John Scalzi and Martha Wells to headline San Antonio Public Library’s Pop Madness at Central Library

Free, all-ages pop culture convention returns to downtown San Antonio on March 7

San Antonio Public Library’s annual Pop Madness will return to the Central Library downtown on Saturday, March 7, running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The free event will take place at 600 Soledad St. and is designed as an all-ages celebration of pop culture fandom, combining author programming with hands-on activities, cosplay, exhibitors and screenings.

This year’s featured guests include science fiction and fantasy authors John Scalzi and Martha Wells. Both writers are scheduled to appear together in a panel discussion in the Central Library Auditorium, followed by a book signing.

Two major science fiction names anchor the 2026 guest list

Scalzi is a New York Times bestselling author known for the “Old Man’s War” series and the novel “Redshirts,” and has received major genre honors including the Hugo and Locus awards. His work has also been connected to screen and game projects, including credits as a creative consultant on “Stargate: Universe” and writing for the video game “Midnight Star.”

Wells is the author of the “Murderbot Diaries” series and has received top industry recognition including the Hugo and Nebula awards. A Texas native, she is also a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame. Wells has written tie-in work for properties including “Stargate: Atlantis” and “Magic: The Gathering,” alongside novels, short fiction and nonfiction.

Programming spans cosplay, kids’ activities, gaming and film screenings

Pop Madness programming is distributed across multiple floors of the library. Children’s activities are planned for the third floor, including a scheduled Jedi Training session at noon, as well as origami and a family-friendly escape room.

• Cosplay contests for tween, teen and adult participants begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Central Library Auditorium.

• Cosplay contest registration is required, with on-site registration available March 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. near the library entrance.

• Additional activities include board games, card games, video games, and programming for Pokémon fans.

The event also includes space for local creators. San Antonio filmmakers are scheduled to share work through screenings held in the Latino Collection and Resource Center on the first floor.

Additional authors and artists slated to appear

Beyond Scalzi and Wells, the 2026 lineup also includes authors Robert Jackson Bennett and Celso Hurtado, along with artists John Picacio, Kwanzaa Edwards and Irving Herrera, expanding the event’s focus beyond literature to visual art and fan culture.

Pop Madness is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the San Antonio Public Library’s Central Library.

Admission is free. Parking in the Central Library Garage is free for up to three hours.