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UK Convention Prop and Weapon Rules (2026): What You Can Bring

Writer: Garden Keeper
Garden Keeper
6 days ago
11 min read
Pastel illustration of foam cosplay props, a toy blaster with an orange tip, a lanyard and a checklist in a blossom garden
Illustration made with AI

By the Wafiugarden team

Last checked: 27 September 2026. Policies change, so always check the official page before you travel. This guide gives general information only. It isn't legal advice, and the con's own staff and venue security always have the final say.

You've spent weeks on that foam sword, and you don't want to hand it over at the door. But every UK con writes its prop rules differently: one allows orange-tipped blasters, another bans gun props completely.

So we read the official policy pages for ten UK anime, comic and gaming cons and put the key rules side by side. After that there's a plain-English look at the law on carrying props in public.

Quick comparison

Summary only. Read the con's section and official page before you go.

Con

Next dates listed (as of 27 Sep 2026)

Metal blades

Realistic-looking prop guns

Toy / sci-fi blasters

Size limit

Prop checks

MCM London

23–25 Oct 2026, ExCeL London

Banned, sharp or blunt

Lightweight props with a bright tip or section. No airsoft, gel, BB or metal

Allowed, max 150 cm

150 cm (180 cm for narrow staffs/spears)

Daily security marking on prop guns. Bag checks possible

MCM Birmingham

2027 at the NEC, dates "coming soon"

Same rules as MCM London

Same

Same

Same

Same

Hyper Japan

2027 not yet listed (2026 was 24–26 Jul, Olympia)

Banned

Banned: "gun props regardless of materials"

Banned as written

Costumes/props of 1.5 m wide and 2 m high listed as prohibited

Props and bags may be checked

London Anime & Gaming Con (Winter)

19–21 Feb 2027, Novotel London West

Metal replicas banned, even blunt

Banned

Projectile-firing props banned

About 1.6 m

All weapons and large props checked

EM-Con

31 Jul–1 Aug (2027 per ticket link), Motorpoint Arena Nottingham

Solid metal banned

Unclear (see below)

Allowed up to 1.5 m, unloaded

1.5 m for guns

Bag check at entry

Kitacon

2027 not yet listed (2026 was 14–16 Aug, Uni of Warwick)

Banned (no metal)

Lightweight props allowed with a red/orange tip

Allowed, Nerf included, unloaded

2 m

All props checked and tagged

Comic Con Scotland (Edinburgh)

24–25 Oct 2026, Royal Highland Centre

Banned

Unclear (see below)

Allowed

3 m

Venue security checks on entry

Liverpool Comic Con

10–11 Oct 2026, Exhibition Centre Liverpool

Banned

Unclear (see below)

Allowed

3 m

Venue security checks on entry

London Film & Comic Con

14–15 Aug 2027, Olympia London

Blunt metal allowed if sheathed. Sharp edges banned

Only with a visible red/orange tip

Allowed

Over 6 ft needs a spotter

All props checked and tagged

Wales Comic Con

Next event "TBA"

Solid metal banned. Hollow aluminium theatrical swords allowed

Bright tip or section, shown unable to fire

Allowed, max 1.5 m

1.5 m (staffs 1.9 m)

Cosplay team or security may check


Con by con

MCM Comic Con London and MCM Birmingham

Dates: MCM London is on 23–25 October 2026 at ExCeL London. MCM Birmingham returns to the NEC in 2027, with dates "coming soon". Both events share the same rules page, last updated 4 August 2025.

  • Blades: metal blades are banned "whether sharp or blunt", and so are bokken, hard claws and props that include glass. Melee props in lightweight wood, foam, card or PLA are fine, with sharp points rounded off.

  • Size: 150 cm maximum, or 180 cm for a narrow staff or spear. Anything bigger has to come apart without tools. Scythes must always detach into two parts. Shields can be up to 1 m, and lightweight metal is OK for shields.

  • Guns: toy and clearly sci-fi blasters are allowed up to 150 cm. Realistic prop guns in lightweight materials need a brightly coloured tip that's visible from most angles, or a significant brightly coloured section. You can take the tip off for photos if you put it straight back. Airsoft, gel blasters, BB and paintball guns (even unpowered), deactivated guns and metal or hardwood gun props are all banned.

  • Prop check: every blaster and prop gun needs a security marking, which is applied at the show and changes each day.

  • Bows: allowed if they're unstrung or can't actually fire. Arrows must be blunt or fixed in the quiver.

  • Security: possible bag checks and scanners. MCM asks you to keep props "completely hidden while travelling".

