The 10 Best Panels To Attend at FanX Salt Lake 2026

Published Sep 23, 2026, 5:51 PM EDT

David is a Senior Editor at Collider focused primarily on Lists. His professional journey began in the mid-2010s as a Marketing specialist before embarking on his writing career in the 2020s. At Collider, David started as a Senior Writer in late 2022 and has been a Senior Editor since mid-2023. He is in charge of ideating compelling and engaging List articles by working closely with writers, both Senior and Junior, as well as other editors. Occasionally, David also reviews movies and TV shows and writes episode recaps. Currently, David is also writing his second novel, a psychological horror satire that will, hopefully, be picked up for publication sometime next year.

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Comic cons are a wonderful time for fans to not only celebrate the IPs they love but also connect with like-minded individuals who share the same passions. There's something truly special about gathering to uplift the franchises that have shaped us, which is why FanX Salt Lake Comic and Pop Culture Convention 2026 is such a hot ticket for anyone in the Western United States.

The con will run from September 24 to 26 and feature several incredible surprises, from major pop culture figures like Gene Simmons to beloved actors like Hayden Christensen and Molly Ringwald. With so many panels to attend, it might be hard for you to decide which ones to prioritize. Luckily for you, we're here to offer our recommendations for the best panels to attend at Fan X Salt Lake, making your experience at the con as great as it can possibly be.

'Twilight' Panel - Thursday, September 24 at 5 pm, Grand Ballroom

Image by Summit Entertainment

The Twilight saga remains among the most beloved in pop culture, and the cast are always happy to discuss it at different cons. This time, it's up to Ashley Greene and Jackson Rathbone to represent the franchise. The duo, who played lovers Alice Cullen and Jasper Hale, are among the most popular cast members, which is saying something, considering the ensemble included many heavy hitters.

Collider's Maggie Lovitt will host the panel with these two key players in the Cullen family. The conversation will surely focus on the actors' experience while shooting the five-movie saga, allowing them to share stories, fond memories, and maybe even a secret or two. Twilight's legacy is considerable, especially in our age of nostalgia, so expect them to address the franchise's status as one of modern pop culture's biggest successes.

'Supernatural' Panel - Thursday, September 24 at 7 pm, Grand Ballroom

Image via Prime Video

The 2000s and 2010s were golden decades for supernatural content, as vampires, werewolves, demons, and the like took over movies and television. On television, no show represented the genre better than the appropriately titled Supernatural, which starred Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki as the demon-hunting Winchester brothers.

FanX Salt Lake 2026 will host three cast members of the show: Misha Collins, who stole the show as fan-favorite angel Castiel; Mark Sheppard, who gave live to the popular King of Hell, Crowley; and Richard Speight Jr., who played Archangel Gabriel himself. Collider's Maggie Lovitt will moderate the panel, with the actors discussing the show's enduring popularity and its significant impact on modern genre television.

Collider Exclusive · Universe Personality Quiz Which Iconic Universe Do You Belong in the Most? Star Wars · Lord of the Rings · Harry Potter · Game of Thrones · Star Trek

Five legendary universes. Five completely different visions of what the world could be — or already was. One of them is the world your instincts, your values, and your particular way of existing were built for. Eight questions will tell you which one.

🚀Star Wars

💍Lord of the Rings

🧙Harry Potter

👑Game of Thrones

🖖Star Trek

FIND YOUR UNIVERSE →

01

What gives your life its deepest sense of meaning? Every universe is built around a different answer to this question.

ABeing part of something larger than myself — a cause, a rebellion, a fight for freedom that outlasts me. BThe journey itself — the places I'll go, the companions beside me, the world I'll discover on the way. CLearning — unlocking what I'm capable of, understanding the world's hidden mechanics, growing into something more. DLegacy — the name I leave behind, the power I build, the mark I make before the world moves on without me. EUnderstanding — exploring what exists beyond the horizon and asking what it means to be alive in a universe this vast.

NEXT QUESTION →

02

Which kind of world do you most want to inhabit? The environment shapes who you become. Choose carefully.

AA galaxy of planets, each with its own culture — connected by conflict, trade, and the Force. BAncient lands of breathtaking beauty, deep history, and a creeping darkness at the edges. CA world hidden inside our own — full of wonder, community, and magic waiting to be learned. DA brutal, beautiful continent where power is everything and every alliance is a calculation. EA future where humanity has reached the stars — and must decide what kind of species it wants to be.

