October is one of the busiest months of the year for anime, manga, cosplay, and Japanese pop culture events.
From major conventions in Italy and the United Kingdom to large-scale festivals in Germany, Colombia, and the Philippines, October 2026 offers plenty of opportunities for fans to meet other enthusiasts, discover new manga, attend panels, watch performances, shop for collectibles, and show off their cosplay.
Some events are dedicated primarily to anime and manga, while others cover the wider world of comics, gaming, Japanese culture, and pop culture.
Here are some of the major anime and manga conventions taking place around the world in October 2026.
October 2026 Anime and Manga Convention Calendar
| Event | Location | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Romics | Rome, Italy | October 1–4 |
| AnimeCon UK | London, UK | October 3–4 |
| Cosplay Mania | Pasay, Philippines | October 2–4 |
| Frankfurter Buchmesse | Frankfurt, Germany | October 7–11 |
| SOFA 2026 | Bogotá, Colombia | October 8–12 |
| Polaris | Hamburg, Germany | October 9–11 |
| Made in Asia | Brussels, Belgium | October 17–18 |
| Manga & Entertainment Expo | Berlin, Germany | October 23–25 |
| MCM London Comic Con | London, UK | October 23–25 |
| Lucca Comics & Games | Lucca, Italy | October 28–November 1 |
Dates and programmes can change, so visitors should check the official event websites before travelling.
Romics 2026 – Rome, Italy
October 1–4, 2026
October begins with one of Italy’s largest pop-culture events: Romics.
The 37th edition takes place at Fiera Roma from October 1 to October 4, 2026. The festival covers comics, animation, cinema, games, publishing, cosplay, and Japanese-inspired pop culture.
Anime and manga fans can expect exhibitions, publishers, merchandise, entertainment, cosplay activities, and special guests.
The event’s cosplay programme remains one of its major attractions. The Romics Cosplay Award brings cosplayers from across Italy together for performances inspired by manga, anime, video games, cinema, and other forms of popular culture.
The 2026 edition also features several notable guests and award recipients, including Simone Legno, co-founder and creative director of tokidoki, and Sir Ian Livingstone.
Romics will also host a special exhibition dedicated to Takeshi Koike and Lupin III, alongside several other exhibitions.
For Italian anime, manga, and cosplay fans, Romics is one of the key events to watch during the first week of October.
Cosplay Mania 2026 – Pasay, Philippines
October 2–4, 2026
The first weekend of October is also dominated by Cosplay Mania 2026 in the Philippines.
The event takes place at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay from October 2 to October 4. The festival has a strong focus on anime, manga, cosplay, Japanese pop culture, music, and fan communities.
The international anime event circuit is also represented through appearances and activities connected to Japanese entertainment franchises. For example, the official hololive Meet schedule lists Cosplay Mania 2026 for October 2–4, including stage, concert, and meet-and-greet activities.
For fans travelling in Southeast Asia, Cosplay Mania is therefore one of October’s major anime-focused events.
AnimeCon UK 2026 – London
October 3–4, 2026
Anime fans in the United Kingdom have another major event to look forward to with AnimeCon UK.
The 2026 London edition takes place at Olympia London on October 3–4. The event is dedicated specifically to anime, manga, and Asian pop culture.
The convention has previously welcomed large numbers of anime fans at events in Birmingham and Manchester, and its London debut represents an important expansion.
Visitors can expect the typical convention mix of:
- Anime and manga merchandise
- Cosplay
- Artists and creators
- Panels
- Guest appearances
- Fan activities
- Asian pop culture
For UK fans looking for an event focused specifically on anime and manga rather than general pop culture, AnimeCon UK is one of the key October dates.
Frankfurter Buchmesse – Frankfurt, Germany
October 7–11, 2026
Although Frankfurter Buchmesse is primarily an international book fair rather than a traditional anime convention, its 2026 edition has a particularly strong focus on comics, manga, cosplay, and Japanese pop culture.
The event runs from October 7 to October 11, 2026.
The organisers are expanding the comics and manga programme with dedicated industry and community spaces. The programme includes the Comic Business Centre, manga and comics publishers, artists, and the Main Matsuri Festival.
Japanese pop culture and cosplay will also feature during the public days.
For readers interested not only in fandom but also in the manga publishing industry, Frankfurt is particularly interesting because it connects fans with publishers, creators, licensing professionals, and the wider international book industry.
SOFA 2026 – Bogotá, Colombia
October 8–12, 2026
SOFA – Salón del Ocio y la Fantasía takes place at Corferias in Bogotá from October 8 to October 12.
The event covers a huge range of geek and pop-culture interests, including anime, manga, cosplay, comics, gaming, Japanese culture, creative industries, and fan communities.
The 2026 programme includes dedicated anime and cosplay activities.
Among the scheduled content are discussions about the relationship between martial arts and anime, cosplay-related activities, Japanese-inspired fashion, danmei, idol culture, and several themed cosplay exhibitions and performances.
SOFA is therefore much broader than a traditional anime convention, but its anime and cosplay programme makes it an important October event for fans in Latin America.
Polaris 2026 – Hamburg, Germany
October 9–11, 2026
Another major German event during October is Polaris, taking place in Hamburg from October 9 to October 11.
Polaris focuses on gaming, anime, manga, cosplay, creators, and internet culture.
It is particularly relevant for younger fandom communities because it brings together traditional convention activities with online creators and modern digital culture.
The event is part of a busy October calendar for anime and Japanese pop-culture events across Germany.
Made in Asia – Brussels, Belgium
October 17–18, 2026
Fans of Japanese culture in Belgium can look forward to Made in Asia in Brussels.
