Comic Con Cape Town has been a festival to remember. From brushes with celebrity to incredible art, nail-biting tournaments in gaming and cosplay to activations that amazed, and festival vibes with thousands of people who understand each other, it was nothing short of the happiest place to be this past weekend.
Activations All Day
Capitec brought their Fandom Force Dome to Comic Con Cape Town. It was a sensory experience, with giveaways, exclusive merch, and a surfboard challenge in the centre. Burger King had fans excited with their Mandalorian and Grogu-themed interactive space that was full all weekend. HintHunt kept fans on their toes with immersive escape room challenges that tested teamwork and quick thinking.
The Stars Arrived
Fans loved getting to meet the stars from their favourite films and TV series. Dragon Ball Z voice actors Christopher Sabat and Jason Liebrecht came to the con to share their insights and meet and greet fans, taking photos and autographing memorabilia. Evanna Lynch, perhaps best known as Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter, was a highlight, and much of the cast from the live action adaptation of One Piece participated in panels and meet and greets with fans – Steven John Ward, Callum Kerr, Brendan Sean Murray, Jazzara Jaslyn, Martial T. Batchamen, Nahum Hughes, and Ty Keogh had a reunion in the halls of Comic Con Cape Town.
Art, Art, Art
Artist Alley was pulsing with creativity the whole weekend long. Fans loved engaging with the talented artists and crafters at the show, buying their original artworks and learning more about the people behind the breathtaking creations. Fans had their choice of lino prints, paintings, watercolours, sketches, digital art, ink drawings – almost every kind of discipline imaginable could be found. International spotlight artists included Anand Racheron, Andy Mason, Bill Masuku, and Sean Izaakse. International spotlight artists included heavyweights Heather Antos, Ron Marz, Phil Hester, and the comic illustrator of 50 years standing, John Romita Jr. Meeting these bastions of the industry was the chance of a lifetime.
All The Cosplay
The Comic Con Cape Town Cosplay Competition finale took place on Sunday, and the cosplays were spectacular. Cosplayers spend months on their cosplays, using skills in pattern-making and sewing, sculpting in foam, cardboard, and wire mesh, design, painting, make-up, acting, 3D printing, and a multitude of other capabilities that bring 2D characters from comics, books, and films into real life. Cosplayer The Colour of Ductape was crowned the ultimate champion of the competition – taking home great prizes and all the bragging rights.
Gaming Grand Finale
The gaming arena closed on a high note, with the cheers still echoing in the Experience Hall as the doors finally closed for the last time. It was a weekend of intense competition. Telkom’s eDiski champion was Zaid April, while Red Bull’s Golden Letters champ was Jaiden J. It was tough for fans to tear themselves away from the free-to-play zones and exciting gaming activations from the likes of The Toyota Gaming Engine and Fanta. RGB Gaming’s league tournament came to its epic conclusion, while shoppers dragged their heels leaving behind the incredible gaming brands on offer at PC Builder and Computer Mania.
Tabletop Gamers United
Unplug Yourself brought gaming heaven to the con. Complete newbies were able to learn more about tabletop gaming, including Dungeons & Dragons and the Pokémon trading card games. They brought patient and knowledgeable teachers to the con, with many con-goers trying out tabletop gaming for the very first time at Comic Con Cape Town 2026.
Absolute Anime
The con offered a lot of Anime entertainment, with the Pop-Taku stage pumping all day, every day. Fans could enjoy the Dub It Out competitions, Japanese language crash courses, and panels on the making of African Anime and manga, all while dressed as their favourite Anime characters.
Fun for Kids
Comic Con Cape Town has something for everyone, not least of all the kids. They enjoyed meet and greets with character like The Minions and Noodle & Bun, shopped the latest toys and games, and enjoyed the cosplay. Casual cosplay competitions took place daily. Co-located show The Cape Town International Animation Festival screened local animations and hosted workshops for the older kids.
It was an incredible con, and it wouldn’t have been the same without the incredible fans, families, and friends who attend the festival every year. If you missed out this year, don’t worry – next year Comic Con Cape Town will be even bigger, moving to its new home at the CTICC 1. So start those cosplays, practice your gaming, keep an eye on Comic Con’s socials, and get ready for the biggest pop culture and gaming festival in the Western Cape to return in 2027.
