Bengaluru witnessed an action-packed two day celebration of pop-culture during Bengaluru Comic Con, presented by Maruti Suzuki Arena and powered by Crunchyroll, at KTPO, Whitefield. The event recorded an impressive turnout of over 50,000 footfall and featured an exuberant showcase of cosplayers, reaffirming Bengaluru’s reputation as one of India’s most passionate pop-culture hubs.
The stage remained abuzz with back-to-back panel discussions led by creators, interactive sessions, engaging games, anime quizzes, and insightful conversations around the process of storytelling and illustration.
This year, over 500 cosplayers participated at Bengaluru Comic Con, bringing the convention floor alive with spectacular character portrayals. Dressed as Rafa the Exo soldier from Borderlands 4, the Bengaluru Qualifier of the Indian Championship of Cosplay emerged victorious on Sunday, taking home a cash prize of ₹50,000. One of the most celebrated highlights of the event, cosplay continued to captivate audiences as fans were mesmerised by performers embodying characters from anime, gaming, and timeless pop-culture classics alike.
A major highlight of the edition was the presence of three acclaimed international guests, who actively engaged with fans throughout the weekend. The line-up included actor Robert Capron, widely known for his portrayal of ‘Rowley’ in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film trilogy, renowned comic book artist Peter Nguyen, whose notable credits include Gotham City Sirens, Detective Comics, Bruce Wayne: The Road Home, and Death of Wolverine, and Chloé Hollings, French-Australian actress and voice artist best known as the voice of Widowmaker in Overwatch and Overwatch 2.
The convention also played host to over 20 Indian creators, featuring a dynamic mix of emerging and established writers and illustrators who connected closely with fans, many of whom shared their long-standing association with these creators' work and their excitement for upcoming releases. Notable names included Savio Mascarenhas, Tinkle’s celebrated hero-maker and Group Art Director at Amar Chitra Katha; Sumit Kumar, a self-taught cartoonist and founder of Bakarmax, known for crafting cult-hit graphic novels and animated series; Faisal Mohammed, the creative force behind Garbage Bin Comics, who brings Guddu’s nostalgic ’90s antics to life for a fanbase of over a million; and Prasad Bhat, a Bengaluru-based illustrator widely recognised for his signature vector caricatures through his studio, Graphicurry.
This edition of Bengaluru Comic Con also brought in prominent Indian gaming content creators like Snaxx Gaming, Triggered Insaan, Techno Gamerz, Gamerfleet, Payal Gaming, Mythpat, Ankita, and Jonathan, who were seen interacting with fans.
Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming, expressed, “Bengaluru has always had a unique relationship with pop culture. This is a city where techies debate anime after work, start-up founders line up for comics, and families turn up together to experience fandom. Comic Con here feels less like an event and more like a community gathering. From the moment the doors opened, you could see people spending hours exploring artist alleys, gaming zones, and panels rather than just rushing through. That depth of engagement embodies the very spirit of Bengaluru. The passion, the curiosity, and the willingness to embrace new formats and creators is exactly why this city continues to be such a cornerstone for Comic Con India.”
Shefali Johnson, CEO, Comic Con India, said, “What makes Bengaluru truly special is how invested the audience is. People here come to listen, learn, connect and experience. This year, that became especially evident with the introduction of our new panel stage, which was consistently packed with fans staying back for thoughtful conversations around storytelling, illustration, content creation and most importantly, the legacy of Bengaluru Comic Con. The city’s culture of knowledge-sharing, creativity, and open dialogue really came alive across those sessions. Combined with a cosplay community that has grown with us year after year, it created an atmosphere that felt both energetic and deeply rooted in community and fandom.”
Bengaluru Comic Con also featured a wide range of interactive experience zones offered by Maruti Suzuki Arena, Crunchyroll, Audible and more. Amazon Prime Video’s Fallout Experience Zone celebrating Season 2 of Fallout let fans step directly into the post-apocalyptic universe of the show with cosplayers dressed as vault dwellers and other iconic characters from the show. The NODWIN Gaming Arena further elevated the experience with attractions such as BGMI PAN Fest at Android Land, iQOO Experience Zone, PlayStation Gaming Zone, Samsung Gaming Station, Time Zone gaming station and more keeping the attendees occupied.
Attendees from diverse age-groups could be seen indulging in myriad activities, including having their caricatures drawn, posing with cosplayers, and clicking pictures and more, while families and friends soaked in the atmosphere while vibing to the high-energy music performances, interacting with fellow fans, and making new connections as fandoms converged under one roof for the ultimate celebration of all things pop-culture!
Live performances kept energy levels high throughout the weekend, with standout acts including Karma, Fluteboxers, beatbox loopstation artist Kevin Noel Sequeira, music artist Smokey The Ghost, and several other performers who brought dynamic sounds and rhythms to the Comic Con stage. Adding to the excitement, the audience enjoyed rib-tickling stand-up sets by popular Indian comedians Kumar Varun and Sahil Shah.
Visitors from across the city and beyond came together to celebrate their shared love for comics, anime, gaming, and storytelling. Bengaluru Comic Con once again proved to be a space where fans felt a strong sense of belonging, free to express themselves, celebrate their fandoms, and connect with like-minded people, creating a space where everyone belongs!
