Comic Con Cape Town Returns to the City for 2026 Festival

Comic Con Cape Town will return for its fourth edition in 2026, once again hosted by the City of Cape Town. The event marks three years of partnership between the festival and the city, celebrating creativity, community and pop culture.

The 2026 edition will take place at CTICC 2 from 30 April to 3 May, with organisers expecting around 36,000 fans to attend over the four-day event.

A Highlight on Cape Town’s Cultural Calendar

Comic Con Cape Town has become a major feature on the city’s cultural calendar. The festival celebrates comics, movies, gaming, cosplay, anime and pop culture collectibles.

For many Capetonians, preparing costumes and planning their festival schedules has become an annual tradition. Fans often spend months creating cosplay outfits and reviewing the programme to ensure they experience as much of the event as possible.

A Platform for Creative Talent

Cape Town is widely recognised as a hub for creative expression, and Comic Con Cape Town brings together artists from a wide range of disciplines.

Animators, fine artists, street artists, designers, actors, cosplayers and voice-over artists gather at the event to share their work and connect with fans. The festival creates an environment where emerging creatives and established names can showcase their work side by side.

International Guests Join the Line-Up

The 2026 festival will feature several well-known international guests.

Fans will have the opportunity to meet Christopher Sabat, the voice actor known for portraying Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z, Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter film series, and Jason Liebrecht, recognised for voicing Dabi in the anime My Hero Academia.

The event will also host internationally known cosplayers Yaya Han and Jaremi, while comic book fans can look forward to appearances from artists Ron Marz and Heather Antos.

Additional guests are expected to be announced closer to the festival.

Emerging Artists Programme Returns

Comic Con Cape Town continues to support local creative talent through initiatives such as the Emerging Artists Programme.

The programme, supported by the City of Cape Town, returns for its second year at the festival. The final public showcase will take place in the popular Artist Alley, where emerging artists can display their work, connect with fans and engage with the wider creative community.

Celebrating South African Creativity

Rene Staack, Content Director of Comic Con Cape Town, says the festival has become an important platform for local talent.

“Comic Con has made its mark on the City of Cape Town by providing a platform for uplifting local creatives. While we are well known for bringing international film and series celebrities to the festival, it’s the showcasing of South African talent that truly makes Comic Con Cape Town special. And of course the fans who attend, bringing their energy, passion and vibe to the Con. They are the ones whose dreams form the focal point of all that we do.”

A Growing Cultural and Economic Event

JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security for the City of Cape Town, says Comic Con has grown far beyond niche pop culture.

“Comic Con is no longer just geek culture. It has become mainstream culture, drawing growing interest thanks to the success of comic-book superhero franchises, popular television series and anime. It remains an important space for people to come together through their shared love of pop culture, gaming and entertainment.”

He added that the event also contributes to the local economy by attracting visitors, supporting job creation and strengthening social connections across the city.

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