Comic Con Africa returns to the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 September 2026, packing four days of comics, gaming, anime, cosplay and celebrity panels into the Heritage Day long weekend. Africa’s biggest pop-culture gathering is back — and 2026 promises the wildest edition yet.
Comic Con Africa has grown into the continent’s flagship geek-culture festival, drawing tens of thousands of fans, international guests and creators every year. Whether you come for the artist alley, the esports arenas, the tabletop halls or simply to people-watch the extraordinary cosplay, there is no other weekend like it on the South African calendar.
What to expect at Comic Con Africa 2026
Expect celebrity panels and signings, exclusive merchandise, gaming tournaments, anime screenings, comic artists and publishers, and the legendary cosplay championships. The show floor sprawls across the Expo Centre’s halls, with food trucks and chill zones between the action.
Doors open at 09:00 and run to 18:00 daily across all four days. The long weekend timing means you can binge multiple days without taking leave — and with programming refreshed daily, many fans do exactly that.
Event details
- Event: Comic Con Africa 2026
- Dates: Thursday 24 – Sunday 27 September 2026
- Times: 09:00 – 18:00 daily
- Venue: Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec
- Tickets: Phase 1 from R250 per day; four-day passes R750
- Booking: Via Howler
Tickets and tips
Comic Con Africa tickets are sold in phases, and Phase 1 pricing — from R250 for a day or R750 for a four-day pass — is the cheapest the show will ever be. Children under 5 enter free, under-16s need an accompanying adult, and parking at the Expo Centre is R50 per day.
Veterans know the drill: buy early, plan your panel schedule the week before, wear comfortable shoes and bring a power bank. Cosplayers should check the prop-weapons policy on the official site before arriving, and everyone should carry water — September in Joburg is warm and the halls get busy.
Comic Con Africa FAQs
When is Comic Con Africa 2026? Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 September 2026, from 09:00 to 18:00 each day, at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec — the same long-weekend slot fans have come to love.
Which day should I pick? Thursday and Friday are quieter and best for shopping the vendor halls and meeting artists. Saturday hosts the headline panels and the biggest cosplay turnout, while Sunday suits families and bargain hunters as exhibitors discount stock.
Is it worth travelling for? Absolutely — Comic Con Africa is the one event where the whole continent’s fandom converges. Out-of-towners can browse more events in Gauteng or plan downtime with our guide to things to do in Johannesburg between show days.
From first-time visitors to costumed veterans of every edition, Comic Con Africa 2026 is set to be four unforgettable days of fandom, friends and pure pop-culture joy. Lock in those Phase 1 tickets before prices climb.
Beyond the headline attractions, Comic Con Africa has become a launchpad for local talent: South African comic creators, indie game studios, animators and prop-makers all use the show to debut new work. Set aside time for the local artist sections — the continent’s storytelling scene is thriving, and some of the best finds on the floor come from homegrown studios you will not see anywhere else.
Families are well catered for too, with kids’ zones, all-ages programming and free entry for children under five. Pair the convention with a spring weekend in the city, and Comic Con Africa becomes the anchor of an unbeatable school-holiday adventure. Four days, thousands of stories, one unforgettable long weekend — that is the promise of Comic Con Africa 2026.
