The July American conventions in San Diego and Los Angeles, the August German gaming expo, the September Tokyo game show, the October Italian comics festival, and the December and August Tokyo doujin markets. The con, badge, artist alley, the exhibit hall, panels, the line as a social space, con crud, hall cosplay versus masquerade, the prop policy, day badge versus full weekend, meetups.

January to March is thin, though the badge sales for the summer season happen precisely then, which makes it the intent peak with no travel in it. July and August carry the largest conventions in North America, Europe, and Japan.

A second peak sits in late autumn around the European comics festivals and the Japanese winter market. The largest conventions sell out within minutes of a sale that occurs six to nine months ahead, sometimes by lottery, and hotel blocks sell out in a separate and equally brutal event.