Island FanCon 2026 is beginning to take shape with a regular wave of guest announcements, and to their credit, they are doing one thing other shows have not done: to include stars from the sports arena to the pop culture scene. Now in its third year, the convention functions as a hometown, community-focused event for residents of Langford, British Columbia, and surrounding areas. The event is scheduled to take place from June 5 to 7, 2026, at City Centre Park.
Whether the show is worth traveling to depends largely on your interest in the specific talents attending. You won’t find “hard to find” comics or high-end collectibles here, but for those looking to interact with guests or find traditional staples like Harry Potter, Pokémon, Star Wars, and Funko to add to a collection, the show offers a bit of everything. This also includes a selection of vendors who typically market to tourists at local summer events.
As for panels and the programming, that’s up to the people applying to offer their knowledge to the masses. It’s rarely even, and that’s not really the job of the organizers to chase down. Some local operations are expected to offer demos of game products, and for the Q&As with the talents, fans can expect some kind of chat with the celebrity guests confirmed so far:
Steven Ogg – Known for his work in The Walking Dead, The Last of Us, and Westworld, Ogg delivers intense performances that fans love.
Eric Roberts – A veteran actor whose career spans decades, Roberts’ credits include Runaway Train and various voice roles in animation. Some may well remember him as The Master in the 1996 TV movie version of Doctor Who. What he’s ‘most famous for’ can vary depending on who you ask, but his presence is always memorable.
Cesar Garcia – From Fast & Furious to Weeds, True Detective, and the cult sci-fi thriller Circle, Garcia is one of those performers fans spot and immediately recognize.
Raymond Cruz – Forever etched in pop culture through roles in Training Day, Under Siege, and Alien: Resurrection, Cruz brings decades of genre and crime-drama experience.
Andrew Herr and Dylan Playfair – Canadian actors known for Letterkenny and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, appealing to both comedy and sports-drama fans.
Terry Ryan – Plays Ted “Hitch” Hitchcock in Shoresy. Ryan is a former Montreal Canadiens draft pick, bestselling author, podcast host of Tales with TR, regular on Spittin’ Chiclets, and famously returned to pro hockey at 47 with the ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers.
Andrew Antsanen – Plays Brant “Goody” Goodleaf in Shoresy, bringing real junior hockey experience to the role. Shoresy marked his acting debut.
Keilani Rose – Plays Miigwan in Shoresy. Rose is an actress, filmmaker, dancer, and DJ from Prince George, BC, with Lheidli T’enneh and Native Hawaiian heritage. She won Best Choreography at the World Film Festival in Cannes and has appeared in SkyMed and The Sinners.
Ming Chen – Longtime contributor to the View Askewniverse, including Clerks III, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, and The 4:30 Movie. Chen is also a podcaster and pop culture expert. Fans can expect engaging panels or casual interactions on the con floor.
This event is not designed to compete with mid-tier or large-scale conventions. Instead, what it prioritizes is engaging with locals and offering opportunities to those unable to travel. This event celebrates pop culture in a more intimate, community-driven setting. Additional guest announcements are expected as the June 2026 convention date approaches.
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