap up, and the vendor floor often sees some end-of-weekend price movement from dealers who don’t want to haul inventory home. Sunday is a good day to revisit anything you missed earlier in the weekend without fighting the Saturday crowd.
Tickets and Pricing
Spooky Empire typically offers three-day passes, individual day passes, and VIP tiers with perks such as early access, dedicated lines, or exclusive merchandise. Specific pricing for Spring 2026 was not confirmed at the time this was written (as of 2026-04-28), so check spookyempire.com for current rates and availability before purchasing.
A note on planning: Saturday single-day passes have historically sold out ahead of the event. If your schedule is flexible, the three-day pass tends to be the better value regardless, but if you’re planning a single-day visit and Saturday is your target day, book early.
Getting to the Convention Center
By car: The OCCC is accessible from I-4 via the International Drive exits. The convention center has parking decks on-site; expect demand to spike on Saturday and plan for some extra time. Rideshare drop-off is designated separately from the parking decks — check the OCCC website for the current rideshare staging area, as it shifts depending on which hall is in use.
I-Ride Trolley: If you’re staying on International Drive, the I-Ride Trolley runs the length of the corridor and stops near the convention center. It’s a low-stress option if you’re lodged nearby and want to skip the parking situation.
From downtown Orlando: Head west on I-4 toward the tourist corridor. The drive is roughly 15 minutes in normal traffic, though I-Drive itself can slow considerably during peak tourist hours and during a major convention. Rideshare is a practical option if you’re coming from downtown and don’t want to deal with parking.
Lynx bus: The Lynx Route 8 connects downtown Orlando to the I-Drive corridor and can get you close to the OCCC. Travel time is longer than driving, but it’s a viable option if you’re staying downtown and want to leave the car behind for the day.
Where to Eat Between Panels
International Drive has a substantial concentration of dining options within close range of the OCCC. Pointe Orlando, located on I-Drive, has a mix of casual and sit-down options. ICON Park — also on I-Drive — has additional food and beverage options along its dining row. The broader I-Drive corridor has dozens of chain and themed restaurants within walking distance or a short drive from the convention center, covering most price points and cuisines.
Be aware that restaurant wait times on the corridor tend to lengthen during large conventions, particularly at the Saturday lunch and dinner windows. If you’re working around a tight panel schedule, the food options inside the convention center itself — typically a food court-style setup — can get you in and out faster on a peak day.
After the Con: Keep the Night Going Downtown
I-Drive is built for tourists, and the bar scene reflects that. The options near the convention center tend toward chain sports bars and hotel lobbies — fine for a quick drink, but not where locals go when they want a real night out.
Downtown Orlando is about 15 minutes east via I-4, and it’s a different world. The North Orange Avenue corridor is where you’ll find the city’s actual nightlife: independent venues, a concentrated bar district, and a scene that runs later and feels less manufactured than the tourist corridor.
For the queer and queer-adjacent horror crowd at Spooky Empire, Anthem is the natural landing spot. Anthem Orlando is downtown’s upscale LGBT nightclub — elevated space, consistent production, weekend programming that runs late. The vibe fits the creative, costumed energy that Spooky Empire draws, with one important nuance worth noting.
Anthem maintains an elevated dress code. Creative, polished, or theatrical looks fit well — think glam, goth, dark editorial, or anything that reads as intentional. What doesn’t work is convention floor casualness: torn t-shirts, latex zombie blood, or props. If your Saturday costume is a full Rick Genest-style body paint look or a well-constructed Victorian mourning gown, you’re likely fine. If you’re still in a ripped flannel with fake entrails at 11pm, swing by your hotel first. The room respects the effort — it just expects you to meet it partway.
Saturday night at Anthem typically has full programming. If you’re planning to head downtown after the con closes, check the schedule and consider arriving on the earlier side; the line builds after midnight.
Plan your night at Anthem.
FAQ
Is Spooky Empire kid-friendly?
Parts of it are. The vendor floor is generally accessible to all ages, and many of the celebrity guests are happy to meet younger fans. Some panels, screenings, and off-site evening events are 18+ or 21+. Check the specific programming listings on the Spooky Empire website before bringing younger attendees, and be aware that some of the vendor floor content — particularly in the horror art and prop sections — is graphic.
Are costumes required?
No. Costumes are enthusiastically welcomed and the convention is one of the better environments in Florida for seeing detailed creative work, but there’s no requirement to come in costume. A significant portion of the attendance comes in street clothes, particularly on Friday and Sunday.
Can I bring my own props?
Spooky Empire has a weapons policy that covers replica weapons, prop weapons, and related items. Because the policy is specific and subject to change, don’t rely on general convention rules from prior years — review the current policy at spookyempire.com before you pack.
Is there ATM access at the convention?
The OCCC typically has ATMs on-site, and there are additional options in surrounding hotels and shops. That said, the vendor floor at genre conventions has shifted significantly toward card and mobile payment in recent years; many dealers now accept credit cards, Venmo, or Zelle. Bringing some cash as backup is still reasonable, but you’re unlikely to get stuck if you’re primarily card-based.
Do passes sell out?
Saturday single-day passes have sold out ahead of the event in past years. Three-day passes and Friday/Sunday single-day passes tend to have more availability going into the final weeks, but there’s no guarantee. If Spooky Empire is a firm date on your calendar, booking passes when they go on sale is the right call.
Make a Weekend of It
Spooky Empire is three days of everything that makes horror fandom worth showing up for — the guests, the community, the creativity on display in the costume contest, the finds you didn’t know you were looking for on the vendor floor. And when the convention center lights come up on Saturday night, downtown Orlando is waiting fifteen minutes east.
Check the full May calendar at things to do in downtown Orlando in May 2026 for more on what’s happening across the city that weekend. And when you’re ready to close out the night properly, Anthem is the move.