Chennai Comic Con 2026 Draws Over 45,000 Fans, Celebrates Pop Culture Fandom
Chennai: Chennai Comic Con 2026 concluded after a packed weekend at the Chennai Trade Centre, drawing more than 45,000 fans and reinforcing the city’s growing prominence on India’s pop-culture map.
Presented by Maruti Suzuki Arena and powered by Crunchyroll, the event opened on Valentine’s Day and witnessed strong footfall from the outset. Across two days, attendees explored artist alleys, panel discussions, gaming zones, live performances, and interactive brand experiences.
A key highlight was the appearance of internationally acclaimed comic book writer Ron Marz, known for his work on Green Lantern, Silver Surfer, Witchblade, and the DC vs. Marvel crossover series. His session, “Creators Across Borders: Ron Marz & India,” drew significant attendance, with discussions centred on cross-cultural storytelling and the evolving global comics landscape.
Indian publishers and creators including Amar Chitra Katha and Raj Comics also participated, alongside independent artists who engaged with readers through signings and panel interactions.
The K-Wave segment added a strong pop-culture dimension, featuring dance crews and solo performers who kept audiences engaged with dynamic choreography and popular tracks.
Cosplay remained one of the convention’s biggest attractions, with over 500 participants portraying characters from global and Indian pop culture. Representations ranged from Firefly from Honkai: Star Rail and Moskov’s Infernal Wyrmlord from Mobile Legends: Bang Bang to anime favourites such as Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries and Inuyasha. Indian comic icons like Chacha Chaudhary and Shikari Shambhu also saw enthusiastic representation.
The Chennai Qualifier of the Indian Championship of Cosplay concluded on Sunday, with winners competing for a ₹50,000 cash prize. Daily cosplay winners received ₹30,000. Professional cosplayer Cosplola, dressed as Masquera Noir Sakizo, emerged as the Chennai Qualifier winner and will advance to the national finals.
The NODWIN Gaming Arena attracted strong crowds with live gameplay sessions and interactive experiences. Experience zones hosted by Maruti Suzuki Arena, Crunchyroll, and Full Dome maintained high engagement throughout the weekend.
Live music and comedy performances further energised the event, with acts by Louis and Nicole, Célinedee Matahari, Geek Fruit, and Kenzo Y2K drawing packed audiences. The Comic Con Variety Vault featured performances by Kumar Varun, while stand-up comedians Vivek Muralidharan, Azeem Banatwalla, and Daniel Fernandes performed to full houses.
Organisers noted that the strong turnout and enthusiastic participation reflect Chennai’s deep-rooted fandom culture and growing appetite for large-scale pop-culture events. The 2026 edition reaffirmed Chennai Comic Con’s position as a significant fixture in India’s entertainment and fan convention calendar.
