COMICON Napoli 2026 closes with 183.000 visitors: the 26th edition is the largest ever.

Naples – International Pop Culture Festival 2026 occupied the entire Mostra d'Oltremare with its 10 thematic sections—Comics, Asian, Cinema and TV Series, Videogames, Games, Music, Young, LARP, Urban, and Pizza Pop—enlivened by over 650 events. These were joined by the more than 30 COMICON OFF events throughout the city and the COMICON Extra initiatives in Campania.

For the first time, the festival has chosen to limit admission to 183.000 visitors (continuing the 2025 trend) to ensure maximum accessibility to its spaces and events, following the significant increase in exhibitors and guests compared to previous editions. This figure confirms COMICON as the undisputed leader in Italy and among the top five European festivals in terms of size and cultural offering, with an estimated economic impact on the region of €43,1 million.

The charge of the 183.000 and the most applauded moments

The audience filled every space at the festival, welcoming the big international names with standing ovations. Among the most moving moments: the meeting with American actor John C. McGinley (Dr. Cox on Scrubs);
Caparezza's special talk at the Arena Flegrea with Luca Parmitano and Magister 2026 Leo Ortolani, in which space and pop culture merged in a single ovation (it was on the COMICON stage that the rapper received the platinum record for Orbit Orbit);
the panel with the protagonists of the Paramount+ series From and the exceptional fans LDA and Aka7even;
appointments with legendary Dragon Ball editor Kazuhiko Torishima, mangaka Makoto Yukimura (with the final volume of Vinland Saga), The Last of Us voice Troy Baker, Castlevania composer Tomoyuki Tanaka;
the preview of Mortal Kombat II, the meeting with Geronimo Stilton creator Elisabetta Dami and the 2026 Palmarès awards ceremony, with the Best Comic Award given to Santa Where Are You? by Francesca Ghermandi (Canicola Edizioni).

Robert Crumb in Naples: the first Italian exhibition

COMICON doesn't stop in May. From May 27th to August 31st, the Maschio Angioino (Castel Nuovo) hosts the first-ever Italian exhibition, "Robert Crumb. Cattivi pensieri," dedicated to one of the greatest masters of underground comics of all time. This project is being developed in collaboration with the City of Naples. Upcoming COMICON Bergamo events - 4th edition: June 26th to 28th, in collaboration with Promoberg.
COMICON Naples XXVII edition: from April 29th to May 2nd 2027.

The voices of the institutions and organizers

"For twenty-six years, COMICON has been a key event for pop culture, not just in Campania and Italy. It represents an important opportunity for gathering, discussion, the expression of creative talent, and unity between different generations," said Campania Region President Roberto Fico. "Comicon in Naples has proven to be a winning format because it attracts younger generations, creating that sense of community we so desperately need.

"Naples is increasingly becoming a capital of youth, innovation, and talent," said Mayor Gaetano Manfredi. "Our festival is already working to bring top-quality authors, guests, and newcomers of international scope to 2027. We look to the next edition with renewed confidence in our potential, which, as we approach COMICON's 30th anniversary, which we'll celebrate in 2028, proves to still be fully explored," emphasized COMICON President Claudio Curcio. "We close the 2026 edition by confirming COMICON as the leading international pop culture event. In a time of madness, hatred, and discrimination, COMICON speaks of peace, inclusion, and solidarity," concluded CEO Carlo Cigliano.