Geeks from across New England flocked to the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center for Fan Expo Boston 2025. Through the weekend of August 8th to 10th, onlookers not yet in the know witnessed jedi stepping out of ride shares and The Lorax wandering the streets of Seaport. Guests spent, in some cases, thousands of dollars on larger-than-life cosplay to mingle, pose for pictures, and compete in contests. Each look was celebrated, from a subtle cosplay nod to hand-sewn looks that took guests months to craft. The array of celebrity guests determined the most popular categories: jedis, stormtroopers, and a wide array of beloved Marvel and DC characters–hint: fans could recreate the Spiderman pointing meme tenfold.
The unique Fan Expo lineup enabled multiple cast members to join each other on stage for humorous and insightful panels. Fans could witness these actors’ chemistry and energy bounce off each other. Even though Avatar: The Last Airbender aired 20 years ago, Zuko, Toph, and Uncle Iroh (Dante Basco, Michaela Jill Murphy, and Greg Baldwin respectively) reunited for the Boston crowd, and the cast of Supernatural confirmed there is an active cast group chat.
Solo stars held their own, capturing the attention of every person in the crowd. Simon Pegg shared a story about a “brilliant” prank he pulled on Tom Cruise, where he put on his seat heater without him noticing. Freakier Friday’s Manny Jacinto’s panel on Saturday was a standout for its effortless blend of purpose, humor, and connection. When asked who he would switch places with he said “anyone who’s sleeping” and “Keanu Reeves.” The Filipino actor is working to improve representation in the media by stepping into the producer’s seat. He recalls how the bar of “having to be excellent” each time makes it important to him to pass on and share his experience with his community.
Jason Isaacs, best known for playing Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, spoke about his experience playing darker characters. To create a convincing betrayal, he has to believe “they do not think they are doing evil.” Beloved portrayer of suave villains Giancarlo Esposito revealed he is hoping to return to normalcy, “We have people who create their own success in nefarious ways, and we have people who do their lives legally. Every day, 9 to 5, they work hard, and they expect to be rewarded for it and they should be. I’ve been wanting to play more characters like that.”
The vibrant vendor and artist alley area filled the main hall to the brim. Between panels, guests roamed aisles of mystery boxes, figures, and posters. Vendors had obscure and hot-button items like Labubus (and Lafufus). It wouldn’t be Boston without a photo opportunity with a Star Wars Dunkin’ themed droid.
Jewelry charms and keychains for every fandom made Fan Expo the perfect summer marketplace and perhaps an early holiday shopping opportunity for the fans in your life. Attendees craving a personal interaction with their favorite stars headed to the back of the hall and lined up for autographs and photo-ops. Excited chatter and bonding moments occurred in line as fans decided what pose they wanted for their selfies or the signature personalization they wanted on their memorabilia.
They also exchanged contact information and planned their next meetups, a reminder of how fandom brings communities together. Celebrities took the time to greet and get to know each fan, with the most memorable interactions witnessed being Catherine Tate’s signature selfie duck face pose and Jared Padalecki’s dramatic gasp.
This weekend proved to be an oasis for guests of all ages and attendees from all fandoms. After spending 2024 in the Prudential Center, Fan Expo Boston made a triumphant return to Seaport, cementing it as an essential summer getaway for any New Englander. Tickets for 2026 go on sale soon. Sign up for updates here.
Check out all of Samantha’s photos from the weekend below.