The event combines anime, manga, gaming, cosplay, Japanese culture, Asian pop culture, artists, exhibitors, and fan activities.
It is one of the better-known events for Japanese pop culture in the Benelux region and can be an interesting destination for European fans who want an event with a strong anime and manga identity.
Manga & Entertainment Expo – Berlin, Germany
October 23–25, 2026
Berlin hosts the Manga & Entertainment Expo from October 23 to October 25.
As its name suggests, the event focuses strongly on manga and entertainment culture, making it another important date for German anime and manga fans.
The October schedule is particularly busy in Germany, with several Japanese-culture events taking place throughout the month.
MCM London Comic Con
October 23–25, 2026
One of the biggest events on the European convention calendar is MCM London Comic Con.
The autumn edition takes place at ExCeL London from October 23 to October 25, 2026.
MCM London covers the broader world of popular culture, but anime and manga are an important part of the event.
The official programme includes anime and gaming voice actors, artists, creators, panels, screenings, cosplay, fan meetings, merchandise, and independent creators.
Cosplay at MCM London
Cosplay is a major part of MCM London.
The event’s Cosplay Central welcomes fans dressing as characters from anime, video games, comics, fantasy, science fiction, and other franchises.
MCM is therefore particularly interesting for fans who enjoy both anime and the wider international pop-culture scene.
Lucca Comics & Games 2026 – Lucca, Italy
October 28 – November 1, 2026
The biggest event on this list for Italian fans arrives at the end of October.
Lucca Comics & Games 2026 takes place from October 28 to November 1, transforming the historic centre of Lucca into one of Europe’s largest celebrations of comics, games, animation, cinema, fantasy, and pop culture.
The 2026 edition is particularly significant because it celebrates 60 years of Lucca Comics & Games.
Anime and manga have a major presence at the festival.
The dedicated Japanese-culture areas, manga publishers, merchandise, exhibitions, artists, cosplay activities, and international guests make Lucca one of the most important events on the European calendar for fans of Japanese pop culture.
The festival also spreads across the city rather than being confined to a single exhibition centre.
Cosplayers can be found throughout the historic centre, while exhibitions, stages, shops, publishers, and special events occupy different locations.
For anyone interested in anime, manga, cosplay, comics, gaming, or Japanese pop culture, late October in Lucca is one of the busiest periods of the European convention calendar.
Why October 2026 Is a Great Month for Anime and Manga Fans
Looking at the calendar as a whole, October offers an unusually dense concentration of events.
The month starts with Romics and AnimeCon UK, continues with Frankfurt, SOFA, and Polaris, and finishes with MCM London and Lucca Comics & Games.
This means that fans in different parts of Europe and the world have multiple opportunities to attend conventions without having to wait until the following year.
October is also particularly interesting for cosplayers because many of these events feature cosplay competitions, dedicated cosplay areas, photo opportunities, workshops, and fan communities.
October 2026 Anime Convention Calendar
For a quick reference, here are some of the main dates again:
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 1–4 | Romics | Rome, Italy |
| Oct. 2–4 | Cosplay Mania | Pasay, Philippines |
| Oct. 3–4 | AnimeCon UK | London, UK |
| Oct. 7–11 | Frankfurter Buchmesse | Frankfurt, Germany |
| Oct. 8–12 | SOFA | Bogotá, Colombia |
| Oct. 9–11 | Polaris | Hamburg, Germany |
| Oct. 17–18 | Made in Asia | Brussels, Belgium |
| Oct. 23–25 | Manga & Entertainment Expo | Berlin, Germany |
| Oct. 23–25 | MCM London Comic Con | London, UK |
| Oct. 28–Nov. 1 | Lucca Comics & Games | Lucca, Italy |
Final Thoughts
October 2026 is set to be a particularly busy month for anime, manga, cosplay, and Japanese pop culture events.
Italian fans have two major dates to mark on their calendars: Romics in Rome from October 1–4 and Lucca Comics & Games from October 28 to November 1.
Across the rest of Europe, AnimeCon UK, Frankfurter Buchmesse, Polaris, Made in Asia, Manga & Entertainment Expo, and MCM London provide additional opportunities to meet fellow fans and discover new creators, publishers, merchandise, and cosplay communities.
Outside Europe, events such as Cosplay Mania in the Philippines and SOFA in Colombia demonstrate just how global anime and manga fandom has become.
Whether you are a manga collector, anime fan, cosplayer, artist, content creator, or simply someone who enjoys Japanese pop culture, October 2026 offers plenty of events worth following.
Before booking travel or accommodation, always check the official event website for the latest information about tickets, guests, schedules, and programme changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest anime conventions in October 2026?
Some of the major anime, manga, and pop-culture events taking place in October include Romics, AnimeCon UK, Cosplay Mania, Polaris, MCM London Comic Con, and Lucca Comics & Games.
What anime conventions are taking place in Italy in October 2026?
Two of the biggest Italian events are Romics in Rome from October 1–4 and Lucca Comics & Games from October 28 to November 1.
When is Lucca Comics & Games 2026?
Lucca Comics & Games 2026 takes place from October 28 to November 1, 2026, with the festival celebrating its 60th anniversary.
When is Romics 2026?
The 37th edition of Romics takes place at Fiera Roma from October 1 to October 4, 2026.
When is MCM London Comic Con 2026?
The autumn edition of MCM London Comic Con takes place at ExCeL London from October 23 to October 25, 2026.
Are there anime conventions outside Europe in October 2026?
Yes. Cosplay Mania takes place in the Philippines from October 2–4, while SOFA takes place in Bogotá, Colombia, from October 8–12. Both feature anime, cosplay, and broader geek-culture programming.