THE XXVI EDITION OF COMICON NAPOLI CLOSES WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS

183.000 VISITORS FOR COMICON NAPOLI 2026 THE XXVI EDITION CLOSES WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS

Naples, May, 2026 – COMICON Napoli 2026 closed its XXVI edition with a truly remarkable result: 183.000 visitors filled the Mostra d’Oltremare over four days, confirming the festival as one of the leading European events dedicated to comics, pop culture and contemporary imagination.

Given the increase in exhibitors and guests in 2026, and to ensure that the public enjoys the best possible festival in terms of accessibility to venues and events, COMICON has capped attendance at 183,000 visitors, in line with the trend established in 2025.

From the opening morning, with crowds entering the gates and filling the avenues of the Mostra d’Oltremare, to the final panels and award ceremonies, COMICON Napoli once again became a vibrant city of stories, images, fandoms and communities. Publishers’ stands, exhibitions, signing sessions, previews, gaming areas, stages, workshops and meet & greets welcomed an enthusiastic

The success of this edition was also driven by a rich and wide-ranging programme featuring more than 480 Italian and international guests, over 650 events and 520 exhibitors across Comics, Asian Village, Cinema and TV Series, Videogames, Gaming, Music, Young, LARP, Urban culture and Pizza Pop.

Among the most celebrated highlights of COMICON Napoli 2026 were the presence of Magister Leo Ortolani, creator of Rat-Man and one of the most beloved voices in Italian comics; the first Italian appearance of Kazuhiko Torishima, the legendary editor of Dragon Ball; the arrival of Makoto Yukimura, author of Vinland Saga; the return of Disney comics master Don Rosa; and the participation of major international artists and authors including Shintaro Kago, Satoshi Shiki, Kotteri, Alex Maleev, David Mack, Liam Sharp, R.M. Guéra and many others.

Cinema, TV series and animation were also at the heart of the 2026 edition, with the participation of John C. McGinley, the iconic Dr. Cox from Scrubs; the special presentation of the Paramount+ series From with Catalina Sandino Moreno and Scott McCord; the presence of Crystal Reed; the Netflix event Clash in COMICON with Maurizio Merluzzo, Victor Laszlo and special guest Zerocalcare; and a packed programme of screenings, previews and talks dedicated to some of the most beloved worlds of international pop culture.

The Videogame section confirmed its growing international profile with acclaimed guests such as Troy Baker, legendary voice of The Last of Us and many other iconic titles; composer Austin Wintory; game developer Andrea Pessino; composer and sound director Tomoyuki Tanaka; actresses Jane Perry and Kirsty Rider; and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano, who brought an extraordinary reflection on the relationship between space, exploration and videogames.

Great participation also marked the Asian Village, one of the beating hearts of COMICON, with manga, anime, cosplay, K-Pop, Korean culture and international guests; the exhibitions programme, with twenty-five shows ranging from comics to animation, photography, cinema, contemporary issues and street art; the special programme Pop Wave – COMICON for Palestine; and COMICON Academy, the new educational platform designed to connect young creatives with the professional world of pop culture.

The closing of COMICON Napoli 2026 was also the occasion to announce the dates of the next Naples edition: COMICON Napoli 2027 will take place from April 29 to May 2.

But COMICON does not end in Naples. The journey continues in Bergamo with COMICON Bergamo, scheduled from June 26 to 28, 2026, bringing the spirit of the festival to Northern Italy with a new programme of guests, meetings, exhibitions, previews, performances and events dedicated to comics, games, cinema, TV series, music and pop culture.

With 183.00 visitors in four days, COMICON Napoli 2026 confirms not only the strength of its community, but also its role as a cultural platform capable of bringing together different generations, languages and creative industries. A festival that continues to grow, to open new spaces for imagination and to celebrate the stories that shape contemporary culture.

COMICON Bergamo: June 26–28, 2026

COMICON Napoli 2027: April 29 - May 2

COMICON NAPOLI COMICON Napoli - International Pop Culture Festival is among the top 5 European festivals in terms of size and cultural content. With a programme spanning comics, cinema and TV series, video games, games, music and all areas of contemporary pop culture, it has become one of Italy’s leading cultural events and a major point of reference for audiences from across the country and beyond. Follow COMICON on napoli.comicon.it, comicon.it, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Twitch, Telegram, LinkedIn, YouTube and through the official hashtags #napolicomicon2026 #comiconitalia #comicon2026