Middle East Film and Comic Con opens in Abu Dhabi with stars, cosplay and a growing creative community

This is where life goes to get anime-shaped. The Middle East Film & Comic Con 2026, held in Abu Dhabi, is a celebration of gaming, manga, anime, and Japanese pop-culture. The convention, usually held in April, was postponed due to regional circumstances, but fans were more eager this year. The event started on September 11 and ran until September 13 at the ADNEC Centre, Abu Dhabi.

Day one saw a rush of genre fans at the door, with long queues that moved efficiently through the venue. Fans should take care of water and bathroom breaks before entering to avoid long waits. Among the highlights were an artist alley where fans could buy and customize merchandise, an artist's showcase, and celebrity appearances.

Fans dressed as various characters, including Till from Alien Stage, Dolindas from Genshin Impact, Mahito from Jujutsu Kaisen, and Harry Potter and the Hogwarts gang. Cosplayers could be seen thrifting for costume pieces, painting, ripping, and adjusting them to their size. Some fans, like a former exhibitor, went to great lengths to blend in with the crowd by dressing up as obscure characters.

The Main Stage attracted attention, with celebrities such as Nefertari Vivi from One Piece, Edwina Sharma from Bridgerton, Jonh Cena, Simu Liu, and Mackenyu available for meet-and-greets and photographs. The convention was sold out before it even began, indicating its growing popularity over the years.