A Funko Pop! convention exclusive is a Pop made for a specific event, and Funko says these exclusives are made in limited quantities and will not be re-released. Some are also sold away from the show as “shared exclusives”, which carry a different sticker, and with New York Comic Con running from 8 to 11 October 2026 in New York, the 2026 Fall Convention sticker is the one to know this week. Here’s how the stickers work and how to check one before you buy from Singapore.
What is a Funko Pop! convention exclusive?
Funko’s Events and Conventions explainer says each event gets collectibles made just for that event. They are either completely new characters or designs, or variants with new features, such as glitter or glow-in-the-dark versions. In Funko’s words: “These exclusives are made in limited quantities and will not be re-released.”
Funko says it announces each event’s exclusives after confirming it will be at that convention. At the show itself, Funko’s NYCC 2026 guide says booth exclusives are sold first come, first served, and once they’re gone from the booth, they’re gone for good.
Convention sticker vs shared exclusive sticker
Not every fan can get to a show, so Funko sells a portion of each event’s limited items through select retail partners as shared exclusives. Funko’s Events and Conventions explainer is clear on how to tell them apart: “Those shared exclusives have an alternate sticker compared to those which are purchased at the convention, making them distinguishable from one another.”
Funko also posts shared retailer guides on each event’s announcement blog and, when applicable, guides for international partners.
In practice, the sticker tells you which route a Pop took: bought on the convention floor, or sold as a shared exclusive. Read it before you buy, and compare it with what Funko published for that event.
Summer Convention vs Fall Convention stickers
Two sticker wordings come straight from Funko’s own pages:
| Sticker wording | What Funko says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Summer Convention Exclusive | All shared San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2022 items sold through Funko.com and retail partners had this sticker | Funko’s SDCC 2022 guide |
| 2026 Fall Convention | The 18 shared Funko.com and NYCC 2026 exclusives have this sticker on the box | Funko’s 2026 NYCC Exclusive Bundle page |
The 18 shared NYCC 2026 items on that bundle page include Darth Vader (Kyber Crystal), Young Big Mom and Rilakkuma (Pumpkin).
The Funko pages we checked don’t cover every past year, so for other years, check Funko’s official page for that event rather than assuming Summer or Fall always means a particular show.
Octane5 authentication stickers: how to check a newer sticker
Octane5 isn’t new for 2026. Funko announced its Octane5 stickers on 24 September 2024 and said the first batch would appear on many of its NYCC products that year. Here’s how Funko says the system works:
- Each sticker carries a QR code and an item code number specific to that item.
- Scan the QR code with your phone, then enter the code on the Octane5 page to verify the item.
- The stickers use micro-optic technology made in partnership with Crane Currency, the same technology used to secure banknotes. Funko says they cannot be duplicated or altered, unlike holographic stickers, “which are easily counterfeited”.
- Funko said the new stickers would replace its event and retailer-exclusive stickering and still sit on the front of the box.
For 2026, Funko’s bundle page says the shared NYCC exclusives “feature our new authentication packaging”, with unique item codes “that can be officially verified through Octane5”.
Don’t assume every Funko product made since 2024 has one, though. Older convention Pops from before the system started won’t, so they need the checks below.
Buying convention Pops from Singapore: checks before you pay
Funko’s NYCC 2026 guide says some NYCC exclusives are sold online and at select retail partners, and the bundle page says exclusives sold within the US may be available in other territories with select partners. Neither page names partners in Singapore, so watch Funko’s official socials, as the guide suggests.
Before you pay for a convention Pop, run through these checks:
- Read the sticker wording and year, and make sure they match the event the seller describes.
- For 2026 shared exclusives, scan the Octane5 QR code and enter the item code.
- For older Pops, compare the Pop with Funko’s official announcement for that event, where one exists.
- For graded Pops, check the cert number on the grading company’s website.
- Buy from sellers you trust, and ask questions before you pay.
Graded convention Pops in brief
Some convention Pops are sold graded. Our Eevee listing, for example, gives a PSA 8.5 (NM-MT+) grade and a PSA cert number, and the listing itself tells buyers to check the cert number on the PSA website before buying. Do that for any graded Pop, whoever is selling it, and check the grading company’s own website for the services it currently offers.
FAQs
What is a Funko Pop! convention exclusive?
A Funko Pop! convention exclusive is a Pop made for a specific event, such as New York Comic Con. Funko says its event exclusives are made in limited quantities and will not be re-released. They are either new designs or variants with new features, such as glitter or glow-in-the-dark versions, and Funko says it announces each event’s exclusives after confirming it will be there.
What is a Funko shared exclusive?
A shared exclusive is a convention exclusive that Funko also sells away from the show, through Funko.com or select retail partners, so fans who cannot attend in person have a chance to buy one. Funko says shared exclusives carry an alternate sticker compared with those bought at the convention, so the two versions can be told apart.
What does “Fall Convention” mean on a Funko sticker?
For 2026, it is the sticker on Funko’s shared New York Comic Con exclusives. Funko’s 2026 NYCC Exclusive Bundle page says its 18 shared Funko.com and NYCC exclusives have the 2026 Fall Convention sticker. The summer version works the same way: Funko said shared San Diego Comic-Con 2022 items carried the 2022 Summer Convention Exclusive sticker.
Are NYCC 2026 Funko exclusives sold outside the US?
Some may be. Funko’s 2026 NYCC Exclusive Bundle page says exclusives sold within the US may be available in other territories with select partners, and its NYCC guide says some exclusives can be bought online and at select retail partners. Funko’s pages do not name partners in Singapore, so follow Funko’s official channels for partner news.
How do I check a 2026 Funko convention sticker?
Look for Funko’s authentication sticker on the front of the box. Funko says these stickers carry a QR code and a unique item code: scan the QR code with your phone, then enter the code on the Octane5 page to verify the item. The 2026 NYCC bundle page says its exclusives use this micro-optic authentication packaging.
How do I check an older convention Pop without an Octane5 sticker?
There is no code to scan, because Funko announced its Octane5 stickers in September 2024, starting with NYCC products. Check that the sticker’s year and wording match the event, compare the Pop with Funko’s official announcement for that event where one exists, and for a graded Pop, look up the cert number on the grading company’s website.