NEXCON 2026 Artist Alley Application

Applications are now open for the NEXCON 2026 Artist Alley, taking place November 14–15, 2026, at the Cleveland County Event Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Set up day being the 13th  of november.

We are seeking anime and manga artists, comic creators, illustrators, printmakers, crafters, and creators of original prints, stickers, pins, charms, comics, apparel, accessories, and other fan-focused artwork. NEXCON is planning for approximately 1,000–1,500 attendees across the weekend and will feature live gaming tournaments, cosplay, panels, indie games, creators, vendors, and community programming.

Artist Alley is intended primarily for creators selling work they personally created. Businesses selling mainly mass-produced or resale merchandise should apply through the separate NEXCON Commercial Vendor Application.

This is a curated application. Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance or placement. Applicants must provide clear examples of their products or artwork. Counterfeit merchandise, stolen or traced artwork, and unauthorized reproductions are prohibited.

Applicants will not be charged a table fee unless their application is approved. Additional setup instructions, table details, payment information, and event policies will be provided to accepted artists.

NEXCON 2026 ARTIST ALLEY TERMS AND CONDITIONS

APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE
Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance or table placement. NEXCON may approve, reject, or waitlist applicants based on available space, product variety, presentation, and event fit. Decisions made by NEXCON are final.

ARTIST ALLEY ELIGIBILITY
Artist Alley is intended primarily for artists and creators selling work they personally created. Commercial resale businesses and sellers offering primarily mass-produced merchandise must apply through the Commercial Vendor Application. Table sharing, transfers, or subleasing are prohibited without written approval from NEXCON.

ARTWORK AND MERCHANDISE
Applicants are responsible for ensuring they possess the rights necessary to display and sell their products. Counterfeit merchandise, stolen or traced artwork, unauthorized reproductions, illegal products, and functional weapons are prohibited. NEXCON may require any product or display that violates event standards to be removed.

NEXCON is an all-ages event. Mature material must be clearly labeled, covered from public view, and unavailable to minors. Explicit material may not be openly displayed.

PAYMENT AND CANCELLATIONS
Applicants will only be charged after approval. An approved placement is not confirmed until payment is successfully completed. Failed payments must be resolved within seven calendar days or the space may be released.

Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing. Cancellations received on or before October 13, 2026, may receive a refund of the table fee, less nonrefundable platform or processing fees. Payments become nonrefundable after October 13, 2026.

If NEXCON cancels the event, accepted artists will receive a refund of table fees actually received by the organizer, less any third-party fees that cannot be recovered. NEXCON is not responsible for travel, lodging, inventory, shipping, or other expenses.

TABLE OPERATIONS
Accepted artists must follow the published setup, event-hours, and teardown schedule. Tables must remain staffed during public Artist Alley hours unless prior arrangements are approved. Early teardown is not permitted without organizer approval.

Displays, merchandise, cords, and equipment must remain within the assigned space and may not obstruct aisles, exits, neighboring tables, or accessibility routes. Electricity and other special requirements must be requested and approved in advance.

CONDUCT AND SAFETY
Artists and their representatives must follow all NEXCON, venue, fire, health, and security requirements. Harassment, discrimination, threats, unsafe behavior, and disruptive conduct are prohibited. Violations may result in removal from the event without refund.

Applicants under 18 must have authorization from a parent or legal guardian, who accepts responsibility for the applicant’s participation.

TAXES, LICENSES, AND INSURANCE
Each artist is responsible for complying with applicable business, licensing, and sales-tax requirements. Artists must provide any tax permit number or tax information required through NEXCON’s secure event-tax process and must complete all required event sales-tax reporting.

PROPERTY AND LIABILITY
Artists are responsible for their merchandise, money, equipment, and personal property. To the extent allowed by law, NEXCON, Ninjutsu Entertainment, Cleveland County, and the Cleveland County Event Center are not responsible for theft, loss, damage, personal injury, or claims caused by an artist’s products, display, equipment, actions, or representatives.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Artists grant NEXCON and Ninjutsu Entertainment permission to photograph or record their booth and public-facing displays during the event for event documentation and promotional use without additional compensation.

AGREEMENT
By submitting this application, the applicant confirms that the information provided is accurate and agrees to these terms, all published event policies, and reasonable instructions issued by NEXCON or venue staff.