Hyper Japan (London)

Dates: the 2026 festival ran on 24–26 July at Olympia London. 2027 dates weren't listed when we checked.

Hyper Japan has the strictest gun rule on this list. It prohibits "any weapons and projectile weapons", including airsoft, BB and paintball guns, bows, "and gun props regardless of materials". Metal blades (sharp or blunt), hard bats, slings, bokken and heavy items are banned too. Costumes or props "of 1.5 metres width and 2 meters height" are also on the prohibited list. The ticket terms say "your props and bags may be checked by security or staff". If your cosplay has a blaster of any kind, plan to leave it at home or check with the organiser first.

London Anime & Gaming Con (Winter)

Dates: 19–21 February 2027, Novotel London West, Hammersmith.

Staff check all weapons and large props. The FAQ and event terms rule out real weapons, metal replica weapons "even if dulled and/or blunted", sharp-tipped items and realistic imitation firearms. The terms go further and ban any replica of a real firearm, "including any item that would require blaze taping on its barrel", and also "any spear or sharp-tipped weapon, regardless of material". Projectile-firing and pyrotechnic props (cap guns included) are banned, and props over about 1.6 m may be refused. Stick to foam, Worbla, card, lightweight plastic or hollow 3D prints. Solid wood, any metal (aluminium included) and dense resin aren't normally allowed. Props that aren't allowed may be stored until you leave. We couldn't find a specific bag-search policy.

EM-Con (Nottingham)

Dates: the homepage lists 31 July – 1 August at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, and the official ticket link shows 2027.

EM-Con and the arena run a bag check at entry. Banned: solid metal blades (even blunt), heavy bats, strung bows that can be drawn, sharp arrows, and anything restricted by UK law. Unclear point: the banned list starts with "Replica guns", but the same page also allows costume weapons that are clearly marked with a bright orange tip. Unrealistic plastic guns are allowed up to 1.5 m, as long as you can show they can't fire (empty magazine, batteries out). If you're bringing any kind of prop gun, contact EM-Con first to confirm.

Kitacon

Dates: Kitacon 2026 ran on 14–16 August at the University of Warwick. 2027 dates weren't listed when we checked.

Take every weapon and prop to Cosplay HQ, where it's checked and given a tag. If a prop has no tag, staff will take it to be checked. Props can be up to 2 m, and larger parts must come apart without tools. Stick to light, soft materials such as foam, card, lightweight plastic or PLA prints and papier-mâché. Metal, medium-to-heavy wood and glass aren't allowed, and edges must be rounded. Airsoft, BB, paintball and metal gun props are banned. Lightweight realistic prop guns need a red or orange tip, and Cosplay HQ has tape if you need it. Nerf is fine as long as it's unloaded. Confiscated props can be collected on Sunday up to 30 minutes before the Closing Ceremony. Uncollected items are disposed of.

Comic Con Scotland (Edinburgh) and Liverpool Comic Con

Dates: Comic Con Scotland is on 24–25 October 2026 at the Royal Highland Centre. Liverpool Comic Con is on 10–11 October 2026 at Exhibition Centre Liverpool. Both are run by Monopoly Events under the same policy.

Venue security checks on entry. Banned: metal blades (sharp or blunt), wooden or metal bats, "realistic looking handguns, rifles", strung bows and crossbows that can fire, sharp-tipped arrows, gas canisters, protruding nails, laser pointers and anything illegal to carry in the UK. Allowed: unrealistic and toy guns, unstrung or non-working bows, and slings with no ammunition. Costumes and props can be up to 3 m between any two points. Unclear point: the allowed list also says "imitation firearms such as airsoft guns and BB guns are allowed as long as they have the brightly coloured tip or a muzzle fitted", which sits awkwardly next to the ban on realistic-looking guns. Email the organiser before relying on it.

London Film & Comic Con (Olympia)

Dates: 14–15 August 2027, Olympia London.

All props are checked at the door, and weapons go through "a separate tagging system check". Not allowed: firearms, "realistic replica firearms", props with sharp edges, bokken, working bows, darts, slingshots, unsecured whips, sharp arrows, and pyrotechnics (glitter and smoke bombs included). Allowed: non-realistic weapons, replica firearms "with a red/orange tip" that's "clear and visible from a distance", blunt metal weapons in a sheath, unstrung or loosely strung bows, coiled and secured whips, and plastic, wood or LARP weapons. Props over 6 ft need an experienced spotter. Staff can't store banned props, so don't count on a cloakroom.

Wales Comic Con

Dates: the official site says "Next event: TBA".

