Exhibit Hall FAQs

When will applications start for 2027?

Vendor Applications opened September 5th and closed September 20th.

Artist Alley Applications opened September 12th and closed September 20th.

How can I be notified?

You can sign up here to receive an email when any application opens: https://zenkaikon.com/email-alerts/

Also, all announcements will be on our social media channels. To receive updates on future Exhibitor applications for future years, please follow us on our various social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/zenkaikon or sign up for our newsletter on the homepage of our official website: zenkaikon.com

What does a space in Artist Alley include and how much does it cost?

The Artist Alley App was open 9/13-9/20.

A space in Artist Alley includes:

One (1) 6’ table
Two (2) chairs

Pricing for 2027:

$250, includes 2 badges*
$300 for a corner spot*
$30 per additional badge (with the option to purchase up to two additional badges)

*Some spaces may be subject to additional charges due to location.

What does a space in the Exhibit Hall include and how much does it cost?

The Vendor Hall App was open 9/5-9/20.

A space in the Exhibit Hall includes:

One (1) 10′ x 10′ space
One (1) 8’ table
Two (2) chairs

Additional tables are available.

Pricing for 2027:

$600 per booth*
$800 for a corner spot*
$1700 for an end cap*
$30 per additional badge (with the option to purchase up to 2 badges per booth purchased, max 10)

*Some spaces may be subject to additional charges due to location.

How do I know if I have been accepted or waitlisted?

This year, we are using Eventeny for both the Artist and Exhibitor Applications. Within this system, you will be made aware of any acceptances, waitlisting, or other statuses. More information regarding our waitlist will be provided prior to the end of the year.

Zenkaikon 2027 Policies

The Zenkaikon Exhibits Department has the right of refusal of any artist or vendor. Zenkaikon uses the term Exhibitors to refer to Vendors and Artists. Vendors being those who operate a booth space (10’x10’ increments) and Artists being those who operate a 6’ table.

Any applicant who has knowingly submitted false information is subject to instant disqualification from consideration.

Photos or mock ups of setups are mandatory. If images are not included in the application, the applicant may be instantly disqualified from consideration.

Sale of products that include generative AI is not allowed and will instantly disqualify an applicant.

If you are aware of an artist or vendor selling stolen, AI-generated, or other goods that violate our policies please let the Exhibits Department leadership (exhibitsquestions@zenkaikon.org) know as soon as possible.

All vendors using the loading dock must come to load-in at their pre-selected time, and must follow the directions of the Exhibits and leadership staff to ensure a smooth load-in and out. Vendors cannot load-in or out before their selected time, and especially before the dock is opened. If a vendor tries to arrive early or coerce venue staff into opening or using the dock or Exhibit Hall outside of the scheduled times, they may be asked to leave the loading dock, Exhibit Hall, or the entire venue in extreme cases.

Repeatedly ignoring the scheduled times of the loading dock may impact future applications to exhibit at Zenkaikon.
Artists are not permitted to use the loading dock without special permission from Zenkaikon, please reach out to exhibitsquestions@zenkaikon.org if you need to request it.

Please be sure that all submitted portfolio links used in your application are public and accessible during jurying.

The resale of a space in the Zenkaikon Exhibit Hall is strictly prohibited. This includes selling your space to another vendor/artist, or allowing another vendor/artist to do business in your space without express permission from the Exhibits Department. Application approvals are meant to strictly allow for the applied business and/or individual(s) only.

Items shown and described in the application are the basis of how Exhibitors are decided, and what is expected to be sold and displayed in your space, both for Vendors’ booths and Artist Alley tables. If an applicant displays and sells items at the convention that are fundamentally different from the items represented in the application, may result in removal from the Exhibit Hall and the inability to vend at future Zenkaikon events.

Example: Applying with original artworks on posters, pins and bags but showing up with 3D printed filler items such as dice trays and dice, bootlegs of copyrighted materials, and resale items like Funko pops, or collectibles.

3D printed items will be considered, but with greater scrutiny than in the past, due to the recent, heavy proliferation of the process. If there is no information on materials used, filament quality, or any clear indication of finishing steps to elevate 3D printed products, then your application will not be considered.

Our Exhibitor Selection Process

Our selection process will be using the new format introduced in 2025. In 2025, our Selection Committee and selection criteria were expanded.

Usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML):
The sale and usage of AI-generated/ML-generated Art is forbidden. Any applicant found to be using either for their art or products will be disqualified from consideration. Any exhibitor (artist/vendor) found selling AI-generated/ML-generated art will be removed from the Exhibit Hall.

AI/ML may be used in reference materials or as a lesser component, such as post-processing filters or retouching. However, the artist must disclose this fact and the nature of the usage when applying.

Plagiarized/Stolen Artwork:
We do not allow the theft or plagiarism of artwork. All artwork must be the work of the artist(s) selling said artwork.

We don’t allow artists to sell simple manipulation or traces of another’s artwork, even if they have permission from the original artist. The artwork must feature significant creative contributions from the artist selling it. Any artists found plagiarizing another artist’s work will be removed from the Exhibit Hall.

Reporting Policy Violations:
During the convention, if you see something that may violate our policies including, but not limited to, AI-generated/ML-generated artwork, plagiarized/stolen artwork, adult content, unauthorized goods, etc., please do not confront the artist or exhibitor directly, let the Zenkaikon staff know at the Zenkaikon Merch table.

Some of the criteria we plan on considering this year (subject to change):

Art / Goods Diversity – Does the applicant offer only one type of product (i.e. prints), or do they have a varied selection
Art / Goods Subject Diversity – Do the applicant’s offerings showcase a variety of different fandoms, including current popular shows/media and long-running popular media
Original / Unique / Niche Offerings – Does the applicant have original content, a unique type of product, something we haven’t seen before or have not seen often
Proximity to Event – Is the applicant a local of Lancaster? Are they involved in the community?
Booth Picture – Does the applicant have a photo of their booth picture, whether from another convention or just an example setup they’ve crafted? This allows us to get a better understanding of what the applicant brings to the convention
Theme Alignment – Does the applicant offer art or goods that align with our theme?
Pricing Fairness – Does the applicant provide reasonable pricing/upcharging?
Mass-Produced Items – Does the applicant offer items that are easily and readily available from various online retailers?