LightBox Expo returns to the Pasadena Convention Center October 23 through 25, 2026, for its eighth edition, with Brad Bird, Yoshitaka Amano, and the founders of Cartoon Saloon among the guests. The show is built around the artists who design films, animation, games, and illustration, and this year’s program runs more than 200 hours of panels, demos, workshops, and screenings.
Amano and the late Disney Legend Eyvind Earle are this year’s Lifetime Achievement honorees. Badges are on sale now, and kids 12 and under get in free with a paying adult. Here is what to know, pulled from the expo’s site, ticketing page, and published program coverage as of October 5, 2026.
The quick version
| When | Friday, October 23, noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, October 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Where | Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena |
| Badges | $65 Friday, $70 Saturday, $65 Sunday, $195 for all three days, plus service fees |
| Kids | 12 and under free with a paid adult (bring proof of age) |
| Big names | Brad Bird, Yoshitaka Amano, Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey, Paul Young, John Musker, Ron Clements |
| Parking | $15 flat daily rate in the convention center garage |
| Transit | Metro A Line, Memorial Park or Del Mar station |
| Official site | lightboxexpo.com |
Who’s coming
LightBox calls itself a show for artists, by artists, and the guest list reads like the credits you usually skip past. Highlights from the published program:
- Brad Bird, director of The Incredibles.
- Yoshitaka Amano, the artist known for his Final Fantasy illustrations, who receives a Lifetime Achievement honor.
- Eyvind Earle, the late Disney Legend, honored with a Lifetime Achievement award.
- Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey, and Paul Young, the founders of Irish studio Cartoon Saloon.
- John Musker and Ron Clements, marking the 40th anniversary of The Great Mouse Detective.
- Dylan Cole, concept artist on Avatar: Fire and Ash.
- Nathan Greno, director of Swapped.
- Cátia Chien, who won the 2026 Caldecott Medal for Fireworks.
Studios in the building
Animation World Network’s program rundown lists DreamWorks, Sony Pictures Animation, Skydance Animation, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Netflix Animation Studios, Titmouse, Skybound Animation, Paramount Animation, Illumination, Bento Box, Disney Television Animation, ILM, Lucasfilm, Pixar, 20th Television Animation, and Walt Disney Imagineering.
Disney-side panels announced so far include two sessions on designing the creatures, environments, and vehicles of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the Great Mouse Detective anniversary panel, an “Art of the Revival” talk with King of the Hill directors comparing production in 1996 and 2026, several Disney Lorcana trading card game panels with Ravensburger artists, and art panels on Star Wars animation and The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Your weekend, by the evening
The daytime schedule is huge. The evening events are easier to plan around:
| Day | Don’t miss |
|---|---|
| Friday, October 23 | Animayo International Film Festival awards and screening, 9 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 24 | Concept Art Awards ceremony, then The Animation Showcase screening at 9 p.m. |
| All weekend | Storyboard Deli, a new three-day portfolio review program, plus Drag and Draw and a Sketch Crawl |
Badges
Badges are sold through Leap. Prices before fees as of October 5:
- Friday: $65 (about $78.94 with the service fee)
- Saturday: $70 (about $84.93 with the fee)
- Sunday: $65 (about $78.94 with the fee)
- 3-Day: $195 (about $229.54 with the fee)
- Kids: Children 12 and under are free with a paid adult. Bring proof of age.
- Companions: Companions for attendees who need medical assistance must buy a ticket.
- No refunds, but badges are fully transferable.
- Guard your badge. A lost badge is replaced at full price.
Getting there and parking
- Address: 300 E. Green St. For GPS, the expo suggests 175 South Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101.
- Convention center garage: 600 spaces, a $15 flat daily rate, and entrances on Euclid and Marengo avenues. It takes credit cards and contactless payment only, the clearance is 6 feet 6 inches, and a ticket is good for one entry.
- More parking: About 2,500 more spaces sit within a block, including the Los Robles Garage, Paseo garages on Marengo and Arroyo Parkway, and Del Mar Station.
- EV and accessible parking: Eight EV charging stations and accessible spaces, including van-accessible ones, first come, first served.
- Metro: The A Line stops at Memorial Park and Del Mar stations. Foothill Transit Line 187 and Metro Micro also serve the area.
Before you go
- Portfolio reviews: If you are not bringing a physical portfolio, the expo says to download your images onto your device ahead of time, so you are not relying on the building’s signal.
- Food: There is a main concession stand in the Exhibit Hall, smaller snack and drink kiosks around the building, and a Starbucks on site.
- The app: LightBox has a mobile app for the schedule and exhibitor list on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Still to come
Room assignments and full day-by-day panel times are in the expo’s app and schedule pages, and more guests may be added before opening day. The 824 Journal will update this guide with any major additions.
Sources
- LightBox Expo, official site (dates, hours, guests, app)
- LightBox Expo 2026 tickets on Leap (badge prices, kids policy, refunds, transfers)
- LightBox Expo: Transportation (address, parking, transit)
- LightBox Expo: FAQ and Contact (food, portfolio tips)
- Visit Pasadena: Parking and Directions to the Pasadena Convention Center
- Animation World Network: LightBox Expo Posts Full 2026 Program (September 2, 2026)
- Animation Scoop: LightBox Expo in Pasadena Returns on October 23-25
- Laughing Place: LightBox Expo Reveals Disney-Focused Panels for 2026 (September 2, 2026)
Featured photo: WhisperToMe via Wikimedia Commons, CC0
