The self-proclaimed world's largest event dedicated to the intersection of cat culture and pop culture is coming back to the Pasadena Convention Center, and this year it's bringing more than 200 kittens looking for homes along with a squad of shirtless Australian firefighters. CatCon 2026 runs October 10 and 11, filling the venue with vendors, cosplay, internet-famous cats, and a nonprofit adoption lounge all under one roof.
According to NBC Los Angeles, single-day general admission is priced at $50.53, with other ticketing tiers also available. The weekend will feature hundreds of artisans, authors, and makers selling cat-inspired goods, plus an art show built around nostalgic themes. Attendees are welcome to dress up, and the outlet notes that even something as simple as felt cat ears on a headband counts as acceptable convention attire.
The event traces back to 2015, when journalist Susan Michals launched the first CatCon at The Reef in Downtown Los Angeles; her 2014 Cat Art Show preceded it, according to the Los Angeles Times. The convention moved permanently to Pasadena in 2017 and has kept growing ever since, setting an attendance record in 2023 when more than 11,000 visitors packed the sold-out two-day event, per Rover.com. Michals has described the gathering as something like an in-real-life dog park equivalent for cat lovers, the outlet reports.
A Kitten Adoption Drive With Real Stakes
This year's lineup includes special guests such as Bob Baker Marionette Theater, the plushie brand Metal Gear, and internet cat celebrities including Nathan the Cat Lady, the cat named Calvin, and One Eared Uno, all expected to appear, according to the same NBC Los Angeles report. But the heart of the weekend remains the Pasadena Humane adoption area, where more than 200 kittens will be available for adoption.
That drive lands on top of a genuinely strained system. Pasadena Humane, founded in 1903, provides animal services and adoptions. The organization was further strained during and after the Eaton Fire, when it provided emergency medical care, resources, and temporary shelter to more than 1,500 pets and wildlife, according to LAist. Hoodline has previously reported on the regional response to that disaster, including how the San Diego shelter sent help to Pasadena during the crisis.
Firefighters Fly In For a Single U.S. Stop
Adding an international wrinkle to this year's convention, the Australian Firefighters Calendar team is making CatCon 2026 their only North American appearance, following the release of a U.S. charity calendar benefiting Pasadena Humane after the region's wildfires, according to Out.com. That calendar campaign has raised more than $3 million for charitable causes over 33 years, the outlet notes.
CatCon's parent company, Ticket Out, Inc., says the event and its affiliated gatherings have donated more than $400,000 to animal welfare charities and facilitated 1,510 onsite cat adoptions to date, according to CatCon Worldwide. Beneficiary organizations have included local and national groups such as Pasadena Humane, FixNation, and Kitten Rescue, the company says.
Millennials Reshaped the Cat Convention Boom
The convention's rise tracks a broader cultural shift. Nerdist has explored CatCon's audience and Michals's effort to push back against negative crazy cat lady stereotypes.
The adoption push also fits into the broader challenge of finding homes for shelter animals. A single weekend that could place 200 kittens into new homes would represent a meaningful dent for one regional shelter system still recovering from a disaster year.
CatCon 2026 takes place at the Pasadena Convention Center. The adjacent Pasadena Civic Auditorium is part of the same venue complex.
