BENGALURU played host to a vibrant, action-packed celebration of pop culture as Bengaluru Comic Con returned to KTPO, Whitefield, for a two-day extravaganza. The event attracted an impressive footfall of over 50,000 attendees and featured a colourful showcase of cosplayers, reinforcing the city’s status as one of India’s most enthusiastic pop-culture hubs.
The main stage remained lively throughout the weekend with back-to-back panel discussions led by creators, interactive fan sessions, engaging games, anime quizzes and thoughtful conversations exploring the craft of storytelling and illustration.
Cosplay once again took centre stage, with more than 500 participants bringing the convention floor to life through elaborate character portrayals. Dressed as Rafa the Exo-Soldier from Borderlands 4, the winner of the Bengaluru Qualifier of the Indian Championship of Cosplay was crowned on Sunday, walking away with a cash prize of Rs 50,000.
A key highlight of this year’s edition was the presence of three prominent international guests who actively engaged with fans across the weekend. The line-up included actor Robert Capron, best known for his role as Rowley in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series; acclaimed comic book artist Peter Nguyen, whose credits include Gotham City Sirens, Detective Comics, Bruce Wayne: The Road Home and Death of Wolverine; and Chloé Hollings, the French-Australian actor and voice artist widely recognised as the voice of Widowmaker in Overwatch and Overwatch 2.
The convention also spotlighted over 20 Indian creators. Among the notable names were Savio Mascarenhas, Tinkle’s celebrated creator and Group Art Director at Amar Chitra Katha; Sumit Kumar, the self-taught cartoonist and founder of Bakarmax, known for his cult graphic novels and animated series; Faisal Mohammed, the creative mind behind Garbage Bin Comics, who brings Guddu’s nostalgic 1990s adventures to a fanbase of over a million; and Bengaluru-based illustrator Prasad Bhat, widely recognised for his distinctive vector caricatures through his studio, Graphicurry.
Adding to the excitement, several leading Indian gaming content creators, including Snaxx Gaming, Triggered Insaan, Techno Gamerz, Gamerfleet, Payal Gaming, Mythpat, Ankita and Jonathan, were present at the venue, interacting with fans and participating in sessions.
Bengaluru Comic Con also featured a variety of immersive experience zones curated by brands such as Maruti Suzuki Arena, Crunchyroll and Audible. Amazon Prime Video’s Fallout Experience Zone, celebrating the upcoming second season of the series, allowed fans to step into the post-apocalyptic world of the show, complete with cosplayers dressed as vault dwellers and other iconic characters. The NODWIN Gaming Arena further elevated the experience with attractions including BGMI PAN Fest at Android Land, the iQOO Experience Zone, PlayStation Gaming Zone, Samsung Gaming Station and Time Zone gaming stations, keeping attendees engaged throughout the event.
Live performances ensured energy levels remained high across the weekend, with standout acts from Karma, Fluteboxers, beatbox loopstation artist Kevin Noel Sequeira and music artist Smokey The Ghost, among others. The entertainment line-up was rounded off with stand-up comedy sets by popular Indian comedians Kumar Varun and Sahil Shah, adding laughter to an already electric atmosphere.
NODWIN Gaming co-founder and managing director Akshat Rathee said, “Bengaluru has always had a unique relationship with pop culture. This is a city where techies debate anime after work, start-up founders line up for comics, and families turn up together to experience fandom. Comic Con here feels less like an event and more like a community gathering. From the moment the doors opened, you could see people spending hours exploring artist alleys, gaming zones, and panels rather than just rushing through. That depth of engagement embodies the very spirit of Bengaluru. The passion, the curiosity, and the willingness to embrace new formats and creators is exactly why this city continues to be such a cornerstone for Comic Con India.”
Comic Con India Shefali Johnson added, “What makes Bengaluru truly special is how invested the audience is. People here come to listen, learn, connect and experience. This year, that became especially evident with the introduction of our new panel stage, which was consistently packed with fans staying back for thoughtful conversations around storytelling, illustration, content creation and most importantly, the legacy of Bengaluru Comic Con. The city’s culture of knowledge-sharing, creativity, and open dialogue really came alive across those sessions. Combined with a cosplay community that has grown with us year after year, it created an atmosphere that felt both energetic and deeply rooted in community and fandom.”
