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On September 26 and 27, 2026, Messe Zürich will once again transform into a hotspot for fans of gaming, movies, TV shows, anime, and pop culture. ZURICH POP CON & Game Show is unveiling the first highlights of this year’s guest lineup, bringing well-known personalities from the worlds of gaming, film, and TV series, as well as from social media and the international cosplay scene, to Zurich. The guest lineup is growing daily and already features several prominent names.

Among the first guests announced is British actor Vincent Regan, who is known for his roles in hit productions such as House of the Dragon and One Piece, among others.

With Luke Dale and Tom McKay, the organizers are bringing two prominent voices from the popular historical role-playing games Kingdom Come: Deliverance to the festival: The two British actors played the roles of Hans Capon and Henry of Skalitz in Parts I and II of the franchise, not only providing the characters’ voices but also bringing them to life through performance capture.

Also traveling to Zurich are German voice actors René Dawn-Claude and Scarlet Lubowski, whose voices are particularly familiar to anime fans as Satoru Gojō from Jujutsu Kaisen and Jesse from Pokémon. Lubowski was also the voice of Maya the Bee and, as Gaby Glockner, was part of the TKKG gang, which shaped the childhoods of many generations.

The actors and voice actresses will be available to meet with the audience in person during stage talks as well as at photo and autograph sessions.

 

Straight from Twitch to Zurich: Social media and streaming stars to appear at the festival

Digital entertainment is also a key part of the festival program. Two popular content creators, Rosemondy and Elquaria, will be guests at the festival; they have built a large fan base on social media and Twitch with their gaming, lifestyle, and entertainment content. Visitors will have the opportunity to see their favorite creators on the Gaming & Community Stage and at in-person meet-and-greets.

 

Large Cosplay Village brings together international names from the scene

The international cosplay program remains a special highlight. The Cosplay Village will once again serve as a meeting place for artists from around the world. Among the first confirmed cosplay guests are KNITE (Australia), Peep Cosplay (Italy), and Symphonia (Germany). These cosplayers have been active in the international cosplay scene for many years and bring extensive experience in makeup, costume design, wig styling, and character performance. Alongside other guests from Switzerland and abroad, they will be appearing on stage in exciting talks or workshops, at their booths in the large Cosplay Village, or as judges for the cosplay competitions on the Main Stage.

More guests from a wide variety of creative fields will be announced over the summer.

 

Experiencing Pop Culture - including an Open-Air Cosplay Stage

In addition to the star guests, the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show 2026 offers a diverse program centered on gaming, anime, movies, TV series, art, and cosplay. In the large Artist Alley, national and international artists will showcase their work, while urban and tattoo artists create art live, and numerous exhibitors will offer merchandise and collectibles from the world of pop culture.

Gaming fans can also look forward to a wide range of activities - from board and trading card games to esports, the latest video games, and a large Nintendo area. The Medieval Market invites visitors on a journey of discovery through time, and in the Asia Hall, visitors can learn about various aspects of Japanese and Asian cultures. K-pop, martial arts, ikebana, calligraphy, origami, and street food are also among the highlights on the program.

Following its successful debut last year, the Open Air Cosplay Stage is returning. The outdoor stage offers cosplayers the opportunity to showcase their costumes in a relaxed atmosphere and take unique photos to remember the event. Cosplay contests will once again be held daily on the large Main Stage in Hall 1.

 

The organizers recommend purchasing tickets through the official presale on Ticket-corner and traveling by public transportation.

Switzerland's biggest autumn festival for pop culture and gaming welcomed 46,000 fans to the halls of Messe Zürich. Exclusive game premieres, celebrity guests and a huge line-up of cosplayers once again made ZURICH POP CON a national highlight for fans and generated a lot of enthusiasm.

In the seven halls of Messe Zürich, over 450 exhibitors, many fan groups, stars and an extensive stage program created a huge and varied world of experience on over 30,000 square metres of exhibition space. Thanks to the outdoor area with a new open-air stage, live paintings and a street food area, even those without a festival ticket were able to have a great time and still discover the exhibition halls for a few hours with a discounted afternoon ticket.

Video game world premieres and VR innovations at the festival

Swiss, European and even world premieres meant that numerous games could be played for the first time in Switzerland before they went on sale. Waiting times had to be accepted time and again. The iconic Just Dance 2026 celebrated its global debut at a trade fair in Zurich. The new games from Swiss video game developers also met with great interest from the public. The esports tournaments at the stands of the esports teams and exhibitors also provided excitement. The two main protagonists of this year's fan favorite game "Split Fiction" generated a lot of enthusiasm with their stage talks. VR experiences were also available at various stands. Many were amazed by demonstrations by the Zurich City Police, who showed how state-of-the-art virtual reality is used in training at their stand. With a bit of luck, you could enter this VR world yourself and experience how police trainees are trained. Those who preferred something more traditional could make themselves comfortable in the Retro Gaming Zone or test the latest games and swap collector's cards in the board game area.

Movie stars, Youtubers and international cosplay guests

Long queues formed for the invited actors, voice actresses and YouTube stars. Fans waited patiently for autographs and photos with their idols. The fact that the stars took a lot of time at the festival for personal and individual encounters with the fans was greatly appreciated. Actor Sean Gunn (Gilmore Girls, Guardians of the Galaxy) and Jasmin Gnu, one of Germany's best-known gaming youtubers, were particularly popular. Dubbing actors such as Tommy Morgenstern (Dragon Ball Z, Jujutsu Kaisen, One Piece) and Nicolle Gonsior (One Piece) or Amadeus Strobl (My Hero Academia) delighted the anime fans. Thanks to the large number of invited star guests, all fans were able to find their favorite star in the Zurich exhibition halls. As in previous years, the line-up in the cosplay area was also huge: guests traveled to Zurich from the USA, Japan and many other countries. The "Swiss Cosplay Family" was present with a large delegation, including the internationally renowned Swiss Stylouz Cosplay. Countless cosplayers from Switzerland and abroad enjoyed the unique meeting place in Zurich. The generously designed Cosplay Village and the daily cosplay contests were just as popular as the new photo stage in the outdoor area, where festival visitors themselves became stars in the spotlight.

Lots of variety and a whole hall for fans of Asian pop culture

The diverse offering also included areas such as Artist Alley with over 200 artists, a Star Wars fan zone, the medieval market, a tattoo art area and a separate hall for Asian pop culture. There, visitors experienced Ikebana flower art, K-Pop dances, calligraphy and origami workshops, martial arts shows and Go games. "We are overwhelmed by the unique atmosphere and the enthusiastic feedback from fans, stars and exhibitors and are already looking forward to the next festival editions," says festival director Anouk Brunner.

The next ZURICH POP CON & Game Show will take place on September 26 and 27, 2026. Tickets for FANTASY BASEL - The Swiss Comic Con, which is organized by the same team and will take place at Messe Basel from 14 to 16 May 2026, are already available in advance via Ticketcorner.

On September 27 and 28, the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show will present the latest trends in European, Asian and American pop culture in the seven halls of Messe Zürich. Switzerland's biggest autumn event for pop culture will feature stars from TV series, games, YouTube and Twitch, exciting stage shows, gaming and virtual reality, cosplay, art, martial arts and much more. Various games will be available to play in Zurich as Swiss, European and even world premieres exclusively before they go on sale.

