ComplexCon turns 10, and it is spending the birthday in downtown Los Angeles. The streetwear, sneaker, and music festival runs Saturday and Sunday, October 3 and 4, 2026, with the convention inside the Los Angeles Convention Center and two nights of concerts next door at Crypto.com Arena. Ken Carson headlines Saturday night. Playboi Carti, who is also one of this year’s artistic directors, closes Sunday.
Complex produces the event. It started in Long Beach in 2016, spent 2024 and 2025 in Las Vegas, and this is its first edition at the L.A. Convention Center. Hours, set times, ticket types, and bag rules are below, pulled from the official FAQ, schedule, and lineup pages as of September 28, 2026.
The quick version
| When | Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2026 |
| Convention hours | VIP 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., General Admission 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Concerts | Doors at 6 p.m. both nights, Crypto.com Arena |
| Where | Los Angeles Convention Center, South and West Halls, 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015 |
| Headliners | Ken Carson (Saturday), Playboi Carti (Sunday) |
| Ages | Tickets required for ages 6 and up at the convention, 3 and up at the concerts |
| Re-entry | Yes at the convention center, no during the concerts |
| Payment | Most exhibitors take cards; ATMs on site |
| Parking | LACC West Hall and South Hall garages; rideshare or Metro recommended |
| Official site | complexcon.com |
Who’s in charge this year
Each ComplexCon has an artistic director who shapes the look, the programming, and the brands on the floor. For 2026 there are two: Playboi Carti, in the role for the first time, and Hiroshi Fujiwara with his Tokyo design firm Fragment Design. Fujiwara is often called the godfather of streetwear, and he helped build the 1990s Ura-Harajuku scene. Carti also performed at ComplexCon’s first Las Vegas edition in 2024, during Travis Scott’s CactusCon takeover.
Who’s playing
All the music happens at Crypto.com Arena, not on the show floor. The bill leans heavily on Opium, the label Carti founded, which counts Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely on its roster. Here are the posted set times.
Saturday, October 3
| Time | Artist |
|---|---|
| 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. | DJ Moon |
| 7:30 to 8:00 p.m. | ApolloRed1 |
| 8:15 to 9:00 p.m. | HXG |
| 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. | Ken Carson |
Sunday, October 4
| Time | Artist |
|---|---|
| 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. | F1lthy |
| 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. | Destroy Lonely |
| 9:00 to 10:15 p.m. | Playboi Carti |
Know the song, find the night
A quick cheat sheet if you are tagging along with a friend who already knows every word:
| If you know… | Go see | Night |
|---|---|---|
| “Magnolia” | Playboi Carti | Sunday |
| “Jennifer’s Body” | Ken Carson | Saturday |
| “VTMNTSCOAT” | Destroy Lonely | Sunday |
On the convention floor
- The marketplace: Hundreds of brands, retailers, and artists selling exclusive drops. The published booth list includes Fragment Design, Bape, Fear of God, Gallery Dept., Billionaire Boys Club, Hellstar, Awake NY, and Birkenstock, plus booths from the Dodgers, Disney, and the headlining artists themselves.
- ThriftCon: A vintage section with about 100 booths, including The Crown Collection, F As In Frank, and Thrift Row.
- Complex Conversations: Panels and live podcasts. On Saturday the schedule lists “Album of the Year” at 2 p.m. and “Streamer of the Year” at 3:15 p.m. Announced speakers include Adam22, Agent00, DJ Akademiks, French Montana, Rayasianboy, and Yonna Jay.
- Family Style Food Festival: The one part of ComplexCon that is outdoors. Listed vendors include Bone Kettle, Carmen’s Empanadas, Creaminal, Frank ‘n’ Frank’s, Henry’s Pizza, House of Wings, Kuro Artisanal Pizza, and Handles Coffee.
Tickets
Only tickets bought through ComplexCon.com are valid; the festival says anything from an unauthorized seller will be turned away. The FAQ lists three ticket types, and Complex’s own announcement also mentioned a two-day convention-only pass. Check the official ticket page for current prices.
- Two-Day VIP Weekend Pass: An hour of early access (10 a.m.) both days, expedited entry, priority at the merch store, premium pit viewing at both concerts, expedited entry to Complex Conversations, and an exclusive Family Style experience.
