Inside Playgrounds, Abu Dhabi’s community-led celebration of collector culture
Playgrounds was built around a simple idea: to give collectors and fans a place to meet, trade and share the things they care about. Presented by Sandstorm Comics, the Abu Dhabi event brought together communities around comics, manga, trading card games, toys, cosplay and other areas of pop culture. Much of the floor was made up of independent sellers, artists and collectors, with visitors moving…
Playgrounds in Abu Dhabi celebrated the community-led passion for collector culture, bringing together enthusiasts from various areas of pop culture. Presented by Sandstorm Comics, the event featured independent sellers, artists, and collectors trading comics, manga, trading card games, toys, cosplay, and more. Mo Abedin, Sandstorm Comics editor-in-chief, emphasized the community-driven approach, highlighting its importance in shaping Abu Dhabi's pop culture scene.
The three-day event, held at Manarat Al Saadiyat, attracted families and featured trading-card and video-game tournaments, cosplay, an artist alley, and interactive activities. Sandstorm, established in 2022, supports local creators and aims to create inclusive stories featuring regional culture. Anime, manga, and Japanese trading-card culture were prominently displayed, fostering connections among diverse fan communities.
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- Inside Playgrounds, Abu Dhabi’s community-led celebration of collector culture thenationalnews.com