This weekend, the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show invites you to an eventful weekend full of pop culture at Messe Zürich for the eighth time. The multifaceted program offers a wide range of highlights:

Meet film and series stars at eye level

Visitors to the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show can look forward to a diverse line-up of actors and voice actors, including Sean Gunn ("Gilmore Girls", "Guardians of the Galaxy"), Harry Lloyd ("Game of Thrones", "Arcane"), Joe Flanigan ("Stargate: Atlantis") and Elsie Bennett and Kaja Chan from the current game hit Split Fiction. The festival also welcomes Tommy Morgenstern, Nicolle Gonsior and Amadeus Strobl, known from anime classics such as "One Piece", "Dragon Ball" and "My Hero Academia", as well as Carlotta Pahl, the German dubbing voice of Millie Bobby Brown. Sven Plate, the German voice of Bugs Bunny, will also be present.

The stars will not just make a brief appearance on the red carpet - at the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show, actors and voice actors will take time to sign autographs, take photos and meet their fans in person.

TikTok, YouTube and streaming stars are also coming to Zurich

The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show offers a platform for well-known content creators and young talents alike. Among others, Sterzik and Jasmin Gnu, who have been part of the German YouTube and streaming scene for years, as well as Maxim and RedheadBegins, who inspire their communities on Twitch and TikTok, will be there. Over fifty creators from the Swiss scene will also be at the festival.

A festival for gaming, esports, board games and trading cards

A highlight in the gaming area is the large Nintendo Zone. Gaming fans can expect numerous premieres there, including Little Nightmares 3, Borderlands 4, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Nintendo Switch 2), Kirby Air Riders, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade and EA Sports FC26, which will be playable in Switzerland for the first time. Fans will also be able to play Hyrule Warriors: Chronicle of the Sealing for the first time in Europe. GIANTS Software will be presenting the world premiere of Farming Simulator: Signature Edition (Switch 2), and Just Dance 2026 will also be celebrating its global debut at a trade fair in Zurich. The program is complemented by highlights such as Hollow Knight: Silksong, Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza and many other titles.

Nostalgia fans will also get their money's worth: The Retro Gaming Zone features popular consoles from the Game Boy era to the first PlayStation. Classics such as Street Fighter, Pokémon Red/Blue or Super Smash Bros. provide a real retro feeling here. In addition, numerous esports teams will be presenting themselves in the two gaming halls, inviting visitors to "Beat the Pro" duels and smaller tournaments. The offer is complemented by VR experiences, stores for board games and trading cards as well as the Gaming & Community Stage with further program highlights and gaming opportunities.

A Europe-leading cosplay line-up

This year's ZURICH POP CON & Game Show will bring together more cosplay guests than ever before in Zurich: internationally successful costume and prop manufacturers such as Ellothin Cosplay from France, Reika from Japan and Gracie The Cosplay Lass from America, as well as many other names from Switzerland and abroad will be represented. They will be exhibiting their cosplays and props in the Cosplay Village and passing on their craft skills in creative workshops.

Cosplay contests will also take place on both days of the festival this year. On Saturday, national and international cosplayers will compete and present their cosplay in an exciting performance. On Sunday, the cosplay contest for newcomers also promises plenty of excitement and a unique atmosphere.

Asian culture and martial arts

The Japan/Asian Hall at ZURICH POP CON & Game Show offers visitors a comprehensive insight into the diversity of Asian culture. From calligraphy, origami and ikebana to authentic Asian street food - culture can be experienced here. Local clubs present various Asian martial arts on the Martial Arts Stage. Visitors are invited to try out the techniques for themselves and discover new hobbies. The program is complemented by interactive workshops, hands-on activities and cultural highlights that bring the creativity and diversity of Asian pop culture to life.

Art, creativity and live paintings in Artist Alley

In the Artist Alley, numerous artists present their works - from classic illustrations, comics and anime to jewelry and handmade trinkets. There is also the unique opportunity to receive a personal work of art from Duckburg from the popular Disney illustrator Ulrich Schröder. Fans of urban art can experience live how impressive masterpieces are created in the area of the same name. Those who like it even more personal will get their money's worth in the tattoo art area: talented tattoo artists immortalize creative works of art on the bodies of the brave.

The festival culminates on Sunday evening with the Swiss K-Pop Dance Summit on the Main Stage - a highlight for all dance and K-Pop fans.

The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show is expanding its experience program with a special highlight: for the first time, an open-air cosplay stage will be set up in the outdoor area - freely accessible and ticket-free.

The new stage on the forecourt of Messe Zürich not only offers cosplayers the opportunity to present their creations to an audience, but also serves as a versatile photo location for groups, communities and fans who want to capture their enthusiasm in a suitable setting. In addition, the Zurich K-Pop group Uniswiss will be encouraging spectators to dance along with a random dance. There will also be plenty of entertainment in the free outdoor area.

In addition to the new stage, various street food stalls will provide culinary discoveries, while national and international street artists will spread a festival atmosphere with large live paintings.

Fandoms and communities as the soul of the con

A central component remains the variety of fandoms and communities that present their worlds with great passion. In the Asia Hall, anime, manga and K-pop merge into a vibrant cultural space, while Harry Potter fans and detailed fan props from the films bring the book worlds to life. Star Wars enthusiasts can look forward to photo opportunities with life-size fan props from the films and interact with the Swiss Garrison and Helvetica Base fan groups, while the Wasteland club Skullripper Tribe will create a post-apocalyptic end-time atmosphere. Numerous other groups and clubs will also be contributing their creativity, making ZURICH POP CON a showcase for pop culture in all its facets.

Stars from the worlds of film, series, gaming and cosplay

The many stars in attendance will also ensure plenty of heart palpitations. Fans of "Gilmore Girls" and "Guardians of the Galaxy" can experience actor Sean Gunn live on the Main Stage and at photo and autograph sessions. Also traveling to the event: Joe Flangian ("Stargate Atlantis"), Harry Lloyd ("Game of Thrones", "Arcane" and "Doctor Who"), Sven Plate (German voice of Bugs Bunny), Kaja Chan and Elsie Bennett from the video game hit "Split Fiction", Tommy Morgenstern (i.a. German voice of Son Goku in "Dragon Ball Z" and Sukuna in "Jujutsu Kaisen") and Nicolle Gonsior (German voice of Yamato in "One Piece"), the star streamer Gnu, the creators Sterzik, Redheadbegins and Maxim and many Swiss content creators. The Cosplay Village also offers an international line-up of stars with cosplayers from Japan, the USA, France, Germany, Switzerland and many other countries.

Exclusively playable games: various Swiss premieres, one European premiere and two world premieres

In addition to new games from the Swiss indie scene, various top games can be played exclusively at ZURICH POP CON & Game Show before they are released, including one European and two world premieres.

Game fans will be offered various Swiss premieres: for example Little Nightmares 3, Borderlands 4, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, Kirby Air Riders, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, and EA Sports FC26. In addition to these previews, Nintendo is also bringing a game that will be playable for the first time in Europe at a public trade fair: Hyrule Warriors: Chronicles of the Sealing. GIANTS Software is bringing along Farming Simulator: Signature Edition - Nintendo Switch 2, which will be playable for the first time worldwide. And Just Dance 2026 will also be danced to for the first time in Zurich as a world premiere. The range of games will be complemented by other highlights such as the long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong, Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza and many other titles. Once again, the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show will be the meeting place for everyone who wants to experience tomorrow's trends today.

New games will also be presented on the Gaming & Community Stage. The presence of the two main actresses from this year's fan favorite game Split Fiction promises to be a special highlight. Various exhibitors and esports teams will be offering opportunities to take part in tournaments and get to know the stars of the scene.

