Manhattan Town Center Hosts First Tiny Con Event

Organizer Chris Chamberlin brought a new comic convention to Manhattan this past weekend.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Special Interest

Bold vector editorial illustration of a stylized colorful mask on a pedestal, representing a community comic convention. — Hundreds of attendees gathered at Manhattan Town Center this weekend for Tiny Con, a new community comic convention organized by Chris Chamberlin. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Hundreds of attendees gathered at the Manhattan Town Center for the inaugural Tiny Con. The free event featured dance performances, costume contests, and local vendors.

Why it matters

The convention marks the return of comic-focused events to the city after the local Little Apple Comic Expo ceased operations in 2017. Organizer Chris Chamberlin sought to fill this gap by providing a community-focused space for fans.

Admission for the convention was entirely free for all visitors. The event took place over two days, highlighting the demand for local pop culture programming.

The players

Chris Chamberlin

He is the organizer of Tiny Con and the proprietor of the Broken Canon Cosplay workshop.

Broken Canon Cosplay

This local workshop provides creative space and hosts after-school STEAM clubs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Manhattan Town Center

This facility served as the primary venue for the debut of the Tiny Con event.

The details

Organizer Chris Chamberlin, who operates the local workshop Broken Canon Cosplay, spent months planning the convention to bring the community together. Participants enjoyed a variety of activities including stage performances and competitive costume events.

The Little Apple Comic Expo concluded its run in 2017.
Chris Chamberlin began attending cosplay conventions in 2019.
Broken Canon Cosplay first opened in October 2025.
Tiny Con occurred at Manhattan Town Center on October 24-25, 2026.
The next convention is currently scheduled for February 2027.

Industry Dynamics

This event revives a local tradition following the 2017 closure of the Little Apple Comic Expo. It demonstrates a community-driven approach to maintaining local interest in pop culture outside of larger regional conventions.

Local fans can look forward to free, community-based pop culture programming without the need to travel to larger regional conventions. Residents may also participate in ongoing creative workshops through the organizer's established studio.

The takeaway

Small-scale, community-led conventions can effectively revitalize local interest in niche hobbies. Enthusiasts looking to stay involved throughout the year can engage with local workshops that offer regular creative programming.