FAQ

Join us at MagicCon: Chicago as we kick off the first show of the season! From February 21-23, we’ll be bringing you the best play events, the coolest merch, and the most exciting experiences that the world of Magic has to offer in the windy city! Stay tuned for news and updates as we get closer to the show and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter!

Get ready to delve into Dungeons & Dragons at MagicCon: Chicago! Whether you’re a veteran player or a recent fan, there’s a D&D experience for everyone. More information on D&D at MagicCon: Chicago will be available soon!

MagicCon: Chicago is brought to you by two amazing teams: ReedPop and Wizards of the Coast! These two teams are delivering you the best Magic content from around the world and so much more!

MagicCon: Chicago will take place February 21-23, 2025.

Show Floor Hours

• Friday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Saturday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Play Hall Hours

• Friday: 10:00 AM - 11:59 PM
• Saturday: 10:00 AM - 11:59 PM
• Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

MagicCon: Chicago will be held at the McCormick Place, Lakeside Center. The McCormick Place is home to some of the most exciting extravaganzas in the midwest. Experience Magic in the windy city! 

There are three main parking lots on the McCormick Place campus. All are in close proximity and walking distance to our convention complex and are ADA accessible. The closest parking lot for MagicCon: Chicago attendees is Lot C, Gate 30. The address for Lot C is Fort Dearborn Drive, Chicago, IL 60616. For parking information and rates, please visit Parking & Rates - McCormick Place.

Interested in all the cool exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities at MagicCon: Chicago? Click here for more info! 

A Quiet Room is available to all MagicCon: Chicago badge holders who need to take a sensory break during show hours. Please be courteous and respectful of your fellow fans sharing this space. Check back closer to the event for room location.

Quiet Room Hours

• Friday, February 21, 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Saturday, February 22, 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Sunday, February 23, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

If you're hurt at MagicCon: Chicago, reach out to the MagicCon staff, crew, or nearby Security and we'll get you the help you need.

If a person engages in harassing behavior, MagicCon: Chicago Staff will take prompt action in any form they deem appropriate, including expulsion from MagicCon: Chicago with no refund. Our policy applies to everyone at the convention. Exhibitors, fans (attendees), speakers, guests, professionals, press, staff, volunteers, and security are all subject to our Code of Conduct Policy.

For more information and details on reporting harassment, please visit our Code of Conduct Page.

MagicCon: Chicago does not provide childcare services. All children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a paid adult guardian at all times, including during play events. Minors should be within 10 to 15 feet of their guardian at all times.

Yes! Please check back closer to the event for complimentary wi-fi details.

If you find yourself in a situation in which you are lost or separated, please search for the nearest MagicCon staff member, Info Booth, or security officer and they can help you. 

We are unable to use the PA system for fans or exhibitors. We recommend you arrange a time and place to meet beforehand.

The safety and security of our fans, exhibitors, and staff, is our priority. We work closely with the venue, corporate security, state, local, and federal law enforcement authorities to identify risks, assess them, and develop security plans for our events.

Everyone attending MagicCon should be aware that the following are in place:

• Security may approach you to assist outside, at entry, or inside MagicCon
• Everyone must wear their MagicCon badge at all times. This includes exhibitors, vendors, fans (attendees), speakers, guests, artists, professionals, press, staff, and crew.
• Bag checks are in operation at our events
• Walkthrough or hand held scanners may be in operation at our events
• CCTVs in operation at our events are monitored and recorded
• Uniformed and covert security guards and police are in attendance at our event
• Canine security and detection is in operation at some of our events

Everyone attending MagicCon is requested to:

• Keep personal property with you at all times and don't leave any items unattended
• Report anything that looks unusual, suspicious, or just out of place to MagicCon staff, security, or crew
• Remain patient and courteous with MagicCon staff and security undertaking security checks. We have your best interests at heart and want to get you inside the building as quickly as possible
• Follow the instructions of MagicCon staff at all times
• On the final day you're attending MagicCon, keep your badge as a souvenir or dispose of it inside the venue or when you've returned home. Don't sell it to scalpers who may be outside on the streets. Don't throw it away in trash cans outside the venue. Scalpers are sneaky and may attempt to upsell it to an unsuspecting fan who doesn't have a badge
• Carry a recognized form of photo ID at all times. This includes passports, drivers license, and government issued IDs.

The buying and selling of counterfeit / knock-off / unlicensed / bootleg materials is prohibited at Magic Con: Chicago. MagicCon takes intellectual property infringement very seriously. Violators of this policy may have the counterfeit items confiscated and/or be removed from the show.

We’re sorry, but please leave your furry companions at home. MagicCon: Chicago will allow service animals only.

Hate symbols are not permitted at MagicCon: Chicago, including as part of cosplay. Magic Con: Chicago will not allow costumes that contain hate symbols or appropriate the symbolism of hate groups, including, but not limited to, historical/comic-related/satirical costumes that are associated with Nazis.

At the discretion of Security onsite, the following may be allowed:

• Lightweight plastic and metal shields
• Lightweight plastic/PVC props
• Toy guns as long as they do not look like real ones, cannot function or shoot projectiles and have an orange tip on the barrel.  The barrel of all prop firearms must be covered with brightly-colored caps.
• Prop bows will be allowed providing all arrows have soft tips made of foam or cardboard and the bow itself is de-strung. If it is not, our security team will be de-string the bow.

If any of the above items are deemed unsafe by MagicCon: Chicago Security, they will not be allowed inside the building.