The extensive festival program is very diverse and includes stage shows, workshops, panels, live paintings, meet and greets with stars, martial arts shows and much more. The entire program and line-up is available at www.zurichpopcon.ch.

The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show announces further star guests from popular films, series and games. Spread across all seven halls of Messe Zürich, a diverse world of experiences is being created.

 

In addition to the guests already announced, German streamer Gnu (1.5 million followers), actor Harry Lloyd (Game of Thrones) and voice actors Tommy Morgenstern (Dragon Ball Z) and Nicolle Gonsior (One Piece) will also be taking part.

 

With over 30,000 square meters of experience space, the festival brings the diversity of pop culture to Zurich - from art, cosplay and gaming to anime, K-pop and medieval worlds. In Artist Alley, visitors can meet local and international artists, urban artists and tattoo artists who create their works live on site. Gamers can expect a wide range of games - from board and collectible card games to esports, a large Nintendo area and an entire hall full of gaming highlights. One hall is dedicated entirely to Asian pop culture: from martial arts and street food to origami and calligraphy art, the culture of Asia can be discovered here. One of the highlights of the festival is the huge Cosplay Village, where cosplayers from Switzerland and all over the world can interact with visitors. Merchandisers present the latest fan merchandise from series, games and anime, while the medieval market transports visitors to a world full of dragons, princes and queens.

 

The diverse program with guests from all over the world, a lively community and numerous artists from a wide variety of fields creates a platform that focuses on creativity and encounters. The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show deliberately focuses on quality: the experience of the visitors, fans and artists should be the focus and makes the event a unique space for inspiration, exchange and shared experience.

 

Stars from all over the world: New guests enrich the line-up

 

After well-known names such as Sean Gunn ("Gilmore Girls", "Guardians of the Galaxy"), Sven Plate (German voice of Bugs Bunny) as well as Kaja Chan and Elsie Bennett from the hit video game "Split Fiction" have already been confirmed as guests, the organizers have now added to the announcement of their line-up.

The newly confirmed star guests from film and television include actor Harry Lloyd, who is best known for his portrayal of Viserys Targaryen in "Game of Thrones". Fans will also recognize him as Victor from the Netflix hit "Arcane" or remember his striking role as Jeremy Baines in "Doctor Who".

Also confirmed are two popular dubbing voices from the anime world: with Tommy Morgenstern (German voice of Son Goku in "Dragon Ball Z" and Sukuna in "Jujutsu Kaisen", among others) and Nicolle Gonsior (German voice of Yamato in "One Piece"), fans will have the opportunity to meet two popular voice actors from some of today's most popular series.

In the social media sector, German gaming youtuber and streamer Gnu enriches the line-up. With over 1.5 million subscribers, she inspires her community with authentic content from gaming, comedy and cosplay. Alongside the already confirmed creators Sterzik, Redheadbegins and Maxim, she will also be available to talk to her community, sign autographs and take photos together.

Well-known cosplayers from Switzerland and all over the world and many cosplay fans will once again make the festival a colorful, artistic and unique experience.

The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show will bring prominent guests from the fields of film, gaming and social media to Messe Zürich on September 27 and 28.

The largest Swiss autumn festival for gaming and pop culture announces the first names in this year's line-up. Visitors can experience their role models up close in stage shows, talks and photo and autograph sessions.

The organizers are delighted to welcome actor Sean Gunn to the festival. With his versatile roles, he is a perfect fit for the thematically diverse festival. On the one hand, he gained fame with his casting as Kraiglin in "Guardians of the Galaxy" and other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in which he also provided the motion-capture portrayal of Rocket Raccoon on set. Gunn also played the characters Calendar Man and Weasel in DC's film "The Suicide Squad". He has also been known from the cult series "Gilmore Girls" since the first season as the quirky yet lovable resident of Stars Hollow Kirk Gleason.

 

Personal encounters with the big names of the gaming and YouTube scene

Well-known guests from the social media world will also be attending the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show: Maxim and Sterzik are two high-reach German gaming Youtubers and regularly inspire their communities with streams and videos. The versatile content creator Redheadbegins will also be in Zurich. All three will not only be on stage, but will also meet their fans in person for photos and autographs.

 

Focus on well-known voices from childhood classics and current games

Voice actor Sven Plate brings a piece of childhood back to life in each of us, as he voices the legendary cartoon rabbit Bugs Bunny in all Looney Tunes productions. He has also been heard in numerous other projects - for example as the dubbing voice for actor Will Wheaton in The Big Bang Theory and Star Trek: Picard. Sven Plate is also active in the world of anime - he can be heard in well-known titles such as One Punch Man and Rising Impact.

Elsie Bennett and Kaja Chan, the two original voices and "motion capture" actresses of the two main characters of Split Fiction, will also be on site. The co-op action game developed by Hazelight Studios and published by EA in March 2025 is already one of the most successful games of the year and the two actresses will talk about their work on the project at the festival.

 

International cosplay stars meet in Zurich

Cosplay brings characters from popular films, games and anime into the real world. Costume art is in the spotlight at the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show. This year, the more than twenty invited national and international cosplay guests include REIKA from Japan, Don Esteban from Austria, Yuji Koi from Vietnam and Switzerland and Stylouz Cosplay, one of Switzerland's best-known cosplayers. The artists can be seen on stage in exciting talks or workshops, at their stands in the large Cosplay Village or as judges of the cosplay competitions on the Main Stage.

Further guests from a wide range of creative fields will be announced over the summer.

 

Strong supporting program for pop culture fans

In addition to the stage program and the invited guests, the festival impresses with around 30,000 square meters of exhibition space, which brings all facets of European, American and Asian pop culture to life. In the huge Artist Alley, local and international artists exhibit their work and urban artists and tattoo artists create live art. Merchandisers offer merchandise from the most popular series, games and animated productions, while all kinds of games are celebrated in the board and collectible card game hall, the Esports Corner, the large Nintendo area and the gaming hall.

In the medieval market, visitors will be transported back to the time of dragons, princes and queens and an entire hall will be dedicated to Asian pop culture - from martial arts and street food to origami and calligraphy art.

The organizers recommend buying tickets in advance from Ticketcorner and travelling by public transport.

Full halls and enthusiastic fans at Switzerland's biggest autumn event for pop culture and gaming

When Darth Vader, Wonder Woman and Princess Peach ride the Zurich streetcars, the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show takes place at Messe Zürich. The pop culture festival is now known far beyond the country's borders and also attracts fans from neighboring countries.

With 43,500 visitors, the festival once again surpassed last year's success. Over 450 exhibitors, many fan groups, stars and an extensive stage program created a huge and varied experience in the seven halls of Messe Zürich. The organizers are completely satisfied. The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show has definitely established itself as the largest autumn event of its kind in Switzerland and a contemporary highlight in the national event and trade fair calendar.

 

Stars showed closeness to the audience

The invited film stars and creators were in great demand. Actors from films and TV series, voice actors as well as YouTube and TikTok stars were available for autographs and photos and delighted the audience with their stage panels. It was appreciated that the stars could not only be seen briefly from afar, but that they took plenty of time at the festival for personal and individual encounters with the fans. A particular highlight was the performance by Loczniki, a dance couple from Poland who entertain over 3 million followers on TikTok with their humorous imitation of characters from video games and anime films. They danced live on stage at the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show and received thunderous applause. Youtuber Domtendo, who has 1.5 million subscribers, and other social media stars were also besieged and celebrated by fans.

