New York Comic Con & MCM Comic Con’s Metaverse kicks off tomorrow at 12pm ET and continues into the weekend with a robust lineup of star-studded panels streaming exclusively on YouTube. Additional New York Comic Con staples, such as the Show Floor, Artist Alley, and cosplay contest, have also gone virtual this year.

Below you can find a full How To Metaverse guide to help you explore all the great content New York Comic Con has to offer.

HOW TO METAVERSE

When is it?
Thursday, October 8 to Sunday, October 11

Where is it?
Panel programming will be exclusively live-streamed at YouTube.com/NYCC, while the Show Floor, Artist Alley, and other features can be found at www.FindtheMetaverse.com.

Is it free?
Most of Metaverse, including all panels, is free to enjoy and open to all. However, there are a few paid features for those interested. Fans can visit Growtix to purchase exclusive experiences like meet and greets, live Q&As, and personalized video recordings to get up close with their fave guests.

How to…Watch Panels:
NYCC & MCM Comic Con’s Metaverse programming can be found exclusively at YouTube.com/NYCC. The NYCC YouTube programming is presented by Alienware in the U.S. Fans can subscribe to the channel now and tune in (for free!) beginning Thursday, October 8 at 12pm ET / 9am PT for content featuring the biggest names in television, streaming, comics, books, gaming and more. The full programming schedule is available now.

How to…Engage with the Community:
Of course, no New York Comic Con or MCM Comic Con event would be complete without the opportunity for fans to connect with like-minded people, debate their most loved fandoms, and interact with their favorite celebrities. There’s loads of opportunities for fans to socialize, and for celebrities/guests to join in too:

• YouTube Panel Live Chat

Guests, partners and fans alike can join in with the live YouTube chat as a panel premieres; they can react in real time, ask questions and continue the conversation outside of the video, making for a real 360 experience. 

• Hop onto the ReedPop Discord server

Another great way to connect fans is in our Discord server – think YouTube live chat, but 24/7, 365 days a year. Visitors will be able to join a fandom specific channel and share stories, memes, run polls or just hang out and chat. Some guests will be joining fans after their panel premieres, with organized meet-ups, podcast sessions, and even K-pop dance classes, there’s a lot going on! 

Visit https://www.findthemetaverse.com/discord for more information on how to access the server and take part.

How to…Show Off Your Cosplay:
SYFY WIRE is partnering with con organizer ReedPop for a cosplay contest hosted entirely on SYFY Wire’s Instagram page. The competition is open to all amateur cosplayers from around the U.S. Now through October 6, cosplayers can post a photo of their homemade cosplay on your personal page, use the hashtag #FanFaveCosplayContest, and tag both SYFY Wire and @newyorkcomiccon. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, October 14, and will receive a NYCC 2021 experience package including 4-day badges for them and a friend.

In addition, SYFY WIRE is co-sponsoring NYCC’s annual Cosplay Central’s Virtual Championships of Cosplay, the most prestigious pro-cosplayer event in all the land. Scheduled to kick off Saturday, Oct. 10, the event will feature 50 cosplayers with Jaremi Carey, of RuPaul’s Drag Race, as the host.

How to…Support Artists and Retailers:
Just like at a live event, fans will be able to browse Artist Alley for unique creators, snag geeky gifts and nerdy merch in the Retailer Zone, and find the latest and greatest brands on the Show Floor – only this time it’s virtual! Fans can explore the Show Floor and Retailer Zone to check out booths from brands like Bandai, Harper Collins, Penguin Random House, and Viz. Additionally, the virtual Artist Alley features 300 artists each showcasing exclusive artwork, merch, specials, and more.

Fans can also find exclusive merch through in the Official Show Store with new products added right up to the event.