Tokyo Comic Convention Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Takehiko Goto) is pleased to announce the first wave of celebrity guests for Tokyo Comic Con 2026 (“Tokyo Comic Con 2026”), which will be held at Makuhari Messe from Friday, December 11 through Sunday, December 13, 2026.

In conjunction with this announcement, general admission tickets will go on sale today, Monday, July 27.

Kicking Off Tokyo Comic Con’s Landmark 10th Anniversary: Academy Award Winner Nicolas Cage Announced as the First Celebrity Guest—Making His First-Ever Appearance in Tokyo!

Since its inaugural event in 2016, Tokyo Comic Con has grown into one of Japan’s premier pop culture conventions, and this year proudly celebrates its 10th anniversary.

To kick off this landmark anniversary year, Academy Award-winning actor Nicolas Cage, best known for the National Treasure franchise, and Giancarlo Esposito, acclaimed for his standout performances in Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian, and The Boys, have been announced as the first celebrity guests for Tokyo Comic Con 2026.

Following his appearance at Osaka Comic Con 2025, Nicolas Cage will make his Tokyo Comic Con debut, marking his first-ever appearance at the event. Meanwhile, Giancarlo Esposito will be making his Comic Con debut in Japan.

Throughout the three-day event, both guests are scheduled to appear on the Main Stage, as well as participate in exclusive photo opportunities and autograph sessions.

【Nicolas Cage】

A Hollywood icon who has remained at the forefront of the film industry since the 1980s, Academy Award-winning actor Nicolas Cage has starred in numerous blockbuster hits, including Con Air, Face/Off, Gone in 60 Seconds, the National Treasure franchise, and the Ghost Rider films.

In 1995, Cage earned the Academy Award for Best Actor for his unforgettable performance in Leaving Las Vegas, cementing his reputation as one of the world’s most acclaimed and versatile actors.

In recent years, he has continued to captivate audiences with his unmistakable screen presence and remarkable performances. Most recently, his starring role in the Amazon Prime Video Original series Spider-Noir has generated significant attention from audiences around the globe.

Fans will also remember Cage’s highly successful appearance at Osaka Comic Con 2025 last May, where he thrilled thousands of attendees. He is also widely recognized as the actor who encouraged Johnny Depp to pursue an acting career.

Now, Nicolas Cage is finally making his first-ever appearance in Tokyo. Don’t miss his long-awaited debut at the 10th Anniversary Tokyo Comic Con 2026.

【Giancarlo Esposito】

Esposito’s portrayal of drug kingpin Gus Fring in the critically acclaimed series Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul has earned widespread recognition as one of the most iconic characters in television history. His chilling performance—marked by calm precision and an underlying sense of menace—has been praised by audiences and critics around the world.

He has since continued to leave a lasting impression in some of the world’s biggest franchises, portraying Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian and Stan Edgar in The Boys, delivering commanding performances that have further solidified his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most compelling actors.

More recently, Esposito joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Sidewinder in Captain America: Brave New World, continuing to showcase his remarkable versatility as one of Hollywood’s most accomplished character actors.

Tokyo Comic Con 2026 offers fans a rare opportunity to experience the extraordinary screen presence of Giancarlo Esposito in person, as the acclaimed actor makes his first-ever Comic Con appearance in Japan.

General Admission Tickets Go on Sale at Noon (JST) on Monday, July 27!

Three-Day Passes and Advance One-Day Tickets for Tokyo Comic Con 2026 will go on sale starting at 12:00 p.m. (JST) on Monday, July 27.

A limited number of Three-Day Passes will be available for fans who want to experience all three days of the event, while Advance One-Day Tickets offer the flexibility to attend on the day of your choice.

Once again, Makuhari Messe will become the ultimate destination for pop culture, bringing together the very best in films, comics, anime, games, and more from around the world. Visitors can look forward to meeting internationally renowned celebrity guests, exploring exhibitor booths, shopping for exclusive merchandise, enjoying live stage programming, and experiencing the ever-popular cosplay area, along with many other exciting attractions.

For details on ticket types, pricing, and purchasing information, please visit the official Tokyo Comic Con website and follow the event’s official social media channels.

Additional information regarding autograph tickets, photo opportunity tickets, and celebrity appearance schedules will be announced at a later date.

Stay tuned as even more exciting celebrity guest announcements for Tokyo Comic Con 2026 will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Tokyo Comic Convention Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Takehiko Goto) is pleased to announce the launch of the Main Visual Contest for Tokyo Comic Con 2026, which will be held from Friday, December 11 through Sunday, December 13, 2026.

Tokyo Comic Con 2026 Kicks Off—Bigger and More Exciting Than Ever!

Since its inaugural event in 2016, Tokyo Comic Con has grown into Japan’s premier pop culture convention, bringing together internationally renowned celebrities and artists, showcasing authentic movie props, and providing a vibrant space where cosplay enthusiasts and fans can connect. The event continues to deliver unforgettable experiences for pop culture fans from Japan and around the world.

