| Armageddon Expo | |
| Status: | Active |
| Genre: | Science fiction Comic Con Multi-genre |
| Location: | New Zealand Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga. |
| First: | 1995 |
| Organizer: | Beyond Reality Media Premiere Event Management Ltd |
| Attendance: | A combined yearly attendance average of 120,000+ attendees |
Armageddon Expo is a New Zealand owned and operated pop culture convention that holds multiple events around New Zealand in cities including Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga and Christchurch. The event, run by Beyond Reality Media Premier Event Management, has been running continuously since 1995. It has evolved from its roots of comics and trading cards to showcase computer and video gaming, animation, film and television, cosplay, comics, live wrestling, and retailers selling pop-culture merchandise.
The convention hosts celebrity guests from the worlds of movies, TV shows, animation, cosplay, YouTube, comics and gaming. Event attendees can meet guests, purchase autographs and photo opportunities as well as watch panels featuring the guests. Armageddon Expo is one of the largest public conventions held in New Zealand.
Armageddon began in Auckland, New Zealand on the weekend of 2 December 1995, at the Avondale Raceway. In 1997, the expo added a Wellington event, followed in 1999 byan event in Melbourne. Over the next 17 years, Armageddon held events in Australia sporadically. In 2007, the first Christchurch Armageddon event was held; Armageddon has also hosted events in other cities in New Zealand including Hamilton, Manukau, and Dunedin.
In 2019, in the wake of the Christchurch mosque shootings, Armageddon changed its policy on weaponry and military attire, banning all realistic depictions.[1] The new policy received some public criticism,[2] however it was generally[3] well-accepted.
Armageddon was expected to celebrate its 25th birthday in 2020, but event plans had to be altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.
Current show events include:
Armageddon hosts a variety of stalls run by companies from around NZ and internationally, with merchandise including comics, gaming, trading cards, anime, steampunk and memorabilia sales. At each event, there are numerous NZ and overseas comic creators and artists also selling their products.
| Dates | Location | Comic Guests | TV/Movie Guests | Animation Guests | Cosplay Guests | Other Guests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2–3, 1995 | Avondale Raceway, Auckland | ||||||
| August 25, 1996 | Freemans Bay Community Centre, Auckland | ||||||
| March 9, 1997 | Freemans Bay Community Centre, Auckland | ||||||
| August 17, 1997 | Freemans Bay Community Centre, Auckland | ||||||
| 24 August 1997 | Victoria University, Wellington | ||||||
| 21–22 March 1998 | Alexander Raceway, Auckland | Kurt Busiek, Mark Waid, Devin Grayson | |||||
| 28-29 March 1998 | Wellington Raceway, Wellington | Kurt Busiek, Mark Waid, Devin Grayson | |||||
| 3–4 October 1998 | Aotea Centre, Auckland | Joe Kelly, Steven Seagle, Chris Bachalo | |||||
| 29–30 May 1999 | Aotea Centre, Auckland | Claudia Christian (Babylon 5), Chase Masterson | |||||
| 5–6 June 1999 | Melbourne Expo Centre, Melbourne, Australia | Claudia Christian (Babylon 5), Chase Masterson |
| Dates | Location | Comic Guests | TV/Movie Guests | Animation Guests | Cosplay Guests | Other Guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-12 April 2020 | Sky Stadium, Wellington[143] | Postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.[144] | ||||