 

New games and Nintendo exclusivity

Not only various Swiss esports teams were to be found in the gaming halls. Games that are not yet commercially available, such as Super Mario Party Jamboree, Just Dance 25 and Nikoderiko: The Magical World, could also be played for the first time in Switzerland at the festival. The Retro Gaming Zone, where older gamers were able to take themselves back to their childhood, was also very popular. Actor Clive Standen, the main character of the recently released game Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2, was on site. There was always a euphoric atmosphere in front of and on the Creators & Gaming Stage when stars competed with the audience or during the various tournaments at the stands in the gaming halls. Unique in the German-speaking world was the Nintendo pop-up store with products that are otherwise only available in Japan. For the organizers of ZURICH POP CON & Game Show, this was proof that the festival is one of the leading gaming events in Europe.

 

National and international cosplay stars

The cosplayers from near and far brought a lot of joy and creativity to the exhibition halls. In the huge Cosplay Village, visitors could admire the elaborately crafted costumes of cosplayers from England, Thailand, France, Italy, Switzerland and other countries and get tips directly from the professionals. The "Swiss Cosplay Family" was present with a large delegation, including the internationally renowned Swiss Stylouz Cosplay. A repair station for defective costumes was also set up. The daily cosplay shows and contests on the main stage were among the highlights of the festival.

 

Lots of variety for pop culture fans

The varied offer also included areas such as the Artist Alley with over 150 artists, a Star Wars Fan Zone, the Medieval Area, a Tattoo Art Corner, wrestling shows and a separate hall for Asian Pop Culture. "We are completely satisfied. We would like to thank everyone involved and the fantastic audience for yet another successful edition and the unique atmosphere," says Festival Director Anouk Brunner. The next ZURICH POP CON & Game Show 2025 will take place on September 27 and 28, 2025. Tickets are already available for FANTASY BASEL - The Swiss Comic Con from 29 - 31 May 2025, organized by the same team.

On October 5 and 6, the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show will present the latest trends in European, Asian and American pop culture in the seven halls of Messe Zürich. At Switzerland's biggest autumn event for pop culture, you can experience stars from TV series, games, YouTube and Twitch, exciting stage shows, gaming and virtual reality, cosplay, art, martial arts and much more.

This coming weekend, the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show invites you to an eventful weekend full of pop culture at Messe Zürich for the seventh time. The multifaceted program offers a wide range of highlights:

Meet film and series stars at eye level

Visitors can look forward to meeting actors Clive Standen and Lucy Martin, known from the hit series "Vikings", as well as "Shadowhunters" lead actress Katherine McNamara. Voice actress Rebecca Hanssen, the voice of Alfira, Yenna and Aurelia from the popular role-playing game "Baldur's Gate III", will also be a guest. Carlotta Pahl, who is the German dubbing voice of Millie Bobbie Brown, and Charlotte Uhlig, who has already appeared in dozens of anime series such as "Fairy Tail" and "My Hero Academia", will also be there. The stars will not only be seen briefly on a red carpet; at the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show, the actors and voice actors will take time for autographs, photos and personal conversations with their fans.

TikTok, YouTube and Twitch stars are also coming to Zurich

From the social media sector, the organizers are bringing a mix of established creators and talents in the fast lane to the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show. Among them are Elotrix and Domtendo, who have been an integral part of the German YouTube scene for years, as well as Starletnova, who has made a name for herself primarily as a streamer on the Twitch platform. Special guests this year include dancers Niki and Locez from Loczniki, who went viral with their authentic and humorous imitation of video game characters and have inspired around two million fans. Over forty creators from the Swiss scene will also be at the festival.

A festival for gaming, esports, board games and trading cards

A highlight in the gaming area is the large Nintendo zone. Titles such as Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Super Mario Party Jamboree and other new games await here, some of which can even be played before the official release. Exclusively in German-speaking countries, Nintendo will be running a pop-up store at the festival with products that are otherwise only available in Japan.

Warner Bros. Games will also be represented this year with the magical game highlights Hog-warts Legacy and the LEGO® Harry Potter™ Collection. Nostalgia fans can also look forward to the Retro Gaming Zone: from Gameboys to first-generation Playstations, the most popular retro consoles will be available to play. Of course, the corresponding games, such as Street Fighter, Pokémon Red/Blue and Super Smash Bros, will also be there. The two gaming halls will also be home to numerous esports teams inviting visitors to "Beat the Pro" duels and small tournaments, VR providers and board game and trading card stores. The Gaming & Community Stage and various stands where current games can be played round off the offer.

A Europe-leading cosplay line-up

This year's ZURICH POP CON & Game Show boasts an impressive cosplay line-up: internationally successful costume and prop makers such as F.ukuro from the UK, Yuegene Fay from Thailand, or Lily on the Moon from France, who is known for her detailed portrayal of Disney princesses, as well as many other names from Germany and abroad are represented. They will be exhibiting their costumes and props in the Cosplay Village and passing on their craft skills in creative workshops.

Cosplay competitions will also take place on both days of the festival this year. On Saturday, national and international cosplayers will compete and present their cosplay in an exciting performance. On Sunday, the cosplay contest for newcomers also promises plenty of excitement and a unique atmosphere.

Asian culture and martial arts

Asian pop culture is more than bubble tea, anime and "kawaii". This can be seen in the Japan/Asian Hall. Visitors can learn more about Asian culture, experience calligraphy, learn origami, discover ikebana and try authentic Asian street food. Local clubs demonstrate Asian martial arts on the Martial Arts Stage. Visitors are invited to try out the various martial arts directly on site and perhaps discover a new hobby.

Various art: fantasy, comics and street art

Numerous artists exhibit their work in Artist Alley. The offer ranges from classic illustrations, comics and anime to jewelry and homemade trinkets. Fans of urban art can watch the artists create masterpieces live in the Urban Art Area. Art can also get under your skin - especially in the tattoo art area. Here, talented tattoo artists immortalize creative works of art on the bodies of the spontaneous and brave. If you are lucky, you will receive a personal work of art from Duckburg from the popular Disney illustrator Ulrich Schröder.

The festival will conclude on Sunday evening with the Swiss K-Pop Dance Summit on the Main Stage.

On the weekend of 5 and 6 October, the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show will bring a diverse program to the festival stages at Messe Zürich. Visitors can look forward to stars, exciting talks, panels and workshops on gaming, cosplay, film and art.

The largest Swiss pop culture festival in autumn will delight visitors with exciting shows, interactive workshops, fascinating talks with star guests and a varied supporting program on five stages. Here are some of the highlights:

In conversation with film stars, dubbing voices and streaming legends

Actresses, social media stars and dubbing actors take the spotlight on the Main Stage. In exciting talks with Clive Standen, Katherine McNamara, Loczniki, Carlotta Pahl and other stars, visitors will not only gain insights into their creative careers, but also learn interesting stories from the guests' private lives. Visitors will also have the chance to meet their idols in person, as the stars will be available to take pictures or sign autographs together and make time for their fans.

Cosplay and associated techniques explained step by step

The organizers also offer plenty of opportunities to get active in the cosplay area with an interactive workshop program. For example, Swiss artist and cosplayer Tania de Andrade will talk about how to start a new project, Cosmiplay will explain challenges and solutions for sustainable cosplays, and Kappy Cosplay will demonstrate elaborate make-up techniques. There will also be workshops on cosplay photography, performance, TikTok video production, working with different materials and much more.

