Faires, Festivals, and Events in Alabama

Kami-Con (Alabama’s largest anime/gaming con) | Feb 6–8, 2026 (annual; season 17) | Birmingham, AL | https://www.kamicon.net. Kami-Con+1

Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo (HSV Expo) | Apr 17–19, 2026 (annual) | Huntsville, AL | https://www.hsvexpo.com. Huntsville Expo+1

Iron City Comic Con (BJCC) | May 30–31, 2026 (annual) | Birmingham, AL | https://www.ironcitycomiccon.com / BJCC listing. Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex+1

South Alabama Comic Con (Mobile) | 2026 dates TBA (site lists 2026 coming soon; held at Mobile Convention Center) | Mobile, AL | https://www.southalabamacomiccon.com. South Alabama Comic Con+1

Mobile Bay Fan / Anime Fest (Mobile Bay Anime Fest) | April 17–18, 2026 (also Oct weekend options; recurring) | Daphne / Mobile Bay, AL | https://mobilebayanimefest.com. Mobile Bay Fan/Anime Fest+1

Gadsden Collector Con | Jan 17, 2026 (and recurring shows) | Gadsden, AL | https://www.gadsdencollectorcon.com. gadsdencollectorcon.com+1

Tora-Con (Auburn/Opelika area community con) | Apr 18, 2026 (Opelika public library listing / local con launch) | Opelika / Auburn, AL | Local Tora-Con pages / Facebook events. Facebook+1

Magic City Con (Birmingham area fan con — cosplay heavy) | Recurring (watch for 2026 dates; past events summer dates) | Birmingham, AL | Magic City Con Facebook / listings. Facebook+1

Iron / Local collector / pop culture one-days (various small comic/collector shows across AL) | Many single-day shows (Gadsden, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Mobile) — dates vary 2026 | Multiple towns — check local venues | Roster/event listings & local pages (example: Gadsden, Venue pages). Greater Gadsden+1

Alabama Renaissance Faire (the “Al-Ren-Faire”) | Annual — usually 4th weekend of Oct (Oct 2025 was Oct 25–26); 2026 dates TBA | Florence, AL | https://www.thealrenfaire.org (free admission historically). TheAlrenfaire+1

Gulf Coast / Mobile Renaissance Faire & Wild West Pirate Festival (Mobile area multi-weekend faire) | Traditionally mid–late Nov (Multi-weekend; 2025: Nov 15–30); 2026 TBD | Robertsdale / Mobile area, AL | https://gcrf.us / event pages. gcrf.us+1

Rocket City / North Alabama Scottish Festival & Highland Games | May 3, 2026 (first Saturday of May; recurring Highland Games) | New Market / Huntsville area, AL (Sharon Johnston Park / Point Mallard listings vary) | Clandonald / festival listings / local news. Clan Donald USA+1

Rocket City Scottish Festival (alternate listings & local coverage) | Spring (various pages list May 2026 or spring dates) | Huntsville/Decatur area | Local news + clan pages. https://www.waff.com+1

Steamers & Dreamers — Steampunk Alabama (Steamers & Dreamers festival) | Oct 25, 2026 (Scottsboro host listing; annual steampunk day festival) | Scottsboro, AL | City/visit pages & Steampunk Alabama info. alabama.travel+1

Jewelry City / Local Steampunk shows (vendor calls / day fairs) | Recurring vendor-market style steampunk events — dates vary (watch local FB for 2026 vendor apps) | Gadsden / Scottsboro / regional towns | Local FB & event pages (Steampunk Alabama group posts). Facebook+1

Mobile Renaissance Faire / Pirate Festival schedule (detailed weekly schedule pages) | Multi-weekend in Nov (example 2025: Nov 15–16, 22–23, 29–30); 2026 TBA | Robertsdale, AL | Fair schedule pages (GCRF). gcrf.us+1

Starfall Solstice Ball (fantasy/masquerade style ball) | Jan 17, 2026 (ticketed fantasy ball / masquerade) | Dothan, AL | Tickets / event page (TicketSource / Fiction Addiction Events). ticketsource.com+1

Versailles Ball (themed masked/fantasy ball) | Feb 28, 2026 (ticketed; themed/formal, attire encouraged) | Huntsville, AL | CinCin Social Club / event page. Cin Cin+1

Steam / Maker / Fantasy markets (seasonal fall events across NC/AL border & Alabama towns) | Dates vary 2026 — good for costumed shopping + streetwear | Multiple towns (Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Scottsboro) | Local tourism calendars & event pages. alabama.travel+1

