Guide to Emerald City Comic Con 2025
ECCC is just over a month away! Whether it’s your first time in Seattle or you visit every year, here are some things you need to know to prepare for your trip.
Location
Emerald City Comic Con takes place in downtown Seattle across two buildings: the Seattle Convention Center Summit and the Seattle Convention Center Arch. The buildings are about a block apart, so you will need to factor walk time—including the time it takes to get in and out of each building—into your schedule.
Last year, the Summit housed the exhibitor hall, artist alley, main stage, panels, and many other activities, while the Arch housed the photo ops and autograph areas, as well as a few vendors and a couple more panel rooms. Unfortunately, this layout caused some issues, as many congoers ended up spending most of their time in the Summit, since there was little incentive to go over to the Arch unless they specifically had a photo op, autograph, or panel scheduled there. This also meant that the handful of exhibitors in the Arch missed out on a lot of the foot traffic that the vendors in the main exhibitor hall and artist alley received.
This year, it seems that ReedPop is changing things up. As of this blog post, they have not yet released the updated floor maps; however, they did announce that they are moving the main stage to the 4th floor of the Arch, where it used to be before the Summit existed. According to the current panel schedule, it looks like all panels outside of the main stage events will be held in the Summit. This means that if you are traveling from a Summit panel to the main stage, you will need to allow yourself 10–15 minutes to move between buildings while navigating the crowds.
Another feature they are introducing this year is reservations for Main Stage panels. There is no extra cost for reservations, and while they guarantee you a seat, you will still need to line up to get a good spot. Make sure to check out the Reservations page for details.
Getting to ECCC
If you’re driving into Seattle, both convention centers have parking garages. The Arch garage is located on 8th Avenue between Pike and Seneca. The Summit garage is located on Olive Way between 9th and Boren.
If you’re flying into Seattle for the event, the cheapest and easiest way to get downtown from SeaTac Airport is via the Link Light Rail. To get to the airport Light Rail station, head to the 4th floor and cross the skybridge to the parking garage, then follow the signs. It’s about a 10-minute walk to the station, but you can also hop on the free shuttle if it’s available.
Once you get to the station, you will need to purchase a ticket or an Orca Card to pay for your trip. Orca Cards are Seattle’s public transit cards and can be used for the Light Rail, Monorail, buses, streetcars, and more. If you are planning to spend any time exploring Seattle outside of the convention, I recommend purchasing one and downloading the myOrca app so that you can easily refill your card. You can also add your Orca Card to Google Wallet and tap to ride with your phone. It’s about a 40-minute trip from the airport to downtown, so sit back and enjoy the scenic views.
If you’re heading straight to the convention center or any of the nearby hotels, get off at Westlake Station. From there, head upstairs to any of the exits, and you’ll find yourself in the heart of downtown Seattle.
Show Features
ECCC has your usual convention features, such as featured guests, an exhibitor hall, artist alley, and tons of activities and panels to attend. This year’s guests include the casts of Baldur’s Gate 3, Hannibal, Firefly, Starship Troopers, and more.
The Grunge Prom is a new Saturday night event that partners with Seattle’s alternative radio station, 107.7 The End, for a night of '90s music and fashion. Make sure to wear your best flannel and ripped jeans—or cosplay, of course!
The Cosplay Central Crown Championships take place Saturday evening on the Main Stage to determine the Seattle regional winner, who will then go on to compete in other competitions nationwide for the title of US Champion. Please note that you will need to reserve a seat for this panel to attend.
This year, there is also a Cosplay Central Costume Showcase on Sunday night, where cosplayers of every level can sign up to walk on stage and show off their cosplay without participating in a competition. To participate in the cosplay showcase, sign up at the Cosplay Admin desk in Cosplay Central. Please note that you will need to reserve a seat for this panel to attend.
Where to Eat
It’s so easy to forget to eat when you’re running around a convention, but sustenance and hydration are important! Fortunately, there are plenty of places to get food without having to go too far from the convention center. Both the Summit and Arch have food available inside the buildings, as well as restaurants attached to them.
In the Summit, there is usually a food area on the 5th floor and other food kiosks scattered throughout the building. The offerings are pretty basic—mostly sandwiches and salads—and while convention prices are high, it’s a good option if you’re starving and don’t want to leave the building. On the outside of the Summit, there are several restaurants attached to the building, including Monorail Espresso for some decent local coffee.
The Arch has a cafeteria located on the 4th floor, although I am unsure if it will be open this year, depending on the layout. It also has a couple of restaurants inside the building, including Juicy Cafe on the 2nd floor, which serves bowls and smoothies.