Experience top sporting performances in taekwondo, wrestling or karate

For all those who don't just want to let off steam virtually, the Sports & Action Zone together with the Martial Arts Stage offers a program with plenty of adrenaline kicks. Swiss wrestlers, athletes and show groups will present their sports in impressive demonstrations and invite visitors to try out new active hobbies

Origami, Asian street food and K-pop

Those who prefer things a little more relaxed can try their hand at calligraphy, origami or ikebana - the Japanese art of flower arranging - in the Japan/Asian Hall. On the other hand, the K-Pop Random Dance and the Swiss K-Pop Dance Summit on the Main Stage are sure to get some visitors dancing. With a wide range of Asian street food on offer, there are many delicious specialties to try, from karaage and bubble tea to gyoza.

The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show, the biggest Swiss pop culture festival in the fall, brings exclusive highlights to all seven halls of Messe Zürich. Not only the most popular Swiss cosplayers are represented in the large Cosplay Village; numerous international cosplay stars also travel to meet their fans. As in previous years, stars from series and games as well as various content creators and gaming influencers are also invited.

Only in German-speaking countries, Nintendo will officially operate its own pop-up store in Zurich. The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show is thus recognized as one of the leading game and pop culture events in Europe. The festival already caused a sensation in 2019 with the world premiere of Cyberpunk 2077. The organizers consider it a great honour that Nintendo is now coming to ZURICH POP CON at Messe Zürich with its pop-up store instead of to Germany or Austria.

Over 400 stands and countless shows and attractions await visitors. Various current games can be played. In addition to a huge Nintendo game and tournament zone, the Nintendo Pop-Up Store will also be a major attraction. This is because exclusive merchandising articles that are not otherwise available in Europe will be sold there. The only time such a store has been seen in Europe was at the Japan Expo in Paris. This means that fans of Super Mario & Co don't have to travel to Japan to buy coveted collector's items and merchandise. Anyone who wants to secure an exclusive Christmas present for Nintendo fans now has a unique, exclusive opportunity at the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show. Those who want to embark on a culinary journey to Japan after shopping will find an "Asian Pop Culture" area with various food stands in Hall 7.

The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show presents star guests from films, series, games and social media at Messe Zürich on October 5 and 6.

The biggest Swiss gaming and pop culture festival in the fall announces the first names in this year's line-up. Visitors can experience their role models up close in stage shows, talks and photo and autograph sessions.

The organizers are delighted to welcome singer and actress Katherine McNamara to the festival. She is best known for playing the lead role of Clary Fray in "Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments". She also played Mia Smoak in the superhero series "Arrow" and Julie Lawry in the post-apocalyptic mini-series "The Stand".

In addition, actor Clive Standen from the historical television series "Vikings" will also grace the festival. Standen also played Lieutenant Titus, the main character of the newly released video game "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2". His "Vikings" co-star and partner Lucy Martin will also be a guest at the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show. In addition to her portrayal of Queen Ingrid in "Vikings", she was given the lead role in the 2021 sicence fiction thriller "The Seed". Both actors can also be seen alongside Alec Baldwin in the drama "Clear Cut", which will be released in cinemas soon.

 

Personal encounters with the big names of the gaming and YouTube scene

This year, ZURICH POP CON & Game Show is expanding its line-up of content creators and social media personalities. With Elotrix and Domtendo , two of the first and most-watched German gaming Youtubers will be there to inspire their million-strong communities with streams and videos. Hiro from Einfach Japanisch will not only provide insights into the Japanese language and culture on his channels, but also on the festival stage, while Starletnova will impress as a Twitch newcomer and meet her Swiss fans.

Also on the program is the Polish dance duo Loczniki, who went viral on the TikTok platform with their authentic and humorous imitation of video game characters and already enjoy cult status among their approximately two million fans.

 

Dubbing actors:inside from "Baldur's Gate" and "Stranger Things"

This year, Rebecca Hanssen, a voice actress from the popular game "Baldur's Gate III", will be on the festival stages; she will provide interesting insights into video game production. In addition, Carlotta Pahl, the German voice of Millie Bobby Brown, will talk about her dubbing work in "Stranger Things" and "Enola Holmes 2". The organizers will also be welcoming anime voice actress and V-tuber Charlotte Uhlig alias EineLotta, who can be heard in series and films such as "My Hero Academia" and "Fairy Tail", as a guest in Zurich.

 

Cosplay talents from all over the world - united in Zurich

Cosplay brings characters from popular films, games and anime into the real world. Costume art is in the spotlight at the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show. This year, over twenty national and international cosplay guests have been invited, including Yuegene Fay from Thailand, F.ukoro and Tabitha Lyons from England, Lily on the Moon from France and Stylouz Cosplay, one of the best-known Swiss cosplayers. The artists can be seen on stage in exciting talks or workshops, at their stands in the huge Cosplay Village or as judges of the cosplay competitions.

 

The concept artists behind Baldur's Gate, Donald Duck and Batman

At the festival, visitors will have the unique opportunity to talk to star artists and receive signed drawings

Renowned Canadian comic artist Max Dunbar, who works for world-renowned comic publishers such as Marvel, Dynamite Entertainment, Vertigo (DC Comics) and IDW Publishing, will speak at the festival about his most successful works for Baldur's Gate, Batman Beyond and Dungeons & Dragons. Also present again will be long-time Disney illustrator Ulrich Schröder, known for his illustrations of Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and many other inhabitants of Duckburg.

In addition, the large Artist Alley features over a hundred other talented artists who offer their art for sale as prints, stickers, pendants, jewelry or decorative items.

The organizers recommend buying tickets in advance from Ticketcorner and travelling by public transport.

At the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show, 38,000 visitors celebrated American, Asian and European pop culture trends in the seven halls of Messe Zurich over the weekend.

450 exhibitors provided a huge experience for anime lovers, gamers and film fans with an exciting mix of themes. The attending stars from series, game and social media worlds took a lot of time for the fans and made unforgettable encounters possible.

The organizers are satisfied and look back on a successful festival: "From all sides, the feedback is very positive and we are pleased that the enthusiasm and joy among visitors and exhibitors was again so great and that everyone came again in such large numbers to the exhibition halls despite the beautiful weather." As Switzerland's largest autumn event of this kind, the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show has definitely established itself as a contemporary highlight in the Swiss event and trade fair calendar.

YouTube and TikTok stars generated hours of hype

Long lines of fans formed outside the booths of YouTube veterans iBlali, Cengiz and Domtendo, eager to meet their idols for a selfie or small talk. KingChris, who has around 20 million followers on TikTok, also took time for his Swiss fans. The stage talks with the content creators were also always very well attended and showed the increasing relevance of social media personalities.

Gaming novelties captivated gamers

A visitor magnet was the new Nintendo game Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which fans were able to play at ZURICH POP CON & Game Show before its official release. The brand-new game "Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty" was well received by all sides, as was a fan film premiere. The organizers also presented novelties in the analog area: in the large TCG and board game area, not only the new Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game awaited visitors at the Ravensburger booth, but also the Swiss illustrator Clio Wolfensberger, the artist behind the cards of the popular characters Rapunzel and Aurora. There were long waits at the booths where new VR games could be played or where eSports teams held small tournaments. The Swiss game developers of the SGDA showed their current work to an interested audience.

