The first-ever Los Angeles edition of ComplexCon helped ring in the fan con’s 10-year anniversary in one of the streetwear capitals of the world. And from Oct. 3-4, consumers, pop-culture icons and 300-plus brands celebrated the milestone across the L.A. Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena.
Once again, tens of thousands of fans attended the festival and expo to get up-close-and-personal with top names in fashion, music, art, food and entertainment, and enjoy two days of performances, panels, brand activations, and two major events running concurrently with ComplexCon, Family Style Food Festival and ThriftCon.
And while a bustling show floor offered attendees a vast range of brand footprints to choose from, we couldn’t cover them all. So we compiled our picks for top exhibit trends at the 10th annual fan fest.
Theme: City Life
ComplexCon may have been held in L.A., but more than one brand crafted an exhibit inspired by New York City’s subways. Graffiti was also a design thread that was woven through several booths.
The most impressive example was the hyper-realistic, to-scale subway car installation that anchored Foot Locker’s booth, presented in partnership with Timberland. Subway “ads” showcased new products, while item restocks on Sunday could only be claimed via an “exclusively seeded” MetroCard.
In a similar play, JAŸ-Z 30, a year-long platform marking 30 years since the release of Jay-Z’s debut album, nodded to the artist’s Brooklyn roots at ComplexCon. In addition to a museum-like exhibit detailing Jay’s career, the booth included a subway car featuring exclusive apparel displays with “windows” that broadcast iconic Jay-Z performances.
Inside Toyota’s cityscape-themed footprint, an interactive collectible experience gave attendees the opportunity to win limited-edition Toyota x Awake NY merch while surrounded by elements like a traffic light, street signs and metal fencing. Meanwhile, overflowing florals juxtaposed the urban elements, underscoring the brand’s Road to Bloom campaign.
Over at Yachty’s Pawn Shop, fans could enter a detailed store footprint, where rare collectibles from Little Yachty’s personal collection could be bought, sold and traded. Concrete Boys apparel and a major Nike collab were also in the mix. And as added incentive, participants who spent $200 snagged a free pair of shoes from the artist’s collection, while supplies lasted.
And Moose Knuckles turned heads with a frozen, snowdrift-filled cityscape, housed in an enclosed shipping container. The urban winter setting encompassed a car covered in snow, massive snow drifts, frosted graffiti, an array of apparel items embedded in ice, and an interactive payphone experience.
Theme: Curated VIP Journeys
Many brands activating at the show catered to the masses, but others offered one experience for the public and another private, curated journey exclusively for VIPs.
In partnership with Victoria Monét, who just released a new album, “Frequency of Love,” Meta shined a spotlight on its newest Ray-Ban Meta Audio AI glasses with a Listening Lounge that gave all attendees an opportunity to experience the glasses before they hit shelves, and listen to part of the new record.
But to wrap up its ComplexCon presence, Meta on Sunday hosted a private silent-listening session and Q&A with Monét herself, giving a select group of fans the chance to experience “Frequency of Love” entirely through the glasses before hearing straight from the artist.
In the case of Lexus, hospitality and Japanese craftsmanship were at the core of its two-part experience. The Lexus Kissa served free matcha and coffee to all attendees. Meanwhile, select guests were treated to a hidden Lexus Kakurega, where they were presented with private, curated 30-minute experiences that blended tastings and storytelling.
Theme: Foot Races
Puma teamed up with 247 by Represent to keep fans on their toes. Literally. Inside the event, attendees could face off in treadmill challenges that had two people racing 100-plus meters, and the winner took home a pair of the duo’s unreleased shoes.
Outside of the expo hall, the brands presented a foot race hosted by George Heaton and Esteban Prado that gave runners a chance to score ComplexCon tickets.
Another pair of brands, Brooks and PYNRS, activated a race, but it wasn’t your average competition. Those who participated in the “Spin the Block” team-based event (with individuals also welcome) could win across three different categories: running the fastest, looking the flyest, or supplying the best vibes. The race was aimed at “paying homage to the culture and community that running breeds.”
Theme: Analog-Centric
To commemorate its 30th anniversary, the WNBA threw it back to the good old days with a WNBA ’96 activation featuring a massive 1996-themed gumball machine at the center. Every 30 minutes, the installation dispensed 30 giveaways, with prizes spanning unreleased throwback apparel to a 30th-anniversary basketball.
Cash App, the Official Bitcoin Partner of ComplexCon 2026, had one of the most-buzzed about footprints at the show. And its analog strategy was particularly interesting given the technical nature of the brand.
In an effort to make Bitcoin and the crypto world feel more tangible, the company presented a real man-made body of water, “Lightning Lake,” as part of its nostalgic Bait House activation. Fans could stop by, grab a rod and cast it into the water for a chance to catch real bitcoin through Cash App. One fan even won a full bitcoin, which is estimated at $85,000.
And it was hard to miss Stript’s whimsical pink playground. The boardwalk-themed space included ring tosses and balloon popping, a matcha bar presented by Buji Matcha, a mini carousel that kids could ride (and that doubled as a moving apparel rack), a cotton candy photo op, a traditional photo booth and a claw machine.
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