MCM Comic Con

What MCM Comic Con does

MCM Comic Con is a UK-based pop culture convention brand that operates large-scale live events covering anime, gaming, comics, movies, TV, books, and collectibles. Its two flagship events are MCM London Comic Con, held at ExCeL London (typically twice yearly, in May and October), and MCM Birmingham Comic Con, held at NEC Birmingham. The brand is operated by ReedPop, the pop-culture division of RX Global (formerly Reed Exhibitions), which is itself a subsidiary of the FTSE-listed information and analytics conglomerate RELX Inc. MCM does not produce software but offers a portfolio of exhibitor packages and event services, including Shell Scheme and Space Only stands, the Creator Pavilion, Artist Alley, Writers Block, Retailer Tables, Career Fair booths, and the Rezzed gaming zone; consumer-facing features include the Cosplay Central Crown Championships, Pop Asia, After Hours programming, the Meet and Greet Zone, and the MCM Mobile App.

The business monetizes through four primary revenue streams: ticket sales (Priority Entry, General Entry, Weekend, and VIP tiers, priced higher onsite than online), exhibition stand space rental across a range of pre-built and custom packages, branded sponsorship deals, and meet-and-greet hourly slot bookings. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct-to-consumer ticket sales online and onsite, enterprise field sales for exhibitor and sponsorship packages (routed via [email protected]), and self-serve applications for individual creators, artists, and writers.

Operationally, MCM is part of a much larger exhibition infrastructure rather than a standalone venture-backed business: it draws on RX Global's venue relationships, sales network, and back-office functions, and it shares the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge and broader RELX compliance frameworks. No external funding rounds, acquisitions, or material leadership changes have been disclosed; the primary governance signal is the parent company's control through RX Global, a private limited company registered in England and Wales (Company No. 678540).

Name

MCM Comic Con

Legal name

RX Global

Website

https://mcmcomiccon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MCM Comic Con is a UK pop culture convention brand operated by ReedPop (RX Global, a RELX division) that runs large-scale live events in London and Birmingham for anime, gaming, comics, and cosplay fans, monetizing via ticket sales, exhibitor packages, and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pop Culture Conventions and Live Events

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Fan Conventions Organizers (THAHABAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

VR & Immersive Esports/LBE Venues (VR Arenas, Sim Racing Pods) (MPAFALAE)

Keywords

• Pop culture conventions
• Comic con events
• Exhibitor booth rentals
• Event ticketing services
• Cosplay competitions

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from selling admission tickets to attendees for the MCM Comic Con events held in London and Birmingham. Weekend and VIP tickets available with priority entry times.
2. Exhibition Stand Space: Revenue from renting exhibition space to corporate exhibitors, independent creators, artists, writers, and retailers. Various packages available including Creator Pavilion, Artist Alley, Writer's Block, Retailer Tables, Shell Scheme, and Space Only stands.
3. Sponsorships: Branded partnerships and sponsorship packages for companies looking to connect with the pop culture and gaming fan audience at MCM events.
4. Meet and Greet Zone Bookings: Hourly slot bookings for creators, influencers, and streamers to meet fans and sell merchandise in a dedicated space.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MCM Comic Con operates large-scale pop culture convention events in the UK, primarily MCM London Comic Con at ExCeL London and MCM Birmingham Comic Con at NEC Birmingham. The business sells admission tickets (Priority Entry, General Entry, Weekend, VIP) to consumer attendees, rents exhibition stand space to corporate exhibitors, independent creators, and artists through tiered booth packages (Creator Pavilion, Artist Alley, Writer's Block, Retailer Tables, Shell Scheme, Space Only), and offers branded sponsorship packages and bookable Meet and Greet Zone slots. Event programming covers anime, gaming, books, comics, movies, TV, collectibles, cosplay competitions, panels, workshops, and after-hours entertainment.