Industry representatives discussed new youth protection law

A meeting point for the gaming industry was the panel "Jugendschutz bei Filmen und Videospielen: Umsetzung und Auswirkungen des neuen Bundesgesetzes". In an exciting discussion between a representative of the federal government and people from industry associations, those present gained insight into the law and its future prospects.

 

Stars showed closeness to the audience

The stage talks with the star guests from titles such as The Walking Dead, Iron Fist, Overwatch, Final Fantasy XVI, YouTube and Twitch also received applause. The visitors experienced the starguests accessibly and learned one or the other trivia from behind-the-scenes as well as from their private lives.

 

Cosplay Contests and Artist Alley in Focus

As always, reliable highlights were the cosplay contests, for which visitors gathered en masse in front of the Main Stage. The cosplayers presented impressive costumes with rehearsed performances, often in elaborate handwork. There was also a lot to see in the huge Cosplay Village, which took up almost an entire hall: Swiss and international cosplay stars presented their detailed costumes and gave insights into their work.

The Artist Alley was also very well attended throughout, with over 150 artists showing their works from the fields of comics, manga and fantasy, and street artists could be seen creating art live. There was also a lot of amazement in the Tattoo Art Zone, where tattoo artists inked up true works of art on the skin of the visitors.

 

K-Pop, Kendo and Karate provided shows of a special kind

In between talks and panels, demonstrations on the Main Stage included kendo - a modern Japanese martial art performed with bamboo swords and impressive armor. As in the previous year, the best Swiss K-Pop Dance Crews danced on the Main Stage for the festival finale, celebrating the Swiss K-Pop Dance Summit.

Next year's ZURICH POP CON & Game Show will take place on October 5 and 6, 2024. Fans wouldn't have to wait that long, though: the same organizers are also realizing FANTASY BASEL - The Swiss Comic Con from May 9-11, 2024, one of Europe's largest pop culture festivals.

On 30 September and 1 October, the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show will present current trends in pop culture in the 7 halls of the Messe Zurich. There will be stars from series, games and YouTube, exciting stage shows, gaming and virtual reality, cosplay, art, martial arts and much more to experience.

This coming weekend, ZURICH POP CON & Game Show invites you for the fifth time to an eventful weekend full of pop culture at Messe Zurich. The multi-faceted program has some highlights in store.

 

The stars take time for their fans

The organizers are looking forward to the actor Nadia Hilker, known from the most famous zombie series of all time, and Marvel superhero Finn Jones. Overwatch fans can meet three voice actresses of the multiplayer game live: Lucy Pohl, voice of the legendary Swiss character Mercy, Carolina Ravassa, voice of hacker Sombra, and Chloé Hollings, voice of the infamous sniper Widowmaker. Also on site are with Vincent Fallow and Ben Starr, both the German and English voices of Clive Rosfield, the main character of the new Final Fantasy XVI game. The stars are not only briefly seen on a red carpet; at the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show, the actors and voice actors take time for autogrpahs and photo sessions with their fans.

 

Famous personalities from YouTube and Twitch are coming to Switzerland

On the social media front, the organizers are bringing a mix of established creators and talent on the fast track to ZURICH POP CON & Game Show. Joining them are Domtendo, iBlali/Vik, aSmoogl and Cengiz, all of whom have been a staple of the German YouTube scene for years. NiekBeats and Vlesk, who have made a name for themselves as streamers on Twitch, will also be taking part. Joining as well is KingChris, who entertains around 20 million fans with his anime parodies as Kakashi, Naruto, Yor Forger and Sanji. More than 20 creators from the Swiss scene will also be at the festival.

 

Gaming, Esports, Board Games and New Trading Cards

A highlight in the gaming area is the expansive Nintendo Zone, designed in the look of Nintendo's most popular games. Titles such as Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Pikmin 4 and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which can even be tried out before the official release, await the visitors here.

The Retro Gaming Zone satisfies the nostalgia: from Nintendo64 to the Gameboy to Playstations of the first generation, the most popular retro consoles are ready to play. Of course, the corresponding games, such as Street Fighter, Pokémon Red/Blue or Super Smash Bros. are not missing. Numerous Esports clans are also present, inviting visitors to "Beat the Pro" duels and small tournaments. In addition to various board games, the new Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game will also be presented. The Swiss illustrator Clio Wolfensberger, who designed two of these cards, will be on site and sign autographs.

 

Specialist panels on current gaming topics

The organizers also provide a stage for current social issues at the festival. The use of artificial intelligence in art is a hot topic of discussion not only in the art world but also at the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show.

Further, experts will speak about the implementation of the new federal law on the protection of minors in the areas of film and video games. The organizers also want to raise awareness. For example, another lecture will explain that micro-purchases in games can promote the development of a gaming addiction. Last but not least, Dr. Judith Mathez, lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, will address the educational use of games in classrooms in her panel.

 

A Europe-leading cosplay line-up

This year's ZURICH POP CON & Game Show boasts an impressive cosplay line-up: Valentine Moon from England, who sews stunning ball gowns, Secret Geek from Switzerland, who is known for her cosplays from the Zelda universe, the internationally successful Nadyasonika from Mexico, German cosplay star Maul Cosplay and many more will be on site. The talents will exhibit their costumes and props in the Cosplay Village and give crafting tips in creative workshops. A highlight will be the original armor and props from the Marvel universe by artist Jarvis Creator from France.

Also this year, cosplay contests will take place on both days of the festival. On Saturday, national and international cosplayers will compete and present their cosplay in a thrilling performance. On Sunday, the stage belongs to the newcomers.

 

Asian Culture and Martial Arts

Asian pop culture is more than bubble tea, anime and "kawaii." That's evident in the Japan/Asian Hall. There, visitors will learn more about Asian culture, experience calligraphy, learn origami and sample authentic Asian street food. Local clubs will demonstrate Asian martial arts on the Martial Arts Stage. Visitors are invited to try out the various martial arts directly on site and perhaps discover a new hobby.

 

Varied art: fantasy, comic and street art

In the Artist Alley, numerous artists exhibit their work. The offer ranges from classic illustrations and abstract paintings to jewelry and homemade trinkets. Fans of urban art can look over the shoulders of the artists in the Urban Art Area while they are spraying their canvases. Each artist has his or her own style and skilfully paints classic lettering or murals on the canvas. Art can also get under your skin - especially in our tattoo art section. There, talented tattoo artists immortalize creative works of art on the bodies of the brave. Those who are lucky enough will receive a small personal work of art from Duckburg from the popular Disney illustrator Ulrich Schröder.

The festival will conclude on Sunday evening with a K-Pop Dance Show on the Main Stage.

 

The organizers recommend buying tickets in advance at See Tickets and arriving by public transport.

The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show is expecting stars from movies, series, games and social media on September 30 and October 1 at the Messe Zürich.

The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show announces the complete line-up with stars from movies, series, games and social media. In stage shows, talks and photo and autograph sessions, visitors will experience their idols up close and personal.

 

Established creators from the gaming community

On social media, the organizers are relying on a mix of established creators and talent on the fast track. Among them is Domtendo, who has been producing videos around Nintendo games for more than ten years. On YouTube, the German has almost 1.5 million fans following him. iBlali is also a permanent fixture on the German-language YouTube scene: he became known for his wild comedy formats over 10 years ago. Today, he regularly entertains his fans with real talk and reaction content. aSmoogl and Vlesk have also been an integral part of the gaming community on Twitch and YouTube for years.

