New York Comic Con cancels physical event, will go virtual for 2020
By Lacy Baugher
It’s official: New York Comic Con will not take place at the Javitts Center in NYC this Fall. Instead, convention producer ReedPop will partner with YouTube on an all-digital version of the event.
Given that large-scale events around the world have been forced to cancel or postpone throughout the summer and fall due to the still-raging novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it probably shouldn’t surprise many people that New York Comic Con has followed suit.
Once San Diego Comic Con was forced to go virtual earlier this year, it was really always just a question of when, not if, NYCC would decide to cancel its physical event. (Particularly given how hard-hit New York City was when the pandemic first broke out.) But there is some good news to be had for pop culture fans. Reed Pop, the producer behind New York Comic Con, will partner with YouTube on an all-digital version, with lots of excitement, fun, and big-name announcements of its own.
This new virtual NYCC will run from October 8-11, and the New York Comic Con YouTube channel will exclusively host a variety
live stream panels, much as Comic Con@Home did in July, and DC’s Fandome event is slated to do this August.
While we’d rather be giving you an update on badges going on sale, it likely comes as no surprise that #NYCC 2020’s physical event will not be able to run as intended. This is one of the hardest announcements we've had to make, & we miss you all so much: https://t.co/lEl5Yy0i1j
— New York Comic Con (@NY_Comic_Con) August 11, 2020
“We are thoroughly disappointed that we can’t gather together, in-person for the New York Comic Con we love to build and our fans love to revel in,” ReedPop President Lance Fensterman said in a statement.
“We look forward to this weekend all year long, just like you, and with this being our 15th edition, we were particularly excited. I will miss walking up and down artist alley and seeing friends that I’ve made since we were in the basement at the Javits Center. While this year will definitely be a different experience, we are going to look to bring the best and most engaging event to our fans, exhibitors, and studios through our partnership with YouTube.”
Several of the first panels for this virtual NYCC event have already been announced, including Starz’s American Gods and CBS All Access’ Star Trek Universe. Dreamworks Animation and FX/Hulu were also mentioned as participants in Reed Pop’s announcement, but not in conjunction with any specific properties. More news will be forthcoming in the days and weeks ahead.
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How do you feel about the prospect of another major convention going virtual? Let us know in the comments.