The first ever convention I went to was Melbourne Armengedon in 2007. I was thirteen years old, I was so excited to be surrounded by the same people who had the same hobbies as me for the first time in my life. The price was $16 AUD for a one day ticket, according to AnimeCons.com. While Armengedon 2026 has decided not to come back to Australia they are in New Zealand, the adult pricing is $32 NZD ($26.32 AUD) for a one day ticket. The first time I went to Supernova in Melbourne was in 2010, to buy tickets on the day was $25 AUD according to Fancons.com. An all day pass at the door is now $57 AUD. That’s an extra $32, a 128% increase since 2010. The prices have effectively doubled in the past 15-20 years. I understand inflation, but this seems to be a case of hyperinflation to gouge the consumer. This ultimately hurts the fans and small-time artists, pricing them out of their hobbies all together.
Conventions increasingly feel less like a collective hub of like minded people and more like an event to extract as much cash as possible. In the past I would prowl Artist Alley — networking with creators, buying prints, discovering small independent artists, and supporting people trying to break into creative industries. It was in this space that I was introduced to other fandoms and became a fan of these franchises, like Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? and Erased. That was the heart of the experience for me, community. Now, the entry fee has become astronomical, and I find that I cannot justify attending just for the panels, let alone spend additional money inside the venue such as food and paying for a celebrity autograph session.
Originally, these events gained traction because people wanted spaces where they could feel accepted and share ideas creating a community. Especially for those who felt isolated or different — conventions became a safe space to nerd out without fear of judgement from others. Rising ticket prices steadily erode that accessibility to such places. This especially targets the disabled community, these people feel out of place in ordinary life due to their differences. Cosplaying in the disabled community is a way to escape from reality and become someone else for a little while (Cannata, 2016). A majority of disabled people are on pensions or fixed incomes and are limited on what they can spend. As costs rise, they are driven from a place where they once felt welcomed and accepted.
Ironically, these rising prices hurt the very people conventions should be supporting. Fans attend less frequently or spend less once inside, and smaller artists lose out because attendees are already financially stretched before they even enter the building. The atmosphere changes too, as the result is a quieter, less diverse, less passionate community — one shaped more by consumer spending power than genuine enthusiasm.
Conventions for sci-fi and anime originally were grassroots celebrations of fandom (Tony Jones, n.d). Increasingly, they feel like premium entertainment products designed around extracting as much money as possible from fans. While organisers may argue the costs are unavoidable, there’s a growing sense among long-time attendees that the balance between accessibility and outright consumer gouging has been lost. Most attendees understand that venues, insurance, staffing, and celebrity guests cost money. But when ticket prices rise dramatically and the sense of community diminishes, many fans begin questioning what exactly they are paying for anymore.
Ultimately, it’s the fans with their energy, their love that make these events magical. Fans are not simply customers to monetize — they are the atmosphere, the creativity, and the emotional heart of these events. Without accessible communities, conventions stop feeling magical and start feeling transactional.
References:
Cannata, L. (2016, November 1). Cosplaying while disabled is both wonderful and frustrating. Twin Cities Geek. https://twincitiesgeek.com/2016/11/when-it-comes-to-options-for-disabled-cosplayers-oracle-isnt-enough/
Jones, T. (n.d.). The history of the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon). Starburst Magazine. Retrieved May 23, 2026, from https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/history-worldcon/