THE INAUGURAL Jaipur Comic Con, held at the Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Centre (JECC), concluded on a high note, drawing over 20,000 visitors and delivering one of India’s most vibrant pop-culture experiences.
Organised under the Government of Rajasthan’s AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics) Policy and hosted alongside the state’s flagship digital initiative DigiFest, Jaipur Comic Con 2026 offered three days of immersive programming across comics, anime, gaming, cosplay and live entertainment.
Gaming enthusiasts were among the highlights of the festival, with the Royal Challenge Packaged Drinking Water booth attracting large crowds. The brand’s Challenger Gaming Zone featured an immersive VR cricket experience and hosted a fan meet-and-greet with leading Indian gaming YouTuber Sc0ut (Tanmay Singh) on the opening day.
The convention brought together prominent international creators and Indian talent, bridging global pop culture with homegrown creativity. Key appearances included Bernard Chang, known for his work on Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme and as co-creator of DC’s Monkey Prince, and Yannick Paquette, an Eisner-nominated artist whose credits include X-Men, Batman and Wonder Woman: Earth One.
Adding a strong regional dimension, the debut edition showcased works by local creators and artists from Rajasthan. Their participation was facilitated by the Rising AVGCXR & Media Association (RAMA Rajasthan), providing a platform for regional talent to reach wider audiences.
Cosplay remained a major attraction throughout the three-day event, with contests held daily and the Indian Championship of Cosplay (ICC) serving as a marquee feature. Participants competed across multiple categories, with daily prizes worth Rs 30,000 and curated goodie bags for winners. The Jaipur Qualifier of the ICC concluded on Sunday, where Vipin Aryan, cosplaying as a Grey Knight Terminator, emerged victorious, winning Rs 50,000 and earning a place at the ICC national finals.
The event also featured packed on-stage performances, with stand-up acts by Inder Sahani, Appurv Gupta and Jaspreet Singh, musical performances by Celinedee Matahari, Naam Sujal, K!llSwitch and KY Collective, and illusion acts by Karan Singh, keeping audiences entertained throughout.
Following the success of its Jaipur debut, Comic Con India will head south next, with Chennai Comic Con scheduled to take place on 14–15 February at the Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam.
NODWIN Gaming co-founder and managing director Akshat Rathee said, “Jaipur surprised us in the best possible way. It’s a city with deep cultural roots, and seeing that heritage blend so seamlessly with comics, cosplay, gaming, and fandom was truly special. Today, building strong IPs means engaging communities across both physical experiences and digital platforms, and events like Comic Con show why culture-led spaces are becoming increasingly valuable. The proactive support from the Government of Rajasthan through initiatives such as the AVGC Policy and Rajasthan DigiFest has been instrumental in enabling this scale of execution, laying a strong foundation for Jaipur to emerge as a key destination for India’s creative, gaming, and digital entertainment economy.”
Comic Con India CEO Shefali Johnson added, “Jaipur is home for me, so bringing Comic Con to this city was deeply personal. Growing up here, pop culture spaces like this were something we could only imagine, and seeing thousands of fans now celebrating comics, anime, and cosplay in Jaipur feels incredibly full circle. What made this inaugural edition special was how strongly the local community showed up, from young fans and families to Rajasthan’s own creators. The support from the Government of Rajasthan through the AVGC Policy helped turn that vision into reality and showed how seriously the state is investing in its creative future.”