If you’re willing to venture outside the convention center, there is plenty of food to be had at nearby restaurants. Keep in mind, however, that the closer a restaurant is to the con, the busier it will be. For quick grab-and-go options, I recommend dropping by the Market at the Hyatt Regency hotel. Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, you can still pop in to grab a quick breakfast, lunch, or dinner to go. I also recommend hitting up H Mart, a Korean grocery store on 2nd Ave and Pine, for grab-and-go meals, groceries, and toiletries.
Across the bridge over I-5 from the Summit, you’ll find a bunch of restaurants on Capitol Hill. Keep in mind that if you’re walking, it will be uphill to get there. Voodoo Doughnuts just opened up right across the bridge—just look for the bright pink building. Right around the corner from there is Melrose Market, which has a few restaurants inside. Honestly, if it’s your first time in Seattle, you should spend some time wandering around Capitol Hill because there are tons of restaurants and cool shops to see.
What to See
If you have any time to spend outside of the con—which I highly recommend, especially if it's your first time in Seattle—there are plenty of cool places to check out. The first place you need to visit is Pike Place Market, which is about a 15-minute walk from the convention center. Just head straight down Pine St or Pike St toward 1st Ave, and you’ll run right into it. Pike Place Market has a ton of shops and restaurants to explore. Definitely stop by Golden Age Collectibles if you’re interested in comics and games.
Just a few blocks down 1st Ave from the market is the Seattle Art Museum. If you venture out the back of the market and down the new overlook, that will take you to the waterfront and the Seattle Aquarium.
If you want to see the iconic Space Needle up close and personal, head to 4th Ave and Pine St and catch the Monorail on the 3rd floor of Westlake Mall. It’s a short but scenic ride to Seattle Center, where you will find the Space Needle, as well as the Pacific Science Center, Chihuly Garden and Glass art museum, and MoPOP.
MoPOP, the Museum of Pop Culture, is a must-visit if you love movies, music, and other forms of popular culture. The museum features memorabilia from films, TV shows, music, and video games. The current special exhibit is Keith Haring: A Radiant Legacy, featuring artwork from the iconic '80s pop culture artist.
You can also journey up the hill from the convention center and wander around Capitol Hill. There, you’ll find plenty of restaurants and shops to explore, including Elliot Bay Book Company, Raygun Lounge, NEKO Cat Cafe, and Kpop Nara.
Tips & Tricks
Here are some additional tips to help make your convention experience safe and fun.
What to bring:
Refillable water bottle: Both the Summit and Arch have refill stations.
High-protein snacks: To keep your energy up throughout the day, especially when you don’t have time to leave the con for food.
Hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes: Tables are rarely wiped down between uses.
Comfortable shoes: If you’re in cosplay, bring a pair of flat shoes to change into if your feet get sore.
Phone/laptop chargers: There are charging stations near most seating areas, especially in the Summit.
Light layers that are easy to tuck away: Seattle can be cold in March, but inside the con, it can get quite warm with all the people milling around.
Umbrella: Seattle rains often this time of year and even though most Seattleites don’t use umbrellas, I still recommend bringing one if you’re visiting, especially if you’re in cosplay.
Other convention tips:
Toiletries: If you need toiletries, here are a few places you can find them downtown:
Target (Pike & 2nd Ave)
Walgreens (Pike & 3rd Ave)
H Mart (Pine & 2nd Ave)
Avoid scammers: Do not engage with the CD guys, bracelet guys, scalpers, or any other scammers outside the convention center. They tend to hang out near the main entrances of both buildings and can be quite annoying. Just ignore them and move along.
Escalator tip: Avoid using the main escalators in the Summit (near the front entrance) if you’re trying to get up and down quickly. Instead, use the back escalators hidden behind the elevators on the opposite side of the building. Those tend to be much less crowded.
Quiet spaces: Seek out Quiet Rooms if you need to escape the crowds and decompress.
In the Summit, you can find some quiet areas around the corner from the main escalators.
In the Arch, you can find a quiet spot on the 3rd floor tucked around the corner from the main escalators.
Stay healthy: Mask up and take plenty of vitamin C and D before and during the con. Con crud is still a thing! Also, make sure to shower and practice good hygiene.
Respect cosplayers: Be respectful of cosplayers and do not touch their costumes or props without consent. Always ask for a photo, and if they decline, do not push them. Also, do not take photos of cosplayers while they’re eating or taking a break.
Follow these tips and you’ll have a great time at ECCC.
I’ll see you there!