Mobile Bay Fan Fest (fan festival / pop culture one-day) | April 17–18, 2026 (also Oct weekend) | Daphne / Mobile Bay, AL | https://mobilebayanimefest.com. Mobile Bay Fan/Anime Fest

Small-to-mid sized local comic & pop events (examples: Gadsden Collector Con, collector markets, vendor shows) | Jan–Dec 2026 — many one-day collector cons (Gadsden Jan 17, 2026 shown) | Gadsden, Decatur, Dothan, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Mobile | Organizer pages (Gadsden example). gadsdencollectorcon.com+1

Regional fandom meetups, LARP meetups & boffer groups (Amtgard / Emerald Winds / local clans) | Ongoing meetups (monthly or weekly) — check local Facebook / Meetup groups for 2026 schedules | Huntsville, Birmingham, Vestavia Hills, Tuscaloosa | LARP groups on Facebook / Meetup / RocketCityMom LARP writeups. Facebook+1

County / city festivals with “pirate” or “renaissance” themes (Gulf Coast area / beach towns) | Seasonal — check Gulf Coast city calendars (some combine Pirate & Ren-faire themes) | Gulf Coast towns / Robertsdale / Foley / Pensacola area (near AL) | City tourism pages & event pages (Mobile / Gulf Coast). visitpanamacitybeach.com+1

Iron City / BJCC listed fan events (other small conventions & niche fandom events at BJCC) | Multiple dates 2026 (vendor & cosplay events) | Birmingham, AL | BJCC events / Iron City page. Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex+1

“Pop-up” cosplay balls, fae balls, Bridgerton/Regency events (local promoters) | Various ticketed balls across AL in 2026 — check Eventbrite/TicketSource for local fantasy balls | Huntsville, Birmingham, Dothan, Mobile | Example pages & TicketSource / Eventbrite listings. Eventbrite+1

“Maker” / Medieval craft markets connected to faires (timed with Ren Faire weekends) | During Renaissance Faire / Pirate Faire weekends — great for corset buyers | Florence, Robertsdale, Mobile Bay | Alabama Renaissance Faire / Gulf Coast Ren Fair pages. TheAlrenfaire+1

Regional Highland / Celtic festivals beyond Rocket City (small gatherings & clan events) | Spring / early summer (watch clan pages for 2026) | Various towns in Alabama + neighboring states (attendees travel) | Clan listings / Highland Games directories. clanmaclarenna.org+1

“Fandom Film/Screening” nights with cosplay rewards (local theaters & libraries) | Ongoing across 2026 — perfect for casual dress-up outings | Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile | Local library & theater event calendars — monitor city calendars. daphneal.com+1

County Fair cosplay / themed days (some county fairs have “costume” or “nerdy” days) | Summer–Fall 2026 — vary by county | Many towns (look at county fair calendar) | Local county fair websites / Alabama tourism calendar. alabama.travel

“Medieval Feast” ticketed events tied to Alabama Renaissance Faire | Feast dinners (ticketed) — typically early October signups for October fairs; example: Renaissance Feast ticket pages | Florence, AL | Alabama Renaissance Faire Feast page / Visit Florence. TheAlrenfaire+1

Smaller regional comic/anime spin-offs / “Fan Fest” one-days | Various 2026 dates (local civic centers) | Dothan, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Decatur | Local event calendars & Mobile Bay Fan Fest pages as example. Mobile Bay Fan/Anime Fest+1

Community cosplay parades, Pride cosplay events, and con-adjacent parties | Dates vary (often summer/fall) — search Facebook & Eventbrite in 2026 for local parties | Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile | Local event listings / FB groups. Instagram+1

Collector & Toy Shows (often called “Collector Con” or “Collector’s Market”) | Multiple one-day shows through 2026; excellent for cosplay accessories | Gadsden, Huntsville, Mobile area | Example: Gadsden Collector Con pages. gadsdencollectorcon.com+1

Local renaissance & SCA branch events (SCA tournaments, demo days) | Ongoing 2026 (SCA branches & demos; consult SCA Kingdom of Atenveldt & local SCA) | Various towns in AL | SCA event directories & medieval directories. Medieval Collectibles

Regional “Pirates of the High Seas” / Gulf pirate fests that draw Alabama attendees | Annual Gulf Coast pirate/renaissance fests (check beach city calendars 2026) | Gulf coast (Pensacola/PCB area; draws many AL attendees) | Visit Panama City Beach / regional tourism pages. visitpanamacitybeach.com