Supanova Comic-Con & Gaming - Sydney 2026 Packing Checklist

Anime conventions are indoor, climate-controlled, and crowded. Your biggest enemy is not the weather but the schedule. Print your photoshoot meetup times, panel schedule, and artist alley map before you arrive. Phone batteries die fast when you are shooting photos and checking the app all day, so carry a fully charged portable battery. Comfortable backup shoes save you. The convention center floor is concrete under carpet, and your costume shoes were not designed for 8 hours of walking.

If you are carrying props, plan your day around weapon check. Most cons require peace bonding (zip ties on moving parts, orange caps on projectile-shaped props) before you can enter the floor. Get there early on the first day and bring your own zip ties. Pack a clear badge holder to clip the weapon check tag to your prop so staff can spot it fast. Large props need a breakdown plan or a friend who can guard them while you eat.

Tournament prep starts the night before. Verify your controller firmware, charge everything, and test your setup on the actual game build you will be playing. Convention WiFi drops at peak hours, so bring an ethernet cable if the tournament setup allows it. Download bracket apps on your phone before you arrive. Pack a cushion. Tournament seating is folding chairs, and a 6-hour bracket on a metal chair will end your focus before the finals.