- Convention Only General Admission: Entry on Saturday or Sunday starting at 11 a.m.
- Convention + Concert General Admission: Convention entry plus that night’s arena show.
- The concert is not automatic. Arena access has to be chosen when you buy. To get in, you need your ComplexCon wristband and the concert QR code from your confirmation email. Each code scans once.
- Payment plans: Klarna is available at checkout.
- All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges, and the event is rain or shine. A lost wristband costs the full ticket price to replace.
Pick up your wristband
Wristbands are not being shipped this year. Everyone collects theirs at Will Call inside the Los Angeles Convention Center, and the same person has to wear it both days. Will Call hours:
- Thursday, October 1: 2 to 6 p.m.
- Friday, October 2: 2 to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, October 3: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, October 4: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Picking up on Thursday or Friday means one less line on Saturday morning.
Getting there
ComplexCon recommends rideshare or public transit, and there is no festival shuttle.
- Metro: Pico Station (A and E Lines) is about an eight-minute walk, according to the convention center. 7th St/Metro Center and LATTC/Ortho Institute are 10 to 15 minutes on foot. Metro Bus routes and DASH F also run on Figueroa.
- Driving: The convention center’s event page points ComplexCon drivers to the West Hall and South Hall garages.
- Road closure: Pico Boulevard is fully closed between Figueroa Street and L.A. Live Way through March 2028 for convention center expansion work. Plan your drop-off around it.
- Hotels: ComplexCon has discounted room rates through a link on its FAQ page.
What to bring
- A bag up to 20 x 15 x 9 inches. Backpacks, purses, totes, and fanny packs are all fine at that size. Weapons screening happens at the entrances.
- A photo ID. The festival asks everyone to carry one at all times.
- A camera, if you like. Photos and video are welcome on the floor, but recording and flash are not allowed during panels, concerts, or screenings.
- A locker reservation. There is no coat check, but lockers with in-locker phone chargers can be reserved ahead of time. Useful if you plan to shop.
- A stroller, as long as it is not oversized.
What to leave at home
- Rolling luggage, wheeled backpacks, hand carts, and trolleys. Resellers, take note.
- Outside food, drinks, and alcohol.
- Cigarettes, vapes, and cannabis. Prescriptions must be in labeled containers that match your ID.
- Camelbaks, chairs, and coolers.
- Skateboards and scooters.
- Paint pens, Sharpies, markers, and spray cans.
- Flyers, samples, and giveaways you planned to hand out.
- Drones, weapons, and realistic replica weapons. The weapons policy also bans silly string, water guns, and whips.
Bringing kids
Everyone 6 and older needs a convention ticket, and kids under 13 must stay with a parent or guardian the whole time. ComplexCon recommends that anyone under 18 come with a parent or guardian. The concert rules are stricter: everyone 3 and up needs a ticket, and children 2 and under can enter free on a parent’s lap.
Pick your day
- Saturday has the only posted Complex Conversations panels so far, plus Ken Carson closing the arena.
- Sunday is the Opium finale: F1lthy, Destroy Lonely, then Playboi Carti.
- VIP is the only ticket that covers both days and both concerts, with pit viewing each night.
Accessibility
ComplexCon offers ADA services and publishes an ADA guide alongside the convention center’s accessibility information. Companions who provide medical assistance need their own ticket. If a company is providing your companion, email complexcon-ada@tenfiftyent.com to make arrangements.
Still to come
The schedule does not yet list Sunday panels or specific drop times, and ComplexCon says more guests will be announced on its site and social channels. The 824 Journal will update this guide as details are released.
Sources
- ComplexCon, official site
- ComplexCon FAQ (venues, hours, ticket types, will call, re-entry, ages, bag and prohibited items, travel, ADA)
- ComplexCon 2026 schedule (set times and panels)
- ComplexCon 2026 lineup
- ComplexCon 2026 marketplace
- A Decade of ComplexCon timeline
- Complex: Playboi Carti, Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, and More to Perform at ComplexCon 2026 (June 17, 2026)
- Los Angeles Convention Center: ComplexCon 2026
- Los Angeles Convention Center: Directions and Getting Here
Featured photo: Américo Toledano via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