| 18-19 July 2020 | Baypark Arena, Tauranga | Lana Parrilla, Rebecca Mader, Sean Maguire (Once Upon a Time), John Barrowman (Doctor Who, Arrow), Mena Massoud (Aladdin), Danielle Panabaker, Danielle Nicolet (The Flash), Rachael Harris (Lucifer), Troy Baker (The Last of Us), Christopher Sabat (Dragon Ball Z) | ||||
| 1-2 August 2020 | Sky Stadium, Wellington | Lana Parrilla, Rebecca Mader, Sean Maguire (Once Upon a Time), John Barrowman (Doctor Who, Arrow), Melanie Scrofano (Wynonna Earp), Carlos Valdes, Danielle Nicolet (The Flash), Anthony Rapp (Star Trek: Discovery), Rachael Harris (Lucifer), Troy Baker (The Last of Us), Christopher Sabat (Dragon Ball Z) | ||||
| 23-26 October 2020 | ASB Showgrounds, Auckland | Jenna Coleman, Sacha Dhawan, Catherine Tate, John Barrowman (Doctor Who), Summer Glau (Firefly), Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley (Vampire Diaries), Lindsay Jones, Barbara Dunkelman, Kara Eberle, Arryn Zech (RWBY), Oded Fehr (The Mummy), Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville), Gavin Leatherwood (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), David Ramsey (Arrow), Katherine McNamara, Luke Baines (Shadowhunters), Veronica Taylor (Pokémon), Rob Benedict, Richard Speight Jr., Felicia Day, Alexander Calvert (Supernatural), Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, Ben Browder (Stargate SG-1), Tom Cavanagh, Carlos Valdes, Danielle Nicolet, Danielle Panabaker (The Flash), Dichen Lachman (Altered Carbon), Anna Popplewell (Reign), Freddie Prinze Jr, Jon Lee Brody (GEGGHEAD), Bill Mumy, Ed Wasser, Claudia Christian, Josh Cox, Patricia Tallman, Peter Jurasik, Jason Carter (Babylon 5), Julie Benz, Juliet Landau (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Sonequa Martin-Green, Anthony Rapp, Anson Mount, Emily Coutts, Jayne Brook, Mary Chieffo, Ken Mitchell (Star Trek: Discovery), Joe Flanigan, Rachel Luttrell (Stargate Atlantis), Harvey Guillen (What We Do in the Shadows), Holly Marie Combs, Drew Fuller (Charmed), Nolan North (Gaming), Nafessa Williams, Chantal Thuy (Black Lightning), Trace Lysette (Transparent), Summer Bishil, Hale Appleman, Stella Maeve, Brittany Curran, Jade Tailor (The Magicians), David Dastmalchian (Ant-Man), Dan Slott (Comics), Ashley Eckstein (Clone Wars), Christopher Sabat (Dragon Ball Z), Bridget Regan (Agent Carter), Graham McTavish (Outlander), Neil Sandilands (The Flash), Ivana Baquero (Pan's Labyrinth), Jonny Brugh (What We Do in the Shadows), Karen O'Leary, Mike Minogue (Wellington Paranormal) | ||||
| 17-18 April 2021 | Sky Stadium, Wellington | Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), Jesse Rath, Nicole Maines (Supergirl), Jes Macallan, Neal McDonough (Legends of Tomorrow), Matt Frewer (Max Headroom), Amanda Bearse, William Ragsdale (Fright Night), Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian), Michelle Hurd (Star Trek: Picard), Mary Wiseman (Star Trek: Discovery), Nana Visitor (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Ashley Eckstein (Star Wars Rebels), Maile Flanagan (Naruto), Zeno Robinson (My Hero Academia), Stephanie Nadolny (Dragon Ball Z) | ||||
| 29-30 May 2021 | Christchurch Arena, Christchurch | Javicia Leslie, Rachel Skarsten, Camrus Johnson, Nicole Kang (Batwoman), Summer Glau (Firefly), Felicia Day (Supernatural), Jesse Rath, Nicole Maines (Supergirl), Kevin Alejandro (Lucifer), Amy Acker (Angel), Chris Conner (Altered Carbon), Kane Hodder (Horror), Alan Oppenheimer, Melendy Britt (Skeletor & She-Ra), King Vader (YouTube), Greg Baldwin (Avatar The Last Airbender), Stephanie Nadolny (Dragon Ball Z) | ||||
