ZOLOCON 2026 Heads to King of Prussia — The East Coast’s “Toy Party of the Year”

ZOLOCON 2026 Heads to King of Prussia — The East Coast’s “Toy Party of the Year”

 Every so often a small niche event grows into something much bigger. That’s exactly what’s happening with ZOLOCON, the rapidly expanding pop-culture and collectibles convention returning February 27–March 1, 2026 at the Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

For South Jersey and Philadelphia-area residents, this isn’t just another comic convention. ZOLOCON has become a full weekend destination .. part nostalgia trip, part collector marketplace, and part fan meetup,  all centered around the culture of toys, comics, horror, and retro entertainment.

A Collector’s Paradise

ZOLOCON is built around collectors first. Instead of long autograph lines and massive crowds like larger conventions, the focus here is the vendor floor and it’s enormous. The show fills tens of thousands of square feet with tables featuring vintage and modern pop-culture memorabilia.

Attendees can expect to find:

• Vintage Kenner and Hasbro action figures

• Comic books from dollar bins to graded collector issues

• Pokémon, Magic, and sports trading cards

• Retro video games and consoles

• Anime and manga merchandise

• Handmade fan art and custom collectibles

• Convention-exclusive releases

The show was created by Zoloworld, a retro toy manufacturer, and you can feel that influence immediately. This isn’t a celebrity-driven event , it’s a collector-driven one. For toy hunters, resellers, and nostalgia fans, it’s one of the best sourcing events in the region because rare and one-of-a-kind items regularly appear on tables.

More Than Just Toys

While toys are the backbone of ZOLOCON, the convention has grown into a full pop-culture expo. You’ll find a mix of fandom communities all under one roof:

• Cosplayers roaming the aisles

• Independent artists and comic creators

• Trading card meetups

• Retro gaming enthusiasts

• Horror memorabilia vendors

• Fan panels and live podcasts

The event has especially caught on with horror fans thanks to vendors specializing in masks, props, and slasher-film collectibles. Walking the floor, it’s common to see more Jason, Ghostface, and Michael Myers costumes than you would on Halloween.

A Built-In Weekend Getaway

One of the biggest upgrades this year is the venue. Hosting the convention inside the Valley Forge Casino Resort turns ZOLOCON into a full weekend staycation. Visitors can spend the day browsing collectibles and the evening enjoying restaurants, entertainment, or nightlife without leaving the property.

The show schedule includes a Friday VIP pre-show, a full Saturday event day, and a Sunday session. Sunday is particularly family-friendly, with free admission for kids, making it a great option for parents introducing their children to the hobbies they grew up with.

Who Should Go?

You don’t have to be a hardcore collector to enjoy ZOLOCON. The event is designed for a wide audience:

• Parents sharing childhood memories with their kids

• Comic readers and investors

• Retro gamers

• Horror and sci-fi fans

• Content creators and toy resellers

• Anyone chasing a little nostalgia

It’s the rare convention where you can dig through $1 comic bins, find a childhood action figure you lost in 1997, and meet fellow fans who remember the same Saturday morning cartoons.

Why It Matters Locally

For years, local fans had to travel to New York or Baltimore for major conventions. ZOLOCON is filling that gap by creating a destination-level event right in the Philadelphia suburbs. Its growth reflects something bigger ,  the resurgence of physical collecting in a digital age. Toys, comics, cards, and retro games have become a shared cultural language across generations.

If you grew up browsing toy aisles, renting VHS tapes, or trading cards at lunch in school, ZOLOCON isn’t just a convention ,  it’s a time machine.

Tickets & Location

Tickets for ZOLOCON can be purchased in advance at www.zolocon.com. Buying ahead is strongly recommended especially for Saturday ,  as it’s typically the busiest day and certain admission tiers can sell out. The convention offers general single-day admission as well as VIP passes, which include early access during the Friday night pre-show.

Location:

ZOLOCON 2026
Valley Forge Casino Resort — King of Prussia, PA
February 27–March 1, 2026

The venue is conveniently located just off the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-76, about a 40–50 minute drive from most South Jersey communities and Philadelphia. Parking is available on-site, and the hotel, restaurants, and entertainment are all within the same complex as the convention floor, making it easy to spend the entire day,  or weekend , at the event.