Product overview

MCM Comic Con is a UK-based pop culture convention organized by ReedPop (RX Global). The company offers a portfolio of exhibitor stand packages and event services rather than a software product. Exhibitor offerings include: Creator Pavilion, Artist Alley, Writer's Block, Retailer Tables, Standard/Premium Shell Scheme, Career Fair, PU1 Template Stand, Rezzed (gaming) Stand, and Space Only custom builds. Event features include Cosplay Central Crown Championships, Meet and Greet Zones, and a mobile app for event navigation and safety reporting. The company also offers press passes, industry passes, sponsorships, and custom stand design services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cosplay Central Crown Championships: Cosplay competition and championships featured at MCM Comic Con events
• Artist Alley
• Creator Pavilion
• Writers Block
• The Treehouse
• Pop Asia
• After Hours
• Rezzed
• Meet and Greet Zone

Products and services

• MCM London Comic Con Three-day flagship pop culture convention at ExCeL London covering anime, gaming, books, comics, movies, TV, and collectibles for individual attendees and corporate exhibitors.
• MCM Birmingham Comic Con Three-day regional pop culture convention at NEC Birmingham covering TV/film guests, independent creators, UK cosplay, and pop culture programming.
• Visitor Admission Tickets Convention entry tickets for individual attendees, offered in Priority Entry, General Entry, Weekend, and VIP tiers, with advance online pricing lower than onsite pricing.
• Creator Pavilion Package Table-based exhibitor package for streamers, podcasters, makers and content creators, including table, tablecloth, chairs, low fabric back walls, and exhibitor badges.
• Artist Alley Package Curated table package for pop culture and gaming artists to showcase and sell their work, including tablecloth and low fabric back walls.
• Writers Block Package Dedicated area package for authors to build their brand, meet fans, and sell books at the convention.
• Retailer Tables Package Retail table package for selling products at the show, including tables, fabric back walls, exhibitor badges, WiFi hotspot, and parking pass.
• Standard Shell Scheme Package Pre-built shell scheme stand for corporate exhibitors, including fabric back walls, fascia, name board, standard carpet, tables, chairs, WiFi hotspots, and access to the exhibitor lounge.
• Premium Shell Scheme Package Enhanced shell scheme with 4 WiFi hotspots and premium carpeted walkway for a higher-end corporate exhibitor experience.
• Career Fair Package Career fair booth packages for recruiters and employers in single (3x2m) or double (6x2m) configurations, with high chairs/stools, high tables, sockets, and spotlights.
• PU1 Template Stand Package Template gaming build with banks of 8 playing positions, including hardware with power supply for gaming exhibitors.
• Rezzed Stand Standard Package Standard gaming stand package in the Rezzed zone, including a 1.25m-wide stand per screen/playing position with stool and spotlight.
• Rezzed VR Stand Package VR gaming space with a 3x3m enclosed area including trestle table, chairs, and spotlight for VR exhibitors.
• Space Only Stands Custom-built exhibition space with no included build or floor covering; exhibitors arrange their own stand design and construction.
• Sponsorship Packages Branded sponsorship packages offering brand visibility across the pop culture and gaming fan audience at MCM events, sold via direct sales team contact.
• Cosplay Central Crown Championships Cosplay competition and championship showcase featured at MCM Comic Con events, including UK cosplay categories and championships.
• Meet and Greet Zone Bookings Hourly-slot bookings (1-3 hours per day) for creators, influencers, streamers, and celebrities to meet fans and sell merchandise in a dedicated on-site space.
• MCM Mobile App Official mobile application for the convention providing event schedules, anti-harassment reporting, and on-site navigation for attendees.
• Press Passes Complimentary press badges issued to media and editorial press covering MCM Comic Con events.
• Industry Passes Professional badges for individuals working in the entertainment and hobby industry attending MCM Comic Con for business development and networking.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ visitors per May show