| 12-13 June 2021 | Baypark Arena, Tauranga | Jesse Rath, Nicole Maines (Supergirl), Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian), Felicia Day, Emily Swallow, Robbie Thompson (Supernatural), Catherine Tate (Doctor Who), Robert Picardo, Robert Beltran (Star Trek Voyager), Kandyse McClure, Michael Trucco (Battlestar Galactica), Maile Flanagan (Naruto), Kari Wahlgren (Rick & Morty), Stephanie Nadolny (Dragon Ball Z) | ||||
| 6-7 August 2021 | Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North | Alan Tudyk (Firefly), Amanda Tapping (Stargate SG-1), Timothy Omundson (Galavant/Supernatural), Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid (Fresh Prince of Belair), Danielle Panabaker, Tom Cavanagh (The Flash), Javicia Leslie, Rachel Skarsten, Meagan Tandy, Wallis Day (Batwoman), David Ramsey (Arrow), Kat Barrell (Wynonna Earp), Jill Harris, Dallas Reid (Black Clover), Christina Kelly (Food Wars) | ||||
| 10-12 June 2022 | Auckland Showgrounds, Auckland | Lauren Tom (Futurama, Supernatural), Meng'er Zhang (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul, Far Cry 6, The Mandalorian), Teresa Palmer (Discovery of Witches), Javicia Leslie (Batwoman), Veronica Taylor, Rachael Lillis (Pokémon), Jim Byrnes (Highlander), Osric Chau (Supernatural, The Flash), Colleen O'Shaughnessey (Sonic the Hedgehog), Miles Luna, Samantha Ireland (RWBY), Cris George (My Hero Academia), Bryson Baugus (Attack on Titan), Viva La Dirt League | ||||
| 23-24 July 2022 | Baypark Arena, Tauranga | Melanie Scrofano (Wynonna Earp), Jon McLaren, Kimberly-Sue Murray, Alex Weiner, Jason Cavalier, Robert Montcalm (Guardians of the Galaxy game), Veronica Taylor, Rachael Lillis (Pokémon), Meng'er Zhang (Shang-Chi), Javicia Leslie (Batwoman), Michael Shanks (Stargate SG-1), Juliana Harkavy, Rick Gonzalez (Arrow), Grace Van Dien (Stranger Things), Mike McFarland (Dragon Ball Z, Attack on Titan), Joe Zieja (Fire Emblem) | ||||
| 6-7 August 2022 | Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North | Ross Marquand (The Walking Dead), Holland Roden, Colton Haynes (Teen Wolf), Jim Beaver (Supernatural), Veronica Taylor, Rachael Lillis (Pokémon), Michael Shanks (Stargate SG-1), Juliana Harkavy, Rick Gonzalez (Arrow), Mike McFarland (Dragon Ball Z, Attack on Titan), Joe Zieja (Fire Emblem) | ||||
| 3-4 December 2022 | Sky Stadium, Wellington | Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), Summer Glau (Firefly), Hale Appleman (The Magicians), Graham McTavish (House of the Dragon), Liam McIntyre (Spartacus), Evan Evagora (Star Trek: Picard) | Veronica Taylor (Pokémon), Leah Clark (My Hero Academia), Austin Tindle (Tokyo Ghoul) | CutiePieSensei, SpicyThaiDesign | ||
| 10-11 December 2022 | Te Pae Christchurch Convention Center, Christchurch | Vico Ortiz (Our Flag Means Death), Summer Glau (Firefly), Hale Appleman (The Magicians), Graham McTavish (House of the Dragon), Liam McIntyre (Spartacus), Evan Evagora (Star Trek: Picard) | Veronica Taylor (Pokémon), Leah Clark (My Hero Academia), Austin Tindle (Tokyo Ghoul) | CutiePieSensei | ||
| 25-26 March 2023 | Baypark Arena, Tauranga | Jamie Campbell Bower (Stranger Things), Amie Donald (M3GAN, Sweet Tooth), Brian Beacock (Digimon Tamers, Bleach) | ||||
| 3-5 June 2023 | Auckland Showgrounds, Auckland | Michelle Gomez, Sacha Dhawan (Doctor Who), Caity Lotz (Legends of Tomorrow), Jack Gleeson (Game of Thrones), John Noble (LOTR, Fringe), David Anders, Emilie de Ravin, Georgina Haig (Once Upon A Time), Clive Standen, Lucy Martin (Vikings), Afshan Azad (Harry Potter) | Landon McDonald (Demon Slayer), Nicolas Roye, Justine Huxley (Apex Legends) | SpicyThaiDesign | ||
