Saluki Con is packed with fun activities for all ages and tickets are available now. Photos provided and by SIU Carbondale.
April 10, 2026
Cosplayers Assemble! SIU Saluki Con approaching!
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Saluki Con 2026 is coming to Southern Illinois University Carbondale April 17-19. You won’t want to miss this weekend filled with celebrity guest stars, gaming, virtual reality, contests, esports and so much more – including a variety of all-new cosplay events along with the popular cosplay contest.
“We have an incredible lineup of special guests and non-stop action all weekend at Saluki Con ‘26,” said Nathan Bonner, Saluki Con co-chair and SIU Student Affairs marketing associate. “There’s gaming galore – including the always popular Play-to-Win and Dungeons & Dragons tournament — a free comedy show, star-studded panels, workshops, a cosplay contest and more than 70 vendors. It’s going to be a great time for all ages.”
Get your tickets now
Saluki Con runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily April 18 and 19 at the SIU Student Center. The popular convention blends the realms of science, technology, arts, humanities and comics in a one-stop spot for great action. It all begins with a gaming event on Friday, April 17, from 4 to 9 p.m. Anyone with a Saluki Con ticket or an SIU student ID can participate.
Tickets are on sale online now. Participants can also purchase tickets at the door. The cost is $25 for a weekend pass or $20 for one day for adults. For high school and community college students, and children ages 13 and younger, the price is $10 for a weekend pass or $5 for a one-day ticket. Nominal handling fees apply.
SIU students (with ID) and children ages 5 and younger (if accompanied by a ticketed adult) get free admission.
Ramping up the cosplay
Don your favorite costume and join the cosplay fun that includes meetups where cosplayers from similar fandoms can join to share their passion, tricks of the trade and grab selfies. Hourlong meets are slated from 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday for fans of everything from Marvel and DC to Avatar, video games to Lord of the Rings and a wide. It wraps up with an open session for all cosplayers at 1 p.m. Sunday.
During the Cosplay Showcase, set for Sunday at 2 p.m., participants will parade through the Saluki Con and on their favorite character. There won’t be ranked judging, but rather judges will home in on spirit, creativity and embodiment of the character and present a judge’s choice award in each category. Categories include children, teens and adults (single or groups.) People are encouraged to participate regardless of their experience or skill level – purchased and homemade attire are welcome.
The Cosplay Karaoke/Talent Show – an in-character karaoke and talent competition – is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday. Try your luck at blowing the audience away with a song, scripted skit, dance or something else that reflects your character. New Kahala is providing prizes.
Check online for the complete schedule and details about all of the cosplay action.
From E.T. to The Haunting of Hill House to SIU
Actor Henry Thomas is the special guest star for Saluki Con ’26, and participants can hear him speak at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, at the Student Center Auditorium.
Thomas first rose to fame as a child actor with the leading role of Elliott Taylor in the classic film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” in 1982, for which he won Young Artist Award along with Golden Globe and other award nominations. He’s gone on to play a wide variety of roles in other films including “Cloak and Dagger,” “All the Pretty Horses,” “Gangs of New York,” “Dear John,” “Doctor Sleep,” and more.
Thomas received a Golden Globe Award as Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film for his role in the TV movie “Indictment: The McMartin Trial,” and a Saturn Award for his work on the television series “The Haunting of Hill House. Most recently, he starred as an Usher sibling in “The Fall of the House of Usher,” one of many projects on which he has collaborated with filmmaker Mike Flanagan.
Seating is limited for Thomas’ presentation, and admission requires purchase of a Saluki Con ticket plus an add-on. Tickets for An Evening with Henry Thomas are available online as well for $20. Gold Pass ticket holders ($65 tickets) receive preferred seating, a commemorative tote, and will enjoy a VIP meet and greet afterward with Thomas. SIU students are admitted free with tickets claimed online.
Thomas and the other special guests will be signing autographs on the convention floor throughout the event.
Celebrity watch
Actor Annabeth Gish leads the rest of the celebrity lineup which also features actress Claire McNulty and comic creators Nathan Powell, Brad Moore, Camron Johnson, Ian Johnston, Jimmy Z and Zac Atkinson.
Gish is a well-known face with a string of hit movies in her credits. Most relevant con fans – she was Monica Reyes on “The X-Files,” as well as appearing in “Midnight Mass,” and as Sherriff Althea Jarry on the final season of “Sons of Anarchy.” Check out her full biography on the Saluki Con website.