NEXT QUESTION →

03

How do you prefer your conflicts resolved? The shape of a world's conflicts tells you everything about its soul.

AThrough sacrifice and courage — someone has to make the impossible choice so others don't have to. BThrough fellowship — the impossible becomes possible when the right people walk the same road. CThrough growth — confronting what you fear, understanding what you lack, and becoming equal to the challenge. DThrough strategy — outthinking, outmaneuvering, positioning yourself so the outcome was never in doubt. EThrough dialogue — finding the third option, the peaceful resolution, the answer that doesn't require a body count.

NEXT QUESTION →

04

Who do you want beside you when things get difficult? Your ideal companions reveal the world you were made for.

AA small crew — a pilot, a rogue, a warrior — each broken in their own way, unbeatable together. BA fellowship of different kinds of people, bound by purpose and deepened by the long road. CFriends who grew up alongside me — who knew me before I knew myself, and stayed anyway. DAllies whose loyalty I've earned — and tested — and whose ambitions align with mine, for now. EA crew of brilliant, curious, principled people from every corner of known space.

NEXT QUESTION →

05

What is your relationship with power? How you seek, wield, or resist power is the map of who you are.

AI want to use it to protect — and I'm terrified of what I might become if I'm not careful. BI distrust it. The most important power in this story is the courage to give it up. CI want to earn it — through knowledge, through effort, through becoming someone worthy of it. DI want to wield it. Preferably before someone else decides to wield it against me. EI want to understand it — its structures, its limits, its ethical dimensions. Power without accountability is the real threat.

NEXT QUESTION →

06

How does your universe treat good and evil? A world's moral architecture tells you more about it than any map.

AThere is a dark side and a light side — and the choice between them is always present, always personal. BEvil is real and ancient and patient — and goodness, however small, is the only thing that can undo it. CGood and evil are real, but they live inside people — and people are complicated, always capable of both. DGood and evil are mostly a matter of perspective and proximity. Power is the only honest currency. EEvil is usually the result of ignorance, fear, or broken systems — and understanding it is the first step to solving it.

NEXT QUESTION →

07

What role would you naturally fall into? Every universe has archetypes. Which one fits you without trying?

AThe reluctant hero — ordinary origins, extraordinary moment, changed forever by the choice to act. BThe unlikely carrier — the one nobody expected to matter most, quietly bearing the weight of everything. CThe student — not yet who I'll become, learning through every mistake, growing into something the world needs. DThe player — sharp enough to see the game for what it is, ambitious enough to try to win it. EThe explorer — drawn to the unknown, driven by curiosity, most alive when standing somewhere no one has stood before.

NEXT QUESTION →

08

What do you ultimately believe about the future? The answer to this is the clearest window into which universe already lives inside you.

AThat hope is real — that even in the darkest galaxy, a new hope is always possible. CThat even the smallest person can change the course of the future, if they have the courage to try. CThat love and friendship and doing what's right will matter in the end, even when everything says otherwise. DThat the wheel keeps turning — that power shifts, winters end, and what endures is those willing to fight for it. EThat humanity — or whatever we become — is capable of extraordinary things, if we choose to be.

REVEAL MY UNIVERSE →

Your Universe Has Been Chosen You Belong In…

Your answers point to the iconic universe your values, your instincts, and your particular way of seeing the world were built for. This is where you would find your people — and your purpose.

Star Wars

You believe in the cause — in the idea that freedom is worth fighting for even when the odds are impossible and the empire is vast.

• You are drawn to the moral clarity of a universe where hope itself is a form of resistance.
• You'd find your people in the Rebellion — a ragtag coalition of true believers held together by conviction more than resources.
• Star Wars is fundamentally a story about ordinary people choosing to matter in an extraordinary conflict — and that is exactly your kind of story.
• The Force may or may not be with you. But the will to use it for something larger than yourself certainly is.

Lord of the Rings

You understand, in the deepest part of yourself, that the journey matters as much as the destination — and that the world's beauty is worth protecting even at great cost.

