With the end of the holidays and the start of the new year, you might have been gifted tickets to G-FEST... Or you may have treated yourself… Or you may plan to continue your tradition of visiting the biggest kaiju convention in North America. At G-FEST, we share the love of all things kaiju and Tokusatsu, a once hard to find interest outside of Asia. G-FEST is where I found a second family. It’s the convention I call home. As unfathomable as it seems now, years ago, the convention started in a handful of rooms in a tiny hotel. Regardless if you were there with us or are just joining us now, we want to share that love of kaiju with you, starting with a brief guide to what you can expect next July…
How to get here
When you’ve decided to come to Chicago, you’ll need to reserve a hotel. (ASAP to get a good rate at a convenient hotel) and - if you haven’t already - secure tickets to the convention. You can order online or purchase at the door. Both will be picked up at the convention registration desk.
GFEST PRO TIP: Purchase Online: - The vast majority of convention-goers buy online and pick up at pre-registration. - You can get discounted tickets online if you buy early. Be on the look out for e-mails and social media posts marking when those sales go live! - Weekend tickets are available for early pickup on Thursday - VIP options are only available online! (These are sold out for 2025) Purchase at the door: - Good if you’re not sure how many days you’ll come and just want to check out the scene. - As with most conventions, tickets at the door have long lines and can cut into the programming you really want to see.
Hotels are important as room blocks fill up fast. G-FEST works with several hotels in the area that are within walking distance to make sure there’s enough space for everyone. Ideally you should book as soon as you know you’re going to G-FEST to stay at the most convenient hotels and at a good rate. For the latest information and block availability for hotels, sign up for the G-FEST newsletter. We send out regular updates when a new hotel block becomes available for booking.
As for getting to the convention, it’s relatively easy by car or by plane. Hotels offer shuttle service to and from the Chicago O’Hare airport and is very simple to use. I’ve done so myself when I was living across the country, flying to G-FEST. Alternatively, for those within driving distance, as I am now, parking is in the back of the Hyatt, past the hotel entry, and is easily validated at the hotel front desk if you have a hotel reservation there.
Now you’re here!
Once you’ve arrived the fun can begin! But don’t let that stop you from listening to Akira Ifukube on repeat while you travel…
The Opening Ceremonies are the ‘official’ start of the convention where we celebrate the time spent since the previous G-FEST. Often, it’s one of the few opportunities to see all of the guests in one place and they frequently like to introduce themselves, giving heartfelt messages to the crowd.
Don’t fret if you’re unable to make it to the ceremonies! Guests are available to meet and sign autographs at the convention. What each guest charges is up to them and is a separate ticket from your convention badge. You can purchase guest meet-and-greets separately from your badge at the autograph room. Occasionally we’ll have a popular guest that requires advanced ticket purchase, but we will let you know if that is required! Guests also may have interview panels or workshops that you can attend if you’re unable to meet them face to face. Look out on the schedule for these events!
G-FEST PRO TIP: Guests are usually announced in late spring and early summer and range from producers, directors, and actors, to independent industry creators throughout the Tokusatsu genre. You can also suggest to G-FEST through e-mail or social media what guests you would like to meet - while we cannot guarantee schedules and availability will match (this year), we will do our best!
If guests aren’t your thing, there’s plenty else to do! We have several threads running simultaneously over the weekend which means you won’t be bored.
Panels make up about half of our programming and vary greatly in topic. We’ve previously seen panels celebrating your favorite films and their anniversaries [Return of Godzilla (40th) and Ghidorah the three-headed monster (60th)], discussions on women within the Godzilla franchise, and even panels talking about how kaiju are influenced by Japanese lore and cryptozoology!
G-FEST PRO TIP: Did you know you can submit your own panels? If there’s a topic you’d be interested in putting together a panel on, keep an eye out for 2026 submissions!
Gaming is one of our popular threads which includes video game arcade and a separate tabletop gaming room. If panel discussions aren’t your thing, then test your skills in one of several video game tournaments or bring your best friends along for an afternoon playing Tokyo Clash! There’s always a table open and plenty of kaiju themed games to play!