Tokyo Comic Con 2025, held last December, welcomed a record-breaking lineup of 20 celebrity guests, including Johnny Depp, Mads Mikkelsen, Sebastian Stan, Norman Reedus, and Christopher Lloyd. Attendance also reached an all-time high, surpassing 90,000 visitors, making it the largest Tokyo Comic Con to date and further establishing the convention as one of the world’s leading pop culture events.

Tokyo Comic Con 2026 will return for three exciting days from December 11 to 13, 2026, featuring celebrity photo opportunities, autograph sessions with Hollywood stars and other international guests, along with a wide variety of exhibitions, stage events, shopping, and interactive experiences guaranteed to make this winter weekend unforgettable.

Main Visual Contest Returns for 2026

Tokyo Comic Con is once again inviting artists to create the official main visual that will represent the event throughout the year. The winning artwork will become the face of Tokyo Comic Con 2026 and will be featured across promotional materials, including posters, brochures, and official merchandise.

Launched in 2019, the Main Visual Contest is open to everyone regardless of professional experience or educational background.

The 2025 Grand Prize was awarded to artist &OK!, whose work became the official key visual for the event. The artist also attended the convention, meeting fans and receiving enthusiastic feedback from attendees.

As in previous years, every submitted entry is scheduled to be exhibited during Tokyo Comic Con 2026. The Grand Prize-winning artwork will be used across the official website, posters, brochure covers, venue signage, and official merchandise.

In addition, the Grand Prize winner will receive one complimentary booth in the popular Artist Alley, where professional creators—including artists working for Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and other leading comic publishers—showcase and sell their artwork each year.

Main Visual Contest Guidelines

Theme

Design the official main visual celebrating the 10th anniversary of Tokyo Comic Con.

Submissions should capture the spirit of the event and be inspired by movies, American comics, and pop culture.

Entries must be original, unpublished works created by the entrant.

Prizes

Grand Prize (1 winner)

• One Artist Alley booth at Tokyo Comic Con 2026

Runner-up Prize (1 winner)

• One pair of 3-Day Passes for Tokyo Comic Con 2026

Excellence Awards (up to 10 winners)

• One pair of General Admission tickets for Tokyo Comic Con 2026

Submission Period

May 18 (Mon) – August 17 (Mon), 2026
Entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (JST).

Eligibility

Open to both professional and amateur artists.
Applicants under the age of 18 must obtain parental or guardian consent.

Submission Specifications

Artwork Size

• A1 (594 × 841 mm, portrait orientation)
• 350 dpi
• CMYK color mode

• Submission Method
  Digital submissions only.

  Compress your files into ZIP format, upload them via a file-sharing service such as GigaFile, and include the download URL in the online application form.

  Hand-drawn artwork must be photographed or scanned and submitted digitally.

Announcement of Winners

Winners will be announced on the official website in early September 2026 following review by the Tokyo Comic Con Executive Committee.

Selected entrants will also be notified by email.

Notes

• Entries must be original works created solely by the applicant and must not contain copyrighted or existing third-party characters.
• The use of generative AI in the creation of submitted artwork is strictly prohibited. Entries created using AI will be disqualified.
• By submitting an entry, applicants agree to assign the rights to any Grand Prize, Runner-up, or Excellence Award-winning work as required by the organizer.
• The Tokyo Comic Con logo may be added to submitted artwork at the organizer’s discretion.
• The Grand Prize-winning artwork may be used on the official website, posters, brochures, merchandise, publications, social media, and other promotional materials.
• Runner-up and Excellence Award-winning works may also be used in promotional materials and merchandise.
• Contest prizes are non-transferable.
• Prize details are subject to change without notice.
• Resale of prizes or benefits through online auctions or other channels is strictly prohibited.

Application Form

https://tokyocomiccon.jp/en/keyvisual

We are excited to announce that Tokyo Comic Con 2026, one of the world’s largest pop culture events, will once again be held this year!

Event Overview

Event Name

Tokyo Comic Convention 2026
(Official abbreviation: Tokyo Comic Con 2026)

Dates

Friday, December 11 – Sunday, December 13, 2026

Please note that event hours are subject to change.

Venue

Makuhari Messe
2-1 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba City, Chiba 261-0023, Japan

Please note that the exhibition halls are subject to change.

Organizers

• Tokyo Comic Convention Co., Ltd.
• Tokyo Comic Convention Organizing Committee

Event Highlights

• The latest news and announcements from the worlds of film, comics, and pop culture from Japan and around the globe
• Exhibitor booths featuring exclusive and advance-release merchandise, as well as product displays
• Exhibitions of authentic movie props used in films and other rare collectibles
• Hands-on experiences featuring cutting-edge technology and interactive entertainment
• Opportunities to meet and interact with internationally renowned celebrity guests
• Live stage performances, talk shows, and special events
• Cosplay meetups, photo opportunities, and cosplay contests
• Artist Alley, featuring artwork exhibitions and sales by comic artists, illustrators, and other creators

Notice

Please note that Osaka Comic Con will not be held in 2026.