• Middle-earth is a world of ancient wonder, deep friendship, and a darkness that only retreats when enough small acts of courage accumulate.
• You would thrive here because you value the fellowship more than the glory — the road more than the arrival.
• Tolkien's universe rewards patience, loyalty, and the willingness to carry something heavy across a very long distance.
• Those are not burdens to you. They are simply how you move through the world.

Harry Potter

You believe that love, loyalty, and doing what's right are not naive sentiments — they are the most powerful forces in any world, magical or otherwise.

• The Wizarding World is a place of wonder hidden in plain sight, where learning is transformative and the bonds you form at school follow you into every battle.
• You would flourish here because you take both the magic and the friendships seriously — and you understand that one without the other is incomplete.
• Harry Potter's universe ultimately rewards those who choose to stand for something even when standing is terrifying.
• That choice — made quietly, without guarantee — is something you understand completely.

Game of Thrones

You see the world clearly — its power structures, its hypocrisies, its brutal arithmetic — and you are not paralysed by that clarity. You use it.

• Westeros is a world that rewards intelligence, adaptability, and the willingness to understand that every alliance is also a negotiation.
• You would survive here — possibly thrive here — because you don't confuse the world as it is with the world as you'd like it to be.
• Game of Thrones is a story about what happens when the idealists and the realists collide. You are sharp enough to know which one lasts longer.
• Winter always comes. You are already prepared.

Star Trek

You believe the future is worth building — that curiosity, cooperation, and the expansion of understanding are not just ideals but the most practical path forward for any civilisation.

• Star Trek is a universe where the questions matter as much as the answers, and where encountering something utterly alien is cause for wonder rather than fear.
• You would belong here because you are fundamentally optimistic about what intelligence and decency can achieve — while being honest about how hard that achievement is.
• The Federation is the universe's most ambitious thought experiment: what if we actually got better?
• You don't just hope that's possible. You think it's the only thing worth working toward.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

Jason Patric Panel - Friday, September 25 at 11 am, Room 250A

Image via Lionsgate

An icon of late '80s and early '90s cinema, Jason Patric is no stranger to the con circuit; this year, he will stop by FanX Salt Lake 2026 to discuss his impressive career. The actor is best known for his roles in cult hits like The Lost Boys and Rush, as well as infamous sequels like Speed 2: Cruise Control.

In a panel moderated by Collider's Editor-in-Chief, Steve Weintraub, Patric will discuss his lengthy career, which includes many cult classic movies dating back to the late '80s, all the way to modern hits like Terrifier 3. Expect tons of stories about the movies he's been a part of, as well as a few behind-the-scenes facts about projects like The Lost Boys. Patric will also be available for autographs and photo-ops, so make sure you plan your schedule accordingly.

Bryce Dallas Howard Panel - Friday, September 25 at 12 pm, Grand Ballroom

Image via Universal Pictures

Since her breakthrough in M. Night Shyamalan's The Village, Bryce Dallas Howard has become one of the hardest-working and most popular actresses today. Renowned for her versatility, Howard has excelled in everything from blockbusters like Jurassic World to ensemble dramas like The Help. Lately, she has become a prolific director, too, helming several episodes across many Star Wars TV projects.

Howard will stop by FanX Salt Lake 2026 for a panel focused on her career and journey from actress to director. Collider's Steve Weintraub will host the panel, which will surely address the many successes in Howard's twenty-year career. Expect some stories and memories, but also advice on how to transition from the front of the camera to the back. If you're lucky, maybe you can get a secret or two about the upcoming season of Ahsoka, where Howard will direct two episodes.

Nia Vardalos Panel - Friday, September 25 at 2 pm, Room 250A

Image via IFC Films

It's not always that an Oscar nominee pops by a con. For FanX Salt Lake 2026, it'll be Nia Vardalos, who famously received an Oscar nomination for writing the screenplay to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the incredibly successful rom-com that ended its run as the ninth highest-grossing movie of 2002.

Collider's Maggie Lovitt will host this panel focusing on Vardalos' career, which also includes cult gems like Connie and Carla and My Life in Ruins. Vardalos will also surely share insights into the writing process, which might come in handy for all those looking to write their first screenplay. Thus, this panel is a must-attend for everyone, from rom-com lovers to writers in the making.