If you’re a maker, then a stop to see the Modelling and Art rooms is a must. These are two branches of G-FEST where you can show off your 2D and 3D creations, or go to see what others in our fandom have created! Fondly known as the “Biggest Little Giant Reptile Show on Earth”, the Modelling thread attracts big names in the business who give panels on sculpting and painting techniques. Last year, we welcomed both Takuji Yamada and James Groman who got to meet with G-FEST makers.
G-FEST PRO TIP: The schedule and a list of panels will be released a few weeks before the convention!
G-FEST is a family convention so there’s plenty to do for younger attendees. In fact, Minya’s room is a dedicated space for kids and offers a wide variety of crafting activities such as kaiju coloring pages for parents to do with their children.
Most of our contests also include youth divisions for kids 12 and under. This is a great way to get that Godzilla drawing off of the fridge and in front of friends! Just be sure to check the rules of the specific contest you want to enter first as some do not take same-day entries.
G-FEST Pro Tip: Conventions can get busy and loud and that can be a lot… that’s why we have a designated quiet room on the lower level so you and your loved ones can catch your breath.
Can’t Miss Events
I don’t mean this lightly when I say you won’t regret seeing any of the following at G-FEST.
Ever attend Comic Con and get giddy every time you saw anything Godzilla in the artist and vendor halls? Now, imagine a whole vendor room dedicated to vintage and new vinyl tokusatsu merchandise… Heavenly. G-FEST hosts a selection of some of our favorite artists and creators too. In previous years, we’ve been privileged to have renowned artists Bob Eggleton and Matt Frank! In addition, we’re always lucky to host indie kaiju modelers like Titanic Creations at Kaiju World! Regardless, Kaiju World is a MUST for collectors.
G-FEST PRO TIP: Many dealers accept both cash and card, but, while there is an ATM on-site, we HIGHLY recommend you come to G-FEST with cash as the ATM quickly runs out over the weekend.
G-FEST PRO TIP: The line for Kaiju World is always longest in the hours after opening for the day. Look at the G-FEST program to see if there are other events you’d like to attend instead and come back in the afternoon when the line is shorter!
One of the most unique features of G-FEST is Dojo Studios. Inspired by the original suit actors, our crew tirelessly films tokusatsu-style shorts during the convention weekend. The set is open for all to watch - and often the directors and crew are available to answer questions on the filming process! Hand in hand with suit actors are our cosplayers! The Dojo Studios crew plays double duty in putting on one of our premiere events Saturday evening: The Costume Contest!
G-FEST PRO TIP: There are more opportunities than ever to cosplay at G-FEST! We’ve been expanding the number of stages for events and cosplay meetups in the last few years. Check back SOON to our website for updates to all things cosplay!
I’d be remiss if the key feature of the convention was left out of this guide: MOVIES! You’ll never see this many kaiju movies in a single place. Our own indie film producers, Dojo studios, have already been mentioned but there are many more productions from other studios available to watch as a part of our Independent Film Festival. Here you can catch alumni of the G-FEST video contest among amateurs and pro film studios alike from 9 in the morning until midnight most days of the convention. Don’t forget to bring your own popcorn!
Lastly, our time-honored tradition at G-FEST are the feature films every evening. If you’ve arrived before Friday, you can even catch a double feature! Hosted off-site at the Pickwick movie theater, we bring a selection of Toho’s Godzilla films to the BIG screen to be seen with a BIG crowd. Tickets are sold directly through the Pickwick (G-FEST does not sell these tickets). The theater is located 4 miles away from the convention center so you will need to arrange for your transport and parking, but it is well worth the trek to experience these films as they were intended and with the greatest company.
This guide got longer than expected, but there’s still so much that didn’t make it (have you been to the G-FEST Tattoo room?) For now, I hope these tips and insights help you plan for G-FEST weekend and be sure to check the website for updates to any of the events mentioned in this guide. Only 6 more months!
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