Khalel Vallo in Hong Kong
The inaugural “Hong Kong Comic Con 2026” concluded on Sunday after a three-day run at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai, attracting visitors, cosplayers and pop culture enthusiasts from Hong Kong and neighbouring cities including Macau and Shenzhen.
Held from Friday through Sunday, the convention brought together comic book creators, entertainment personalities, collectors, and fans. Hong Kong icon Louis Koo Tin-lok, the convention’s official ambassador, officiated at the opening ceremony on Friday morning. Addressing the ceremony, Koo reflected on the launch of the city’s first Comic Con. “This year’s Comic Con is the first in Hong Kong”, Koo underlined, noting that organisers had spent the past few months preparing for the event and learning the process step by step. He added: “I hope that this year’s Comic Con can help Hong Kong become a better city”, encouraging attendees to give their feedback so future editions could continue to improve.
The exhibition floor featured a variety of themed attractions and merchandise booths, including an Artist Alley. Among the guest artists from the alley were Bob Layton, the “definitive artist” of Marvel Comics’ Iron Man; Stephen Segovia, known for his works on Marvel and DC Comics; David Angelo Roman, recognised for work related to Star Wars and Rick and Morty projects; and Agnes Garbowska, known for her contributions to My Little Pony comics.
In addition, the event also hosted several international film and television personalities, featuring Hannibal’s Mads Mikkelsen, Back to the Future’s Christopher Lloyd, The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus, Stranger Things’ Jamie Campbell Bower, Harry Potter’s Katie Leung, Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito, Star Wars’ Daniel Logan, and Lovely Runner’s Byeon Woo-seok.
Cosplayers from across the region also participated in the event, contributing to the atmosphere alongside exhibitions, merchandise displays and fan activities.
Fans praise community, call for improvements
Visitors, cosplayers and international comic artists largely praised the inaugural Comic Con following its three-day run, although some attendees pointed to organisational issues, including queue management, staff conduct and limited resting facilities.
Speaking to the Post, Buck, 17, a visitor and cosplayer from Macau, said the convention offered valuable opportunities to meet new people and interact with fellow cosplayers, but expressed dissatisfaction with how some issues were handled by event staff. “To be honest, I enjoyed the people and the community but not the con and how it was managed”, he said.
Buck said that staff responded unprofessionally after a ticketing error and also raised concerns over reports of cosplayers being photographed without consent. He added that the lack of seating, dining areas and adequate rest facilities negatively affected the visitor experience.
In contrast, Hong Kong-based cosplayer Greg, 20, described the event as one of the best conventions he had attended. “I loved the vibe and the sense of unity”, he said, noting that visitors appeared focused on their shared interest in comics and films. Greg also praised the venue environment, saying it felt less crowded than other local conventions and remained relatively clean throughout the event.
Meanwhile Charlotte, 22, a tourist from the UK, described the convention as a balanced-sized event compared with conventions she had attended in Britain. “It’s nice to see something different in the city [Hong Kong] as well”, she said, adding that it was her first international Comic Con experience.
For 23-year-old Clark, another visitor from Macau, he was impressed by the event’s attendance and international atmosphere. Compared with previous experiences at ACG* events, he observed a stronger presence of Western pop culture costumes and characters.
However, Clark noted congestion in the Artist Alley, where visitors struggled to move through crowded areas, and queues occasionally became disorganised. “Overall, I am happy to have enjoyed the event”, Clark said. “For a first-time event, it is a good experience.”
Artists praise inaugural event
International comic creators attending the convention shared positive impressions of the event. Speaking to the Post, veteran comic book artist Bob Layton described the convention as one of the “strongest” Comic Con events he had ever attended in Asia.
“It’s been incredibly well organised, they have a good guest list of real wonderful people, and they treat us all incredibly well”, he said. Layton, widely recognised for his influential work on Iron Man, said one of his most significant contributions to the character was helping redefine Tony Stark as a flawed and vulnerable hero. Layton also said visiting Macau remains on his personal bucket list and indicated he would welcome an invitation to a future convention in the city should Macau ever host such an event.
Meanwhile, the Rick and Morty comic artist, David Angelo Roman, gave particularly strong praise for the convention. “For a first-time show, I have to say they’re probably the most successful Comic Con for a first year that I’ve ever seen”, he said. Roman said the level of fan engagement and interaction with creators exceeded his expectations, adding that Hong Kong’s inaugural Comic Con ranked among the best conventions he had experienced internationally, citing that it was the second best after San Diego Comic Con in the US. Like Layton, Roman would also like to visit Macau if the city ever hosts a convention.
While attendees identified areas for improvement, particularly regarding crowd flow, visitor facilities and event operations, the convention’s first edition received largely positive feedback from both fans and industry guests.
*ACG is the short form for ACGHK, which stands for Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong and is held annually.
Festivalgoers pose with a Goku cosplayer beneath the large-scale figure at the convention.
Veteran comic book artist Bob Layton poses in his booth at the convention’s Artist Alley.
My Little Pony comic artist Agnes Garbowska works on a commissioned piece for a fan from her booth.
Cosplayers pose at the Cosplay Hall during the inaugural three-day “Hong Kong Comic Con 2026” at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai on Saturday. – Photos: Khalel Vallo
