Armageddon Expo Celebrates 30 Years with a Massive ‘Must-See’ Event this Labour Weekend

From a small comic and trading card gathering in the ‘90s to New Zealand’s largest pop-culture event, Armageddon Expo marks 30 incredible years this Labour Weekend with its biggest celebration yet. 

What began as a niche convention has grown into a national institution, a multi-day festival of entertainment, technology and imagination that now attracts tens of thousands of fans every year.

Armageddon Expo celebrates this remarkable milestone with what organiser Bill Geradts calls “the biggest and most exciting event we’ve ever done.” 

“It’s got the biggest lineup we’ve ever hosted and the biggest gaming displays since the pandemic,” says Geradts. “The quality of the show has never been higher. People are going to come and just have a blast.”

READ AN INTERVIEW WITH BILL GERADTS ON 30 YEARS OF ARMAGEDDON HERE

Running October 24–27 2025 at Auckland Showgrounds, the 30th Anniversary Expo brings together the largest celebrity lineup, most ambitious gaming zones, and a show floor packed with activities for fans of every generation.

This year’s event captures everything Armageddon has come to represent — a place where fantasy and fandom meet, where people step out of everyday life and into worlds of imagination, creativity and shared fun. The vibe online suggests that this year everyone is ready for something uplifting — a reminder of how good it feels to connect in person and to celebrate together.

“When times are tough, people need something to remind them that life’s about more than work and worry,” Geradts says. “Armageddon’s always been that — a place where you can laugh, dress up and just enjoy being part of a community that celebrates what you love.”

Headlining the 30th Anniversary are a gathering of the biggest names ever to attend Armageddon, including Elijah Wood , Andy Serkis , Billie Piper , Alan Tudyk , Evangeline Lilly, John Boyega , Michelle Ang, Diana Lee Inosanto and many more, joined by anime, gaming and voice stars including Jim Cummings , Nolan North , Veronica Taylor , Ricco Fajardo , Mela Lee , Adassa and Mick Wingert.

Fans can look forward to a wide range of features and live attractions. International digital artist BossLogic (Kode Abdo) will appear in person, sharing insights into his acclaimed collaborations with Marvel Studios, Disney and Netflix, and the bold, cinematic style that has made him a global pop-culture icon. Voice actor and singer Mela Lee will perform her anticipated solo album Stealing Moonlight on the Main Stage at 4pm, Saturday 25 October, joined by world-class musicians in a premiere concert exclusive to Armageddon Expo.

READ AN INTERVIEW WITH ALAN TUDYK HERE

Gaming fans will be treated to the Battlefield 6 Helicopter Zone , featuring a full-size helicopter and an immersive hands-on experience with the latest in the franchise’s all-out warfare gameplay. Nearby, the Marvel Rivals Free Play Zone , presented by GamerFuel , lets players dive straight into 6-v-6 super-hero battles for prizes and bragging rights. The Nintendo Switch 2 Zone offers an early chance to test Nintendo’s next-generation console, showcasing faster gameplay, vivid graphics and exclusive previews of upcoming releases from Zelda to Mario.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Armageddon without the loyal fans, especially the thousands of cosplayers who bring the show to life each year. From hand-crafted armour and anime icons to screen-accurate superheroes and original creations, the creativity on display is extraordinary. Armageddon’s cosplayers are at the heart of the event — a vibrant, inclusive community that welcomes everyone, celebrates creativity and embraces diversity. This year, organisers expect more cosplayers than ever before , as fans from across the country come together to share their imagination, talent and joy.

Armageddon remains proudly home-grown, a New Zealand success story built and run by Bill and Adele Geradts , who have produced every event since 1995. “I don’t know any other exhibition company where a husband and wife have worked together for thirty years,” says Adele Geradts. “It’s pretty unique and we still haven’t killed each other!”

“We’ve put our heart and soul into this,” adds Bill Geradts. “This year’s special — it feels like a celebration. We’ve even got a full-size helicopter on the show floor. It’s going to be wild.”

Features:

Nintendo Switch 2 main area

Kiwibank VR challenge with Game Night

PlayStation Ghosts of Tsushima experience

Battlefield 6 Helicopter zone (featuring a full-sized combat helicopter)

Sonic Racing area and Swyftx Gaming Lounge

GamerFuel presents the Marvel Rivals tournament arena

The Ultimate Just Dance arena

ASUS technology display

Card Merchant trading card sale and tournament zone

Disney Lorcana display and gaming area

Disney Lorcana: Team Quest unboxings

Wicked Swing photo booth

MightyApe sale area

Mela Lee new album exclusive performance

K-Pop performances

Cosplay Parades and Lip-Sync events

Comic Writing Workshop

Amusement rides including the giant Rainbow Slide

Zenmarket unboxings each day

Carmageddon geek mobile

Celebrity DnD events

NZ Authors Panel

Cosplay Photo Wall and Lounge

Burger King Photo Kingdom and Plant based sampling

King Kai’s Planet display

Two huge celebrity photo booth areas

Dedicated celebrity autograph hall

Over 350 exhibitors from across New Zealand and beyond

Current Guest List:

Elijah Wood: The Lord of the Rings, Wilfred, Happy Feet

Andy Serkis: The Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, Star Wars

Billie Piper: Doctor Who, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Penny Dreadful

John Boyega: Star Wars, Pacific Rim Uprising, Attack the Block

Alan Tudyk: Firefly, Rogue One, Resident Alien

Evangeline Lilly: Lost, Ant-Man, The Hobbit

Nolan North: Uncharted, Assassin’s Creed, Destiny

Jim Cummings: Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Darkwing Duck

Alex Garfin: Superman & Lois, The Peanuts Movie

Diana Lee Inosanto: The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, The Sensei

Michelle Ang: Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462, The Bad Batch, Neighbours

Damien Haas: Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Smosh, Genshin Impact

Adassa: Encanto, The Voice, In the Heights

David Sobolov: Transformers, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Flash

Mick Wingert: Kung Fu Panda, Marvel What If...?, Avengers Assemble

Veronica Taylor: Pokémon, One Piece, Sailor Moon

Johnny Young: Power Rangers, Attack on Titan, Bleach

Mela Lee: Apex Legends, Demon Slayer, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir

Justine Huxley: Apex Legends, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Persona 5

Nicolas Roye: Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Call of Duty, Halo

Mallorie Rodak: My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail

Ricco Fajardo: Dragon Ball Super, My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen

Charles Soule: Comic writer- Daredevil, Star Wars Comics, She-Hulk