South Africa’s premier pop culture and gaming festival, Comic Con Africa, will return to the Johannesburg Expo Centre (Nasrec) from September 22-25.

The event will bring together enthusiasts from across the country and beyond to celebrate all things geeky, from comics and gaming to movies and television.

This is the first time that South Africa will experience two Comic Cons in one year, following the success of Comic Con Cape Town in April.

The regular fan favourites are set to return, including the Artist Alley, the main stage, a shopping experience, international celebrities, daily casual cosplay competitions, and more.

With Comic Con Africa being an evolving show, this year’s iteration will continue to expand the experience with more activities for all, free-to-play gaming competitions, and more open spaces for fans to connect.

The festival will feature a star-studded roster of celebrity guests, including actors, comic book artists, cosplayers, and industry insiders.

Attendees can engage with their favourite stars through Q&A sessions, autograph signings, and exclusive meet-and-greet photograph opportunities.

The convention floor will have exhibitors offering a wide range of merchandise, collectibles, and memorabilia. From rare comic books and graphic novels to gaming accessories and apparel, fans can expect to find many treasures to add to their collections.

“We are thrilled to bring Comic Con Africa 2023 to life after the incredible response we received for the inaugural Comic Con Cape Town. The overwhelming enthusiasm and passion from the fans in Cape Town were a testament to the incredible passion South Africans have for pop culture and gaming. We are committed to creating a world-class experience for attendees, and we can’t wait bring all the communities back together again,” said Carla Massmann, Show Director of Comic Con Africa

Following fan feedback, the organisers have promised a more fluid experience for fans that eliminates overcrowding by reassessing venue capacity and capping tickets sold per day. Moreover, with Comic Con Africa weekend also falling over a public holiday – fans can expect a more even distribution of attendees over all days.