'The Office' Panel - Friday, September 25 at 5 pm, Grand Ballroom

Image via NBC

Few sitcoms are as beloved as The Office. A bona fide icon of noughties television, the show centered on the dysfunctional but tight-knit employees of the Dunder-Mifflin paper company in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch. Two of the most memorable characters were the unhinged Dwight K. Schrute, played by Emmy nominee Rainn Wilson, and his future wife, the acidic and often unpleasant Angela Martin, brought to life by Angela Kinsey.

Collider's Steve Weintraub will moderate this panel, which will feature Wilson and Kinsey reuniting for what will surely be a celebration of not only the show as a whole but also their characters' peculiar yet strangely endearing romance. Considering Dwight is at the center of many of The Office's most iconic moments (fire drill, anyone?), you can expect a ton of laughs in this panel, which will cover everything from fun memories to an appreciation of the show's legacy.

'Young Guns' Panel - Friday, September 25 at 7 pm, Grand Ballroom

Image via MGM

Christopher Cain's action Western Young Guns is an icon of '80s cinema and one of the best Brat Pack movies. It's mostly famous for its cast, which includes '80s heartthrobs Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, and Dermot Mulroney. The plot heavily fictionalizes the deeds of Billy the Kid (Estevez) and his posse, the Regulators, during the Lincoln County War.

If you're a fan of this one, you are in luck because Emmy winner Sutherland and Golden Globe-nominee Phillips will both attend FanX Salt Lake. The actors, who played Doc Scurlock and Jose Chavez y Chavez, respectively, will celebrate the beloved film and reflect on how it has aged, as well as its current status as a certified cult hit, in a panel hosted by Collider's Maggie Lovitt. Young Guns might not be the greatest retelling of Billy the Kid's legend, but it sure is one of the coolest!

Star Wars Television Panel - Saturday, September 26 at 12 pm, Grand Ballroom

Star Wars has become incredibly prolific in television, producing multiple high-profile shows throughout the 2020s. Among them are The Mandalorian, arguably the franchise's biggest success on the small screen, and the recent hit Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, which focuses on the titular, scene-stealing villain.

FanX Salt Lake will feature the appearance of three key players in the universe of Star Wars television: Emmy nominee Giancarlo Esposito, who plays the villainous Moff Gideon; bona fide Star Wars icon Sam Witwer, who has voiced several heavy hitters like Maul and Starkiller; and Matthew Wood, a sound editor who also voices the wicked General Grievous. Collider's Steve Weintraub will host the panel, which will be an overall celebration of these actors, who have greatly contributed to Star Wars' impact on the small screen.

Helen Hunt Panel - Saturday, September 26 at 1 pm, Room 250A

Image via Starz

FanX Salt Lake 2026 will feature Oscar winner Helen Hunt, one of the defining movie and TV stars of the '90s. The actress outright defined the decade, thanks to the popular sitcom Mad About You, which earned her four consecutive Emmy Awards. On the big screen, Hunt starred in the blockbuster Twister and won the Best Actress Oscar for her role as Carol, the waitress, in James L. Brooks' rom-com As Good as It Gets.

Collider's Maggie Lovitt will host this panel, which begins and ends with Hunt. The actress will share many details with the audience—for example, did you know she initially passed on the Mad About You reboot? Well, you can expect to learn more about this icon here, with the panel focusing on her impressive filmography, her work behind the camera, and her current status as a living icon.

'The Boys' Panel - Saturday, September 26 at 5 pm, Grand Ballroom

Image via Prime Video

From its debut in 2019, The Boys quickly cemented itself as Prime Video's banner original. The show centered on the titular group of vigilantes who faced a group of superpowered individuals working for the powerful Vought Corporation. At the center of it all was Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), the leader of The Boys, and Homelander (Anthony Starr), the demented and power-hungry leader of the Seven, Vought's premier superhero team.

FanX Salt Lake 2026 will feature three of the show's main players: Urban, Chace Crawford, who played the cowardly The Deep, and Jessie T. Usher, who played the antihero A-Train. The three will attend a panel moderated by Collider's Steve Weintraub, discussing the show's incredible success, its role in the modern age of superhero content, and its recent and somewhat divisive ending. The reunion will be one of the con's landmark events, so it's one you won't want to miss.

The Boys