 

Cosplay, Realtalk, and cool Creators

Not only as a streamer on Twitch but also with her imaginative cosplays from games, anime and manga, Farbenfuchs leaves her mark on the community. NiekBeats is also part of the party, showing with his authentic style on YouTube how deep and yet funny real talk can be. KingChris, known for his gaming, anime and cosplay content, is a high-flyer in the social media bubble. As Kakashi, Naruto, Yor Forger or Sanji, Chris entertains over 20 million fans with his anime parodies. Over 20 creators from the Swiss scene will also be at the festival.

 

Actors give a look behind the scenes

Not missing at the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show are actors from successful series: The organizers are looking forward to Nadia Hilker, known from the most famous zombie series of all time, and Marvel superhero Finn Jones. The two will give visitors a look behind the scenes in exciting stage talks and chat not only about their respective careers, but also about one or two little things from their private lives. In addition, fans have the opportunity to ask their idols the questions that have been burning under their nails for a long time in Q&A talks. Of course, the two are also available for photos and autographs.

 

Voice Actors from Overwatch and Final Fantasy XVI

Fans of the multiplayer game Overwatch can look forward to a visit from no less than three voice actors: Lucy Pohl, the voice of the legendary Swiss character Mercy, Carolina Ravassa, the voice of hacker Sombra, and Chloé Hollings, voice of the infamous sniper Widowmaker. Also on hand are Vincent Fallow and Ben Starr, both the German and English voices of Clive Rosfield, the main character of the new Final Fantasy XVI game.

For those who would like photos or autographs from the star guests, the corresponding times as well as the stage program will soon be available on the website www.zurichpopcon.ch.

The organizers recommend buying tickets in the official presale at See Tickets and arriving by public transportation.

Switzerland's largest gaming and pop culture festival in fall will showcase a wide range of pop culture phenomena at Messe Zürich on September 30 and October 1, 2023.

From exclusive game releases to try out, to well-known streamers and content creators, creative cosplay shows, comic and anime art, and a rich selection of Asian street food, the event offers a diverse range of experiences.

 

Gaming, esports and trading cards in focus

Not less than three of the seven exhibition halls at ZURICH POP CON & Game Show are dedicated to current gaming titles, cult classics and nostalgic retro games and consoles. Sonic Superstars and the two Ubisoft titles Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Just Dance 24 can be played at the festival. In the large Nintendo area, highlights such as Pikmin 4, Everybody 1-2-Switch! or The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will also thrill visitors.

Numerous Esports teams invite you to "Beat the Pro" duels and fun tournaments at their booths in the Esports Hub.

Ravensburger presents the new Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game in Switzerland.

 

Face to face with stars of the gaming and YouTube scene

This year, ZURICH POP CON & Game Show is expanding its lineup of content creators and online talent. Domtendo, who has been releasing Nintendo game-related videos for his nearly 1.5 million fans for over a decade, and Vik from iBlali, who is one of the veterans of the German YouTube scene, will meet their community and talk about everyday life as a content creator on stage. Three voice actors from the popular game Overwatch and two from the successful Final Fantasy series will also be on stage and available for autographs. More talents and also movie stars will be announced soon.

 

Cosplay as a living art form

Cosplay brings characters from popular movies, games and anime into the real world. The international cosplay scene will be in the spotlight at ZURICH POP CON & Game Show. Cosplay contests will take place on both days, with national and international cosplayers presenting their elaborate costumes in impressive performances. On Sunday, the stage belongs exclusively to the newcomers. The Cosplay Village offers a unique opportunity to get in touch with the artists behind the costumes and to admire their works of art at close range.

In Artist Alley, artists and small business owners will present their creative works and Disney cartoonist Ulrich Schröder will bring Donald Duck and other inhabitants of Duckburg to Zurich.

 

Experience Japanese culture

Japanese pop culture is more than bubble tea, anime and "kawaii." The organizers will demonstrate this in Hall 7, where visitors can dive deeper into Japanese culture, learn origami techniques, sample authentic Asian street food and even plan their next trip to Asia. On the stage, local clubs will demonstrate Japanese martial arts.

 

Tips in advance

The organizers recommend purchasing tickets in official advance at See Tickets and arriving by public transportation.

Over 400 exhibitors and an international program inspired over the weekend on more than 30,000 square meters about 34,000 fans of gaming, film and comic worlds. For two days, the seven halls of Messe Zürich were the meeting place for pop culture enthusiasts.

The festival, which took place for the first time in 2017 under the name ZURICH GAME SHOW, expanded its thematic area and thus met the ravages of time. At the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show, movie stars met urban artists and female gamers met K-pop dancers. "There has never been such a mix of themes at Messe Zürich. The audience came en masse and was enthusiastic all around," summed up the organizers.

Gaming is and remains a festival highlight

Visitors could play video game classics and new games on consoles and PCs. National and international eSports teams challenged gamers: for two days, a speedrun marathon was also celebrated to raise funds for Doctors Without Borders. Countless gaming stations were available; well-known brands were present as well as representatives of Swiss game developers.

European, American and Asian pop culture: a unique mix of themes

In addition to tattoo, street, comic and manga art, there were also show acts to marvel at: wrestling, airsoft, VR activities, pinball machines provided plenty of action. Visitors could also let off steam on the Just Dance Stage and in the Silent Disco. For the first time, a Japan Hall was set up at the festival, where traditional Japanese martial arts such as kendo or jujutsu made the world of the samurai tangible and calligraphy, origami and Japanese street food delighted fans.

Star line-up of the extra class: Fantastic Beasts, Stranger Things and The Sandman

The line-up of invited movie stars was particularly well received. Alison Sudol and Dan Fogler, the dream team of Queenie Goldstein and Jacob Kowalski from the Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts, were in attendance and enchanted Muggles and magicians alike.
Vanesu Samunyai from "The Sandman", Tom Wlaschiha from "Stranger Things" and "Game of Thrones", Lucy Martin from "Vikings" and Lourdes Faberes from "Good Omens" and the latest James Bond film "No Time to Die" offered a first-class stage program.

Next Level: Enter the next round

Next year's ZURICH POP CON & Game Show will take place from September 30 to October 1, 2023 will take place. The same organizers also realize the FANTASY BASEL - The Swiss Comic Con from 18 to 20 May 2023.

 

This weekend, ZURICH POP CON & Game Show celebrates all topics of European, American and Asian pop culture on more than 30,000 square meters. A hybrid of festival and trade fair, the convention brings gaming and film worlds to life for two days with over 400 exhibitors.

 

Cinema & TV: Convincing Star Lineup

With Dan Fogler and Alison Sudol, the dream team from the Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts has been announced for the festival stage. Actors and actresses from Stranger Things, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Vikings, The Sandman and James Bond will also hold stage talks, sign autographs and take photos with attendees.

Gaming: Tournaments, Swiss Games and Game Premieres in Zurich

Two exhibition halls are dedicated to gaming. In a huge Nintendo Zone, novelties and classics can be played, players compete against each other in the Splatoon 3 and SuperSmash Bros Ultimate Championships, and at the HP OMEN booth, visitors can compete against the professional players of the internationally successful "BIG Team Valorant" from Berlin. Other eSports teams such as the Swiss Fortnite and Valorant legends from Ovation eSports will also be on site, running tournaments and promotions at their booths.

Games like FIFA 23, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, LEGO Brawls, NBA 2k23, Wanted: Dead, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and many more can be played on consoles and PCs at the festival. Game premieres such as "The Last Oricru" will also be shown.

The best national and international speedrunners will celebrate a Speedrun Marathon for Charity, raising funds for Doctors Without Borders.

