15 Stars We’re Excited to See at MEGACON Orlando 2026

FAN EXPO’s biggest convention of the year, MEGACON Orlando, is back and ScreenRant is returning as a media partner. Host Liam Crowley will be moderating several panels throughout the weekend with top celebrity guests and ScreenRant will be reporting on all the news to come out of the convention as well as snapping pictures of cosplayers, activations, and more. Besides an impressive guest list, the convention includes a large show floor featuring vendors, artists, and local organizations, after-hours attractions including an event at Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, and fun for the whole family.

MEGACON Orlando takes place from March 19–22 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. This year’s line-up includes a massive reunion of stars from The Lord of the Rings movies, voice actors and singers from the Oscar-winning K-Pop Demon Hunters, and many more. Here are the 15 celebrities we are most excited to see at MEGACON Orlando.

15

P.J. Soles

Known for: Halloween, Carrie

P.J. Soles is known for her roles in horror films. She started her career playing Norma Watson, one of the high school girls who bullied Carrie White in the 1976 adaptation of Stephen King’s novel Carrie before going on to play the best friend of Laurie Stode (Jamie Lee Curtis), Lynda van der Klok, in John Carpenter’s 1978 Halloween. Soles will appear on two panels at MEGACON Orlando. Her first panel is on Saturday at 12:00 PM in Room W311A alongside Halloween cinematographer Dean Cundey, editor Tommy Lee Wallace, and co-star Nick Castle. Her second panel will be on Sunday at 5:00 PM in the Chapin Theater with Cundey, Wallace, and Castle, this time with director John Carpenter.

14

Thora Birch

Known for: Hocus Pocus, American Beauty

Millennials cannot forget Thora Birch from Disney’s Hocus Pocus, where she plays Dani, the Halloween-loving younger sister of Max (Omri Katz). The film has become a cult classic, with dedicated yearly rewatches and a sequel released on Disney+ in 2022. MEGACON Orlando will see the reunion of the cast with a panel featuring Birch, Katz, Vinessa Shaw, who played Allison Watts, and Jason Marsden, who voiced Thackery Binx on Friday at 4:00 PM in Room W311A.

13

Jake Connelly

Known for: Stranger Things

Delightful Derek is taking on MEGACON Orlando! In season 5 of Stranger Things, fans were introduced to Derek Turnbow, played by Connelly. The sometimes delightful, sometimes foul-mouthed character was a classmate of Holly Wheeler’s (Nell Fisher), who comes to play a key role in the show’s final season. The young actor will appear on a panel alongside Cara Buono, who played Karen Wheeler, on Saturday at 2:30 PM in Room W304, celebrating the unsung heroes of Stranger Things.

12

Annabeth Gish

Known for: The X-Files, The Haunting of Hill House, Sons of Anarchy

Annabeth Gish has had an extensive career in film and television, appearing in everything from procedural dramas to superhero films to westerns. She is best known for playing Special Agent Monica Reyes in seasons 8 and 9 of The X-Files alongside Robert Patrick, who also joined the show in the final seasons. Recently, she has also starred in the Mike Flanagan projects The Haunting of Hill House and The Fall of the House of Usher. Gish will appear on a panel on Friday at 2:45 PM in Chapin Theater at MEGACON Orlando, along with X-Files cast members Patrick, Gillian Anderson (Dana Scully), Nicholas Lea (Alex Krycek), and Mitch Pileggi (Walter Skinner).

11

Colin O’Donoghue

Known for: Once Upon a Time

Colin O’Donoghue stole hearts as Captain Hook/Killian Jones in the ABC series Once Upon a Time. After his introduction in season 2, the character quickly became a fan favorite as the roguish love interest of Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison). O’Donoghue will appear on a panel on Saturday at 1:30 PM in Room W304.

10

Sam Witwer

Known for: Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord

Sam Witwer is best known for his work in Star Wars, voicing Darth Maul across film and television, starting with Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The prequel trilogy character is getting his own spinoff on Disney+, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, set to premiere on April 6, shortly after MEGACON Orlando. At the convention, Witwer will appear on two panels, a solo panel on Friday at 2:00 PM in Room W304 and a panel with fellow Star Wars voice actors Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano), Matt Lanter (Anakin Skywalker), James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Catherine Taber (Padmé Amidala), and Nika Fuuterman (Asajj Ventress), on Sunday at 2:00 PM in Room W304.

9

Lena Headey

Known for: Game of Thrones, 300

Lena Headey is best known for playing strong, unflinching female characters like Cersei Lannister in HBO’s Game of Thrones, Sarah Connor in the short-lived Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles series, and Queen Gorgo in the movie 300, to name a few. The actress will next be seen in a lighter role in Red, White, & Royal Wedding, the sequel to the 2023 film Red, White, & Royal Blue, based on the bestselling novel by Casey McQuiston. Headey will appear on a panel at MEGACON Orlando on Sunday at 3:00 PM in Room W304.

8

Frank Grillo

Known for: MCU, DCU, The Purge franchise

Frank Grillo is a man of action, appearing as Brock Rumlow/Crossbones across the MCU, Rick Flag Sr. in the DCU, and Sgt. Le Barnes in The Purge franchise, among others. He has battled his way across both TV and film, putting his real-life boxing, wrestling, and jujitsu skills to use. Grillo will talk about his career and more on a panel on Friday at 6:00 PM in Room W110A.

7

Weta Workshop

Known for: The Lord of the Rings movies

MEGACON Orlando is celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings in a big way with a large portion of the cast in attendance, special experiences, merch, and more. This includes panels and workshops from the team at Weta Workshop, the New Zealand-based creative services company behind the sets, armor, props, weapons, creatures, and more of The Lord of the Rings series. On Thursday at 5:30 PM in room W101 and Sunday at 11:15 AM in Room W102B, the textiles department and specialty costume maker Flo Foxworthy will host a panel about creating costumes for film and TV. On Sunday at 12:00 PM in Room W205C, Weta co-founder Sir Richard Taylor and contributing creature, armor, and weapons designer Daniel Falconer will host a panel telling stories from their time working on the LoTR films. Taylor will also host a masterclass on modern sculpting techniques on Saturday at 3:15 PM in Room W102B for an additional fee.

6

John Noble

Known for: The Lord of the Rings, Fringe

John Noble is one of the many members of The Lord of the Rings cast attending MEGACON Orlando. His role in the films as Denethor is best remembered for the infamous tomato-eating scene, alongside the lovely singing by Pippin (Billy Boyd, who will also be at MEGACON). Besides playing the Steward of Gondor, Noble is also known for his role in Fringe as scientist Dr. Walter Bishop, Morland Holmes in Elementary, and Henry Parrish in Sleepy Hollow. His panel will be on Saturday at 2:15 PM in Room W205C.