DesignerCon Pasadena Is Back… And It Felt Like Home Again!

DesignerCon is back in Pasadena… and honestly, it felt really damn good. Don’t get me wrong, the Las Vegas version of DesignerCon is huge, exciting, and packed wall-to-wall with everything a designer toy collector could possibly want. It is bigger, louder, and more sprawling in every direction. But there is something about Pasadena that just hits differently.

This year’s return had that familiar hometown energy that made the whole show feel a little more personal. The Pasadena Convention Center was busy, the aisles were moving, the booths were packed with eye candy, and there was no shortage of wild vinyl, sofubi, resin, plush, customs, weird creatures, giant display pieces, and the kind of art toy goodness that makes you stop mid-walk and say, “Okay… I need that.”

I was only able to attend on Saturday, but the vibe was great from the moment I hit the floor. It was crowded enough to feel alive, but not so slammed that you could not actually enjoy the booths or chat with people. It felt smooth. People were finding cool stuff, collectors were excited, and from what I could see, vendors seemed happy with how the day was going.

That is one of the things I have always loved about DesignerCon. It is not just about the toys. It is about running into artists you have known for years, meeting people you have only known online, reconnecting with friends, and seeing the next wave of weird, creative, colorful, and sometimes completely unhinged art toys coming out of the scene.

There was so much good stuff to take in. From huge monster sculpts and bright sofubi beasts to slick futuristic figures, handmade resin pieces, plush characters, limited exclusives, and booths loaded with personality, every corner had something worth checking out. You could feel the community energy all over the place.

The smaller Pasadena setting brought back some serious nostalgia too. It had that classic DesignerCon feeling, where the show still feels connected to its roots even as the artists, brands, and collectors continue to grow. Las Vegas is absolutely cool, but Pasadena felt familiar. It felt warm. It felt like home.

I put together a full YouTube recap from my Saturday at DesignerCon Pasadena 2026, including booth tours, artist stops, exclusive toys, giant displays, and plenty of random art toy goodness from the floor.

Go watch the full recap on my YouTube channel and let me know what your favorite booth, artist, or figure was from this year’s show. And if you have not subscribed yet, make sure you do. There is always more designer toy coverage, convention footage, unboxings, and collector chaos on the way.