Banned: metal blades (sharp or blunt), real firearms, heavy bats, strung bows that can be drawn, metal-tipped or sharp arrows, and anything restricted by UK law. Weapons can be up to 1.5 m (staffs 1.9 m), and anything bigger must come apart. Solid metal melee weapons aren't allowed, but theatrical weapons such as "hollow aluminium swords" and cored LARP foam are. Wooden or other solid replicas must be peace-bonded (secured so they can't be drawn). Realistic replica guns need a brightly coloured tip or section, and you must show they can't fire: magazines empty, batteries out.

Cons we couldn't confirm

  • Amecon: the official site says its most recent event was AmeChibi 2025 and no new date has been announced. We couldn't confirm a current prop policy, so check the official site once a new event is announced.

  • MinamiCon (Southampton, 12–14 March 2027): we couldn't find a published prop or weapon policy on the official site. Check the official site or contact the organisers before you go.

Travelling to a con with props: what the law says

This is general information about the law in England, Wales and Scotland, checked on legislation.gov.uk, gov.uk and TfL's website on 27 September 2026. It isn't legal advice. Northern Ireland has its own laws, which aren't covered here. If you're unsure about a specific item, gov.uk suggests contacting your local police or getting legal advice.

Blades and sharp points. In England and Wales, section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 makes it an offence to have "any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed" in a public place. The main exception is a folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches or less. Section 49 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 does the same in Scotland. There are defences, such as good reason (reasonable excuse in Scotland), or carrying the item for work, religious reasons or national costume, but a court decides whether one applies. The Act defines "public place" as anywhere the public can get into, "whether on payment or otherwise", so a ticketed venue can still count as a public place.

Banned weapons. Some items are illegal to own at all, not just to carry, subject to limited exemptions. gov.uk's list includes several that turn up in anime and games: curved swords with a blade of 50 cm or more, "ninja swords", throwing stars (shuriken), kusari-gama, knuckledusters and push daggers. Never buy the real thing for a cosplay.

Offensive weapons. It's also an offence to carry an "offensive weapon" in public without lawful authority or reasonable excuse: anything made or adapted to cause injury, or intended for that (Prevention of Crime Act 1953 in England and Wales, and section 47 of the 1995 Act in Scotland).

Imitation firearms. Under section 19 of the Firearms Act 1968, which applies in England, Wales and Scotland, it's an offence to have an imitation firearm in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, and it's up to you to prove the excuse. The Act defines an imitation firearm very broadly, as "any thing which has the appearance of being a firearm". So don't assume an orange tip makes a prop gun fine to carry openly in the street.

Why blasters are brightly coloured. Under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, it's an offence to make, sell or import a realistic imitation firearm, or to modify an imitation firearm "so that it becomes" realistic. Supporting regulations treat bright red, orange, yellow, green, pink, purple or blue, or transparent material, as unrealistic colours. So painting a bright toy blaster to look like a real gun could cause you legal problems, and not just at the con door.

On public transport. TfL's Conditions of Carriage (valid from 24 September 2026) say you must not bring anything "more than 2 metres long", or anything "likely to cause injury", and that staff can refuse any item. Train companies have their own conditions of travel, so check those too.

Practical tips

  1. Check the official page in the week before you go, and again the night before.

  2. Build in foam, card or EVA, not metal or hardwood. Every con here is happiest with lightweight props.

  3. Keep props covered all the way there and back, in a tote bag, poster tube or wrapped bin bag. Put them together once you're inside.

  4. Make big props come apart without tools. It helps with con size limits and TfL's 2 m rule.

  5. Keep a bright tip on anything gun-shaped, but first check the con allows them at all. Hyper Japan bans gun props of any material, and LAGC bans replicas of real guns.

  6. If in doubt, email the organiser with a photo before the con, not from the queue. And allow extra time for checks on the day.

Spotted something out of date?

Con policies change, sometimes weeks before an event. If a rule here no longer matches the official page, please tell us via our Safety & Report page, with the con name and a link, and we'll update the guide.

Come and say hi in the Garden

Wafiugarden is a friendly, all-ages UK community for anime and cosplay fans, and joining is free. Share your con plans in our four Gardens (Sakura Sanctuary, Neon Garden, Chibi Grove and Moonlit Grove), ask for help with a build, or find people heading to the same con. Join Wafiugarden for free.

New to building props? Our guide Your First Cosplay Kit Under ÂŁ50 (UK) covers the tools you need to get started.

Sources (all checked 27 September 2026)

Convention policies (official sites)

Law and transport

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