Thought Bubble Harrogate 2026: Your Weekend Guide and Where to Stay

The short answer

Thought Bubble Harrogate 2026 takes place on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November at Harrogate Convention Centre, with more than 600 comic-creating exhibitors. Book your tickets, plan which creators and panels you want to see, and stay centrally so you can walk to the halls and pop back to your base between sessions. For a group of friends or a family, a serviced apartment or townhouse gives you space, a kitchen and somewhere to show off your haul.

This is the 20th edition of the convention, the highlight of the wider Thought Bubble festival, which runs across Yorkshire from 9 to 15 November. The weekend brings together comic creators, artists and cosplayers, with a busy programme of panels, workshops and signings. This guide covers the practical side of a Thought Bubble weekend, from getting in to where to stay and eat.

Dates and opening times

The convention fills the Exhibition Halls at Harrogate Convention Centre on Kings Road. The organiser lists these hours:

• Saturday 14 November – 10am to 6pm
• Sunday 15 November – 10am to 5pm

Tickets are sold through the Thought Bubble website, which has the latest ticket options, guest announcements and maps. Under-12s get a free ticket when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult aged 18 or over, which makes it a brilliant weekend for families.

Getting in and around the halls

• Entrances – Thought Bubble uses Entrances 4 and 5, and you can collect your wristband, enter and exit at either.
• Wristbands – one wristband covers the whole weekend, so keep it on.
• Travel light – there's no coat or bag check, which is where a central stay really helps, as you can drop purchases back at your apartment.
• Get set before you go – download your tickets and maps in advance, as the convention doesn't provide wifi.
• Paying – the venue takes card and contactless, and it's worth carrying some cash for exhibitors who prefer it. There's a cash machine just outside Entrance 4.
• Quieter times – Sunday afternoon tends to be calmer, and Bub's Lounge offers a quiet space to recharge.

Getting to Thought Bubble Harrogate

Harrogate station is about a seven-minute walk from the venue, and LNER runs four direct trains a day from London King's Cross, taking around 2 hours 46 minutes. Our guide to arriving by train helps you find your feet. Leeds Bradford Airport is about 12 miles away, roughly 20 minutes by car, and the hourly A2 bus takes around 31 minutes. If you're driving, the Convention Centre has an underground car park at HG1 2HR, including blue badge spaces.

Coming with children

The convention has a dedicated kids' zone with free activities and workshops, plus family-friendly exhibitors to browse. A serviced apartment makes a family weekend much easier, with a kitchen for breakfasts and snacks and a living room for downtime between busy sessions. Our guide to visiting Harrogate with family has more ideas for the rest of the weekend.

Eating, drinking and unwinding

There are two cafe points at the show, and you're welcome to bring your own food, as long as you take care around the artwork on the show floor. Harrogate's cafes and restaurants are a short walk away, and our guide to where to eat in Harrogate has our favourites. For a slower Sunday morning, a coffee from our best coffee in Harrogate list sets you up nicely for day two.

Where to stay

The organisers recommend booking accommodation early, so it's worth securing your stay as soon as you have tickets. Anywhere in central Harrogate keeps you within walking distance of the halls, and our guide to choosing the right neighbourhood compares the areas. Our apartments and townhouses suit groups of friends, families and exhibitors with stock to unload, and having your own front door makes the weekend far more relaxed.

Stay with Short Stay Harrogate

We look after 20 homes across Harrogate and have welcomed 2,000+ guests, with 1,500+ five-star reviews and a 4.9 average rating. Our central homes are within walking distance of the Convention Centre, with kitchens and room for the whole group. Browse our properties to find your Thought Bubble base.

Written by Youcef Scott, founder of Short Stay Harrogate. Last updated October 2026.