The Swiss Game Developers Association, representing the interests of Swiss game developers, will present the Swiss game industry and introduce the nominees of the Swiss Game Awards 2022, the best Swiss games.

Cosplay: Bringing Movie Worlds to Life

Cosplayers recreate the costumes of their favorite characters from video games and movies with a lot of patience and creativity, inspiring their communities on social media. The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show will host cosplayers from all over the world. Hakken, a model and cosplay star with a fanbase of almost four million followers, will be traveling from Malaysia, German cosplayer Maul is best known for his detailed impersonation of Geralt von Riva from The Witcher, and many Swiss cosplayers will also be on hand. Visitors can immerse themselves in this exciting world at the daily cosplay competitions.

Japan Hall: From Martial Arts to Calligraphy

Over the weekend, the top hall of Messe Zürich will be transformed into a dojo where Asian martial arts such as kendo, karate, ninpo and ju-jutsu can be tried out. Japanese tattoo art, manga artists, origami and calligraphy can be viewed and also tested yourself.

And of course, a diverse range of Asian street food such as karaage, gyoza, momos, bubble tea or Japanese soft ice may not be missing.

Tattoo, Urban & Comic Art

Merchandisers bring products from popular movies, video games and comics to Zurich, and manga and comic artists from around the world show their work. Live art is also being created, with tattoo and street art artists creating art right in the halls. Attractions such as slot machines, the Just Dance Stage, a Silent Disco, an Airsoft course or wrestling show blocks offer a varied program.

The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show in a Nutshell

The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show is the largest festival in Switzerland in the fall for fans of gaming, cosplay, digital entertainment, comics, anime, manga and K-Pop. On the weekend of October 1 & 2, it celebrates all facets of European, American and Asian pop culture. More than 400 exhibitors will transform all seven halls of Messe Zürich into a festival of a special kind on more than 30,000 square meters.

Two days of fun, joy, action and surprises are in store: On Saturday October 1, the exhibition halls are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday October 2 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This coming weekend, Zurich will once again be visited by world-famous stars from the world of cinema. But instead of only briefly on a red carpet as at other festivals, the film stars will be present at the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show from October 1 - 2 at the Messe Zürich for two days with photo and autograph sessions for visitors.

 

From the Harry Potter spin-off "Fantastic Beasts" are equal to two Actors present: The magical dream couple Dan Fogler (Jacob Kowalski) and Alison Sudol (Queenie Goldstein) will enchant visitors with their joint performances and bring their lively romance between muggle and witch to the big stage.

From the current Netflix hit series "The Sandman," actress Vanesu Samunyai is in attendance for. Also part of the cast and guest in Zurich is Lourdes Faberes, who is also known from the fantasy series "Good Omens" and the latest James Bond film "No Time to Die." Fans of "Stranger Things" and "Game of Thrones" can look forward to Tom Wlaschiha and Lucy Martin brings what is probably the most successful Viking series "Vikings" to Zurich.

International Cosplay Line-Up

International and national stars are also signed up from the cosplay scene. Cosplayers all over the world are among creative influencers on social media. Hakken from Malaysia embodies characters from popular manga, games and anime such as Naruto or Jujutsu Kaisen, inspiring nearly four million followers on Instagram. European cosplay greats like Maul Cosplay from Germany, Cinderys from France, EzySummers Cosplay from Bulgaria and Swiss cosplayers like Stylouz Cosplay or Folkenstal also reach thousands of followers worldwide. The daily cosplay shows are among the highlights of the festival.

Artist Alley

In the large Artist Alley, more than 100 urban artists, tattoo artists and draftsmen from around the world can be discovered. The renowned Disney cartoonist Ulrich Schröder, who has been creating residents from Donald Duck's hometown of Duckburg for over 30 years, is invited as a star guest.

The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show is suitable as an exciting destination for the whole family thanks to the enormous variety of exhibitors, workshops and stage programs.

ZURICH POP CON & Game Show, October 1 - 2, 2022, Messe Zürich: The organizers recommend using the advance sale via Starticket / See Tickets and arriving by public transport.

 

Cosplay star Hakken from Malaysia already has over 3.6 million followers on Instagram and is coming to Switzerland for the first time for a guest appearance at the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show.

Hakken is active as a model and in the cosplay scene, the star is best known for the detailed cosplays from popular manga, games and anime.

Hakken's cosplay characters include Itachi from Naruto, Nanami Kento and Suguru Geto from the Japanese manga series Jujutsu Kaisen, Jumin Han from the South Korean videogame Mystic Messenger, Mafuyu Sato from the anime Given or SilverAsh from the mobile game Arknights.

Hakken will be present both days of ZURICH POP CON & Game Show in the Cosplay Village and on the Main Stage in the jury for the daily cosplay contests. Other announced cosplay lineup guests include Maul Cosplay from Germany, EzySummers Cosplay from Bulgaria, and Swiss cosplay greats Folkenstal, Stylouz Cosplay and Minus10DegreesCelsius Cosplay.

At the festival, all facets of European, American and Asian pop culture will be brought to life. In addition to the cosplay scene, the focus is also on comics, street & tattoo art, board games as well as cinema and current TV series such as Stranger Things or Vikings. Fans of anime, manga or K-Pop can discover and enjoy Asian art, music, street food, sports and merchandise in various workshops. As before, the hottest games, VR technologies and eSport teams as well as the latest hardware will be presented in all seven exhibition halls. At various tournaments, visitors can measure their own skills. Swiss game developers will also be present and the nominees of the SWISS GAME AWARD 2022 will be presented.

Two days of fun, joy, action and surprises are in store: On Saturday October 1, the exhibition halls will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Sunday October 2, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Further program items, highlights and guests will be announced on an ongoing basis.

The largest gaming event in Switzerland expands its thematic area. The focus on gaming and eSports will be complemented with hip areas of European, American and Asian pop culture

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On the weekend of October 1 and 2, 2022, gaming & eSports, VR & film worlds, arts & comics, anime & manga, action & entertainment, fashion & beauty, merchandise to food & lifestyle can be experienced up close in the halls of Messe Zürich. A highlight are the national and international cosplay contests on the main stage. Of course, the ZURICH POP CON & Game Show program also includes stage talks as well as photo and autograph sessions with exciting personalities and national as well as international stars from the gaming, film, and pop culture worlds!

The ZURICH GAME SHOW was able to attract over 34,000 visitors in 2019 and establish itself as the largest gaming event in Switzerland. In the past two years, the show could not take place due to pandemic. The organizers, who also organize the internationally successful FANTASY BASEL - The Swiss Comic Con, have used this time to adapt the existing concept and make it even more diverse by expanding the themes. Gaming and eSports will continue to be focal points of the festival and Swiss games will have a strong presence. The SGDA Swiss Game Design Awards, where the best Swiss games and game designers will be honored, will again be held in partnership with ZURICH POP CON & Game Show.

The ZURICH POP CON & Game Show is the Swiss festival for everyone who loves Asian Pop Culture and new trends in addition to gaming. Here gamers meet otakus and artists meet content creators. Comic, street art, tattoo, anime and manga artists will be exhibiting their art, and visitors can get active themselves at creative workshops and in action zones. The latest games and virtual reality experiences can be tested and eSports tournaments followed. Talks and panels with artists and stars will take place on several stages. In addition to a large merchandise zone, fashion will be on display, beauty and digital trends will be presented, and food areas will be available to treat the eyes and the palate. Ticket sales start on July 7, 2022

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