| 5-6 August 2023 | Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North | Aaron Dismuke (Fullmetal Alchemist), Sarah Wiedenheft (Chainsaw Man), Katelyn Barr (My Hero Academia) | ||||
| 20-23 October 2023 | Auckland Showgrounds, Auckland | Kate Mulgrew, Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager), Melissa Navia, Jess Bush (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds), Todd Stashwick (Star Trek: Pircard), Troy Baker (The Last of Us), Katy O'Brian, Omid Abtahi, Brendan Wayne (The Mandalorian), Brian Krause (Charmed), Ross Marquand (Avengers, The Walking Dead) | Austin Tindle (Tokyo Ghoul), Jason Spisak (Arcane), Derick Snow (Fire Force), Anairis Quiñones (My Hero Academia), A.J. Beckles (Tokyo Revengers) | Danielle DeNicola, WitchyBrew, Morgan Le Foy, SpicyThaiDesign | The Hillywood Show | |
| 24-25 February 2024 | Dorothy Winstone Center, Auckland Girls' Grammar School, Auckland (24th) and The Opera House, Te Aro, Wellington (25th)The Lord of Time | Christopher Eccleston, Wendy Padbury, Caitlin Blackwood | ||||
| 16-17 March 2024 | Baypark Arena, Tauranga | David Hewlett, David Nykl (Stargate Atlantis), Gigi Edgley (Farscape), Spencer Wilding (Rogue One) | Zach Aguilar (Demon Slayer), Daman Mills (Dragon Ball Z) | Takayoshi Tanimoto | ||
| 6-7 April 2024 | Sky Stadium, Wellington | John Layman (CHEW), Ron Marz (Green Lantern) | Catherine Tate (Doctor Who), Holly Marie Combs (Charmed), John Noble (Fringe, Lord of the Rings), Joe Flanigan (Stargate Atlantis), Clive Standen, Lucy Martin (Vikings) | Abby Trott (Demon Slayer), Caitlin Glass (My Hero Academia) | ||
| 13-14 April 2024 | Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre | John Layman (CHEW), Ron Marz (Green Lantern) | Catherine Tate (Doctor Who), Holly Marie Combs (Charmed), John Noble (Fringe, Lord of the Rings), Joe Flanigan (Stargate Atlantis), Clive Standen, Lucy Martin (Vikings) | Abby Trott (Demon Slayer), Caitlin Glass (My Hero Academia) | ||
| 15-16 June 2024 | Auckland Showgrounds, Auckland | Dean Rankine, Joshua Sky | Robert Patrick, John Barrowman, Tiya Sircar, Luke Baines, Temuera Morrison | Doug Cockle, Ian Cardoni, Harry Belden, Spencer Grammer, Bryce Papenbrook, Veronica Taylor, Matthew Waterson, Christina Kelly, Ryan Bartley | Hench & Scrap Foundry, Stella Chu | Sayaka Sasaki, Viva La Dirt League |
| 3-4 August 2024 | Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North | Ivanna Sakhno, Austin Tindle, Faye Mata | ||||
| 25-28 October 2024 | Auckland Showgrounds, Auckland | colspan=5 | ||||
| 5-6 April 2025 | Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre | colspan=5 | ||||
| 18-20 April 2025 | Sky Stadium, Wellington | |||||
From 2015 to 2017, Armageddon also operated the New Zealand Comic con[145] [146] in Wellington. Events included:
Despite attracting nearly 25,000 guests, the last New Zealand Comic Con was held in 2017.
NZ Anime Convention (also known as the Dunedin Anime Experience) was a commercial anime and manga convention held in Dunedin, New Zealand.[147] It was first held in 2009 in a growing response to include Dunedin into the Armageddon Expo family. The first event was held in the Dunedin Town Hall[148] and from 2010 onwards at Castle Lecture Complex in the University of Otago.[149] [150] This event ceased after two years and was replaced by the Armageddon Expo Dunedin Show in 2012.[151]