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hope and Homes for ChildrencoreOthersMCM Comic Con's official charity partner. The partnership supports Hope and Homes for Children's mission to ensure every child has a loving home, addressing global child separation issues. MCM hosts charity booth S1869 at events for visibility and fundraising, with specific donation tiers supporting family reunification and child welfare programs.
• Gaming the MindminorOthersMental health charity that provides the Reset Room at MCM Comic Con events - a calm space for attendees feeling overwhelmed. Gaming the Mind is run by mental health experts combining healthcare expertise with passion for video games and geek culture. The Reset Room is located on the first floor of ExCeL's Platinum Suite.
• ReedPopcoreOthersMCM Comic Con is built by ReedPop, a division of RX Global (RELX Inc.). ReedPop operates a global portfolio of pop culture, entertainment, and hobby events, providing operational infrastructure, industry expertise, and brand equity to MCM events.
• ExCeL LondoncoreOthersPrimary venue for MCM London Comic Con events. Located at Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Docks, London E16 1XL. ExCeL provides exhibition space, catering facilities, internet services, parking, and venue security infrastructure for MCM events.
• NEC BirminghamcoreOthersVenue partner for MCM Birmingham Comic Con events. Located in Birmingham, UK. Provides exhibition facilities for the regional MCM Comic Con event.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Comic-Con International (San Diego Comic-Con): Operator of San Diego Comic-Con and WonderCon, the world's most established pop-culture convention series. Directly comparable to MCM as a flagship fan convention covering comics, film/TV, gaming and cosplay, with comparable exhibitor and sponsor models.
• New York Comic Con (ReedPop): ReedPop's US flagship pop-culture convention. A direct sibling/peer to MCM London in format and scale, monetizing ticketed attendees, exhibitor floor space, and brand sponsorships across comics, anime, gaming and cosplay.
• Fan Expo HQ (Fan Expo Canada, Fan Expo Chicago, etc.): Operates a portfolio of multi-genre pop-culture conventions (Toronto, Chicago, Dallas, etc.). Directly comparable to MCM as a multi-city fan expo combining comics, anime, gaming, celebrities, and an Artist Alley-style creator program.
• Penny Arcade (PAX East/West/South/Unplugged): Premier gaming-focused convention series with PC/console/board game exhibitor floors and fan programming. Closest direct peer to MCM's Rezzed gaming zone and PU1/VR exhibitor packages.
• C2E2 - Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (ReedPop): ReedPop's Midwest pop-culture convention. A near-clone of the MCM London format - multi-genre floor, Artist Alley, celebrity guests, and cosplay competitions - serving as a sibling brand and direct format peer.
• Emerald City Comic Con (ReedPop): Seattle-based ReedPop pop-culture convention. Directly comparable to MCM as a ReedPop sibling event combining comics, anime, gaming and cosplay with similar exhibitor packages and ticketing structure.
• WonderCon (Comic-Con International): Regional pop-culture convention operated by Comic-Con International alongside SDCC. Mirrors MCM's mid-tier positioning in the fan convention category with comparable exhibitor/sponsorship economics.
• Anime Expo (SPJA): Largest North American anime convention with multi-genre pop-culture programming. Directly comparable to MCM's Pop Asia zone and overall anime/cosplay attendee mix, with a similar exhibitor/passes model.
• Dragon Con: Large Atlanta-based multi-genre fan convention spanning sci-fi, fantasy, gaming, comics and cosplay. Comparable to MCM as a major annual multi-fandom event relying on ticketed attendees, exhibitor halls, and sponsor activations.

Regional players

• UK Games Expo: UK's largest hobby gaming convention held annually in Birmingham. Comparable to MCM's Rezzed gaming offerings and competes for the same UK gaming/hobby exhibitor budget and attendee wallet share within the same NEC venue ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MCMComicCon
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/mcmexpo
• Facebookfacebook.com/LondonComicCon
• Instagraminstagram.com/mcmcomiccon
• TikToktiktok.com/@mcmcomiccon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MCM Comic Con