Actor, writer and director McNulty is perhaps best known for her five-season stint as Chantal Witherbottom on the cult hit series “Search Party.” Her film credits also include “Fort Tilden,” “Men Don’t Whisper,” and "www.rachelormont.com" as well as television’s “The Conners,” Night Court,” “Loot,” Platonic,” and the new “Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed.”
Powell’s career began as a teen-aged self-published comic book creator in 1992 Arkansas. He’s gone on to win several prestigious awards, including a National Book Award and a Robert F. Kennedy Book Award. His comics and writing appear in The Washington Post, CNN Scholastic magazines, The Weather Channel, Booklist, Twilight Zone, Sweet Tooth, Black Hammer and many more. His publications include “Save It For Later,” “Lies My Teacher Told Me,” Civil rights fighter John Lewis’ “March Trilogy,” He’s also toured in various underground punk bands, managed a record label, and will see his latest graphic novel, “Diana,” released in October by Abrams ComicArts.
Also featured will be:
- A psychedelic surrealist painter, draftsman, comic book creator, thinker, artist and illustrator, Moore has pioneered outlaw comix magazines and death metal album illustration. His album cover for Worm’s “Foreverglade” was voted No. 11 among the top metal album covers of 2021. His art combines fantasy, horror, sci-fi, gore and surrealism and he’s been published more than 600 times worldwide. His paintings and drawings are featured in worldwide exhibits, including H.R. Giger’s Switzerland castle. A Carbondale native, Moore is known for his complex imagery, color and use of subject matter.
- Johnson, a creator, artist and author from Central Illinois whose work has been featured in comics, books and trading cards and more with companies such as Marvel, Spiderman, DC, Upper Deck, Star Wars, Topps and much more. He has also created the best-selling intendent comic book series Bonecheck, Meduson and Freezer Burn.
- An SIU alumnus, Johnson is a writer and colorist for the Wanderers comic and editor of the horror, science fiction and fantasy review website “Cthulhuville.”
- JimmyZ is part owner of the Chulhuville.com website, reviewing horror, fantasy and other sci-fi genres and he’s worked on various comic books including the Tick an Micronauts as well as Democritus Brand.
- The co-creator and artist for Omega Eleven, Atkison is a comic creator with more than 20 years of experience. He’s worked on over 300 titles, serving as a colorist for DC, IDW, BOOM and others while also working for such well-known titles as Shazam, Marvel Action Spiderman, Transformers, Young Justice, Bruce Lee and more.
Activities for all
There’s a full gaming schedule as well, including the beloved “play to win,” where participants can check out a game, play and be entered in a drawing to win that game. Family friendly board games as well as life-sized gaming can be found at the Family Zone.
Be sure to check out the Esports tournaments in SIU’s custom Esports Arena, featuring Super Mario Smash Brothers and more. Explore the world “Beyond Belters and Xenomorphs: How Wild Biochemistry Turns Sci-Fi Plot Devices into Real Science” at 11 a.m. Saturday with Scott Hamilton-Brehm and check in for Catacombs & Comedians, a unique show combining comedy with Dungeons & Dragons in a live-play show – parental guidance suggested – set for 4 p.m. on Saturday.
You won’t want to miss the medieval combat demonstrations offered throughout the weekend by the Society of Anachronistic Combat. Check out the Anime Movie Marathon, with films both days, the Neon Tiger Tattoo display offering tattoos and piercings.
Participants are invited to a variety of star-studded panels featuring industry leaders and creative geniuses, comic book legends and pioneering scientists. Visitors of all ages and skill levels can get practical, guided experience in artistic techniques, current technology and scientific discoveries during a variety of workshops and demonstrations, too. And, find more than 70 comics dealers, artists, authors, crafters, gamers, anime vendors and other assorted interesting booths at the vendor fair. Find the full list on the website. Bowling & Billiards is hosting cosmic bowling as well.
Check out the countless “Things to Do” for Saluki Con.
Extra info
Parking is available across from the Student Center and adjacent to the Student Services Building; watch for signs.
Find additional information, including the complete schedule of events and ticket sales, on the Saluki Con website. Follow Saluki Con on Facebook, email salukicon@siu.edu or call 618-453-5714 to learn more.