Presented at the Madre Museum in Naples, the 26th edition of the COMICON Napoli – International Pop Culture Festival – which from 30 April to 3 May will bring over 480 Italian and international guests to the Mostra d’Oltremare, more than 650 events and 520 exhibitors for four days of comics, Asian, Cinema and TV series, Videogames, Game, Music, Young, LARP, Urban, Pizza Pop.
The event was officially presented by Rosanna Romano, Director-General for Cultural Policy and Tourism of the Campania Region, Claudio Curcio, President of Comicon, Matteo Stefanelli, Artistic Director of the initiative, Francesco Izzo, Full Professor of Federico II of Naples and Councillor Ninni Cutaia, Representative for Culture, Events and Personnel of the Campania Region. Magister of the edition, cartoonist and author Leo Ortolani, who, on 29 April, will hold a lecture open to the public for students of the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples.
Collaboration with the Campania Region
COMICON Napoli, as has been the case since 2023 thanks to a special collaboration renewed this year by the Councillor for Culture Cutaia, has received support from the Campania Region, used to partially cover the costs of cultural and artistic activities (spaces, equipment, guests, exhibitions, national and international awards, meetings and debates …), for the creation of the Campania Region’s stand where the actions of the European cohesion policy (PR Campania ERDF, PR Campania ESF+) will be highlighted to support the development of territories and people, as well as information on the opportunities offered by the Centres for Employment and Civil Protection Activities, the digital platform for Culture of Campania. The support of the Campania Region has also enabled the creation of a promotional spot for Campania locations and the Contest Campania in Cosplay, which, through the art of Cosplay, has tended to enhance the beauty of Campania. Up for grabs for the winners some entries for COMICON Napoli 2026 and Artecard, in collaboration with Scabec, to access and visit the main places of culture in the region.
COMICON Extra: a zero edition enthusiastically received
The strengthened collaboration with the Campania Region has given rise to the zero edition of COMICON Extra, which marked a new step in the growth of the festival, bringing pop culture beyond the borders of the Mostra d’Oltremare and involving the Campania region with special events that have seen a wide participation of the public. The collaboration with the Campania Region has made it possible to transform symbolic places in the provinces into narrative, creative and immersive spaces, confirming the festival's vocation to dialogue with the community and to enhance the local cultural heritage.
Among the most appreciated events, the initiative hosted at the Museum of Bourbon Prison in Avellino, where ‘Le Ombre della Storia’ offered participants a role-playing experience capable of intertwining memory, imagination and active participation. The rooms of the former prison have been transformed into a unique narrative environment, in which history and imagination have given rise to a collective story involving enthusiasts, families and the curious. The event highlighted the potential of gaming as a cultural tool and as a key to re-reading places of identity through contemporary languages. The success of COMICON Extra confirms the strength of a project designed to decentralize the activities of the festival, strengthen the territorial network and experiment with new formats capable of combining entertainment, dissemination and creativity. The public response highlighted the growing interest in initiatives that take pop culture out of traditional contexts, creating opportunities for encounter and participation across the region. With this zero edition, COMICON has consolidated its role as a cultural and creative hub, paving the way for an increasingly widespread, inclusive and rooted festival model in the Campania region.
English (UK)