Management shall have sole discretion in any matter that it believes may affect public safety or be important to protect the integrity of the event.

No functional props or weapons are allowed at MagicCon: Chicago. Simulated or costume weapons may be allowed as a part of your costume, subject to prior approval by security. MagicCon: Chicago will perform bag check at entry to the event, as well as tagging prop weapons when deemed necessary.

Badges are on sale now!

All attendees age 10 and over must purchase a badge to attend MagicCon: Chicago. Children age 9 and under may attend MagicCon for free with a paid adult guardian.

If you are attending with a child under 10, please visit the Registration/Will Call area when you arrive, and we will issue you a complimentary child credential.

Please note, all minors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent and/or guardian at all times.

MagicCon is proud to offer a reduced-fee “Youth” badge type for attendees age 10 – 15. 

If you are attending with a child under 10, please visit the Registration/Will Call area when you arrive, and we will issue you a complimentary child credential.

Please note, all minors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent and/or guardian at all times.

Ticketed Play events are now available! Register today.  

The Command Zone is accessible to all MagicCon: Chicago attendees as seating is available. Seating is a first come, first serve basis.

All badges purchased on or before to January 10, 2025, will be shipped. In advance Any badges purchased after January 10, 2025, will be available for onsite pickup at Registration/Will Call at the Lakeside Center. Precise location information will be shared closer to the show.

If you do not receive your badge in the mail by 2/14/25 please reach out to customer service so we can retrieve tracking details and secure your replacement.

We are unable to ship in advance to an international address. International attendees may pick up their badge when they arrive onsite. Badges purchased after January 10, 2025, must be picked up onsite.

Registration/Call Hours

• Thursday, February 20:  12:00 – 6:00 PM
• Friday, February 21:  8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
• Saturday, February 22:  8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
• Sunday, February 23:  8:30 AM – 6:00 PM

If you purchased on or before January 10, 2025, your badge and pre-order merchandise will ship to your U.S. domestic address at least 3-4 weeks prior to MagicCon: Chicago. We are unable to ship in advance to an international address. International attendees may pick up their badge and pre-order merchandise when they arrive onsite.

Merchandise included in your badge package will be available for onsite pick up only. If you do not pick up your merchandise prior to the show closing, you forfeit ownership of the merchandise. We are unable to mail badge package merchandise to you post-event and you are not entitled to a refund.

If you are an international attendee or purchased a badge after the badge mailing deadline (January 10, 2025), your badge will be available for pick up onsite at Registration/Will Call.

Registration location Information coming soon.

All free items included with your badge purchase may be picked up onsite at Ticketed Merch Pick-Up.

Registration/Will Call Hours

• Thursday, February 20:  12:00 – 6:00 PM
• Friday, February 21:  8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
• Saturday, February 22:  8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
• Sunday, February 23:  8:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Ticketed Merch Pick-Up

• Friday, February 21:  8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
• Saturday, February 22:  8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
• Sunday, February 23:  8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
• Location information coming soon.
• If you do not pick up your merchandise prior to the show closing, you forfeit ownership of the merchandise. We are unable to mail badge package merchandise to you post-event and you are not entitled to a refund.

Please make your badge and ticketed play event selections carefully. Once purchased, MagicCon: Chicago badges and Ticketed Play Events are non-refundable and non-transferable and cannot be reproduced, resold or upgraded.

Any purchase of a Journey A or a Journey B Level 20 VIP package is non-refundable and non-transferable. You may only participate in the Journey package you have purchased. Once purchased, you may not trade, transfer, or receive a refund for your purchased Journey package for any reason. Management will not exchange Journey packages once purchased.

Important note: Make sure to read and ensure you can comply with the entire Health & Safety policy prior to making your purchase.

Tickets and/or badges (“Badges”) for the MagicCon event (“Event”) are non-refundable and cannot be reproduced or upgraded. The unauthorized resale or attempted resale of the Badge is prohibited and will constitute a forfeiture of the Badge without compensation. Each Badge must be used by the same person (the “Attendee”) for each day of the Event and such use is at all times subject to the Terms of Service for Participation in the Event, which is made available on the Event website. The Event’s operating hours, schedules, guests and speakers are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Each Badge is a revocable license to attend the Event. All panels, autographing, photo ops, special events, show features and performances are subject to availability and access is not guaranteed and/or may require an additional fee. ReedPOP is not responsible for lost or stolen Badges. The Attendee acknowledges there are hazards and risks of physical injury or illness to Attendees of the Event and that not all such hazards or risks can be fully eliminated. By accepting this Badge and attending the Event, the Attendee freely and voluntarily agrees to assume the full risk of bodily injury or property damage, regardless of severity, or death that Attendee may sustain as a result of attending the Event, whether or not caused by the negligence or gross negligence of ReedPOP.

Check out our industry page and our application page to see how you can be a part of the Magic! 

MagicCon: Chicago is dedicated to making a fun and safe environment for all. Please click here for our full Health and Safety Policy.

MagicCon: Chicago is committed to making sure that all of our fans have an amazing experience. Please take inventory of your needs as they pertain to attending the show. Depending on what you need, our Accessibility Services Program may be for you. ReedPop events provide Accessibility assistance to individuals who may have mobility, physical, vision, hearing, cognitive, psychological, invisible or other types of disabilities.

You can visit the Accessibility Services Hub onsite for more information, or if you have questions prior to the event, please email [email protected].

MagicCon: Chicago is dedicated to making a fun and safe environment for all. Please click here for our full Anti-Harassment policy.