Getting your Geek On! 10 Unmissable Moments at Comic Con Africa 2025

Getting your Geek On! 10 Unmissable Moments at Comic Con Africa 2025

Comic Con Africa is ready – as usual! – to bring maximum fun and geek immersion to fans, friends, families, and first-timers alike in the halls of the Joburg Expo Centre, Nasrec, this month from 28 to 31 August 2025. If you’re wondering what’s in store for you in this playground of pop culture, wonder no more, as we tell you the Top 10 Things to geek out over at Comic Con Africa 2025. Take a deep breath – there’s a LOT to talk about!

1. Celebs and All Things Film and Series

Experience the thrill of meeting the international celebs behind your favourite TV shows, movies, and web series. Comic Con Africa has a breathtaking celebrity line-up including Jessie T. Usher, best known as A-Train from The Boys, Misha Collins, the beloved Castiel from Supernatural, and Dan Fogler, who plays Jacob Kowalski in the Fantastic Beasts film series. Babylon 5’s Julie Caitlin Brown is lined up alongside Joburg local actress Chioma Umeala. You can purchase tickets to get their autographs on your merch or have a photo taken with them, and catch them on the Main Stage in live Q&As, sharing behind-the-scenes stories straight from the source.

2. Epic Activations

In 2025 Comic Con Africa is dialled up with a bunch of exciting activations from some of the biggest names in entertainment. The M-Net Fan Favourites makes a stop at the con, alongside a massive and immersive experience form Disney+ that will take fans through the platform’s top series and films. AXE offers a wild journey through taste, smell, and touch inside the AXE Experience. You can help Sea Harvest celebrate the Year of the Fish Finger with the larger-than-life characters Omega Mind and Captain Crisp getting up to mischief in the halls, and power up your morning with the Kellogg’s Power Breakfast Mission. Nintendo brings classic gaming to life with MarioKart, while Mew makes their debut appearance at Comic Con Africa. The ZURU X-Shot Challenge will bring guaranteed action for younger fans. Live broadcasts from 5fm will bring the music and vibes that fans love.

3. Game On in The Experience Hall

For casual players, seasoned pros, and button mashers alike, Comic Con Africa has something (read: just about everything) for every gamer. Discover a variety of free-to-play games, thrilling tournaments, and the best in gaming for everyone. Telkom VS Gaming returns with the Top 8 CS2 Masters and Top 4 HSEL CS2 teams. The Doritos Crunch Arena will rumble with an intense free-to-play Tekken 8 tournament and gaming zone. The Toyota Gaming Engine delivers four days of nonstop gaming, with Brawl Stars, Street Fighter 6, and Gran Turismo 7 challenges. Meanwhile, Red Bull Gaming amps up the excitement on the con floor with an epic EAFC tournament. Whether you’re here to watch, play, or take advantage of amazing specials and gear up from brands like Astrum, Incredible Connection, Syntech, Checkers, MSI, and more, this is where the gaming action is.

4.  KidsCon Zone

A dedicated space just for kids? Absolutely. Packed with activities, workshops, gaming, and entertainment tailored for younger con-goers, the KidsCon Zone, held in partnership with Toys R Us, is where the next generation of geeks and creatives gets to shine. Toys R Us is setting up a pop-up shopping experience, offering a wide selection of top brands, toys, and merchandise. RGB Gaming returns with youth-focussed tournaments through their Premier School League, featuring primary and high school players in Fortnite and Minecraft battles, with a massive free-to-play area adding to the action. Interactive activities from Solarpop include Freak Marbles racing, a Slushie Bar, and the Scarlet & Violet Pokémon Training Academy. LUSH will feature with the limited-edition Hello Kitty & Friends range exclusively at Comic Con Africa. Visits from Doctor Squish and Spy Guy are scheduled, while kids’ characters Mario and Luigi, Noodle and Bun, and Geoffrey the Giraffe are in the mix all four days of the con, meeting and greeting superheroes big and small.

5. A Massive Artist Alley

Comic Con Africa brings over 135 talented artists together in its largest Artist Alley yet. There’s something to catch every eye in this sprawling space, from one-of-a-kind artworks, signed limited edition prints, and pop culture art pieces – and, a range of new artistic styles to discover. You can even commission your very own piece. Renowned international artists in attendance include Carola Borelli, Cian Torney, Eleonora Carlini, Declan Shalvey, and Elisabetta D’Amico. Homegrown heroes include Anand Ramcheron, Jason Masters, and Sean Izaakse. Plus, con-goers can pay homage to the late, great Karl Mostert at a stand created to remember and honour his artistry.

6. Stages Full of Surprises

Whether you’re a trivia whizz, a future comic writer, or just hanging out and enjoying the good vibes, there’s a stage for you. Across three content stages, multiple esport tournament stages, and an outdoor stage, you’ll get to take part in quizzes and participate in the Bob-Shop Auction, attend Q&A sessions, and learn interactively in creative workshops. Discover how to voice act, get a crash course in Japanese, or be blown away by K-Pop dance crews and live dubbing sessions. Pro tip: check the programme ahead of time – you’ll want to plan your days to ensure you don’t miss a moment!

7. Creative Cosplay

Join us for a celebration of self-expression, creativity, and community with Cosplay. As a welcoming and inclusive space for cosplayers of all levels, Comic Con Africa is the perfect stage on which to strut your stuff. Showcase your talent and stand a chance to win fun prizes in our daily Casual Competitions, which open the playing field for newbies or those who just want to say they walked the same Main Stage as their heroes. Meet international cosplay guests Yuji Koi and Majed Cosplay and learn from the best in the industry. Step into the spotlight by participating in the Comic Con Africa Championships of Cosplay, where the winner earns the chance to represent South Africa on the global stage at MCM London. Did you know two of our previous regional winners went on to snag the international crown? Telkom’s Next Gen Cosplay Showdown has a prize of R17,500 up for grabs, with judges Randall Abrahams, Jax Cosplay, and the artist behind the Next Gen trio, Afro Tokyo, weighing up the contestants’ merits.

8. Shopping, Shopping, Shopping!

Get ready to treat yourself at Comic Con Africa. Discover a treasure trove of original artwork, comics, collectibles, figurines, and merchandise. Explore a wide range of official and fan-made merch, including apparel, toys, accessories, and more. Hunt for rare and limited-edition collectibles that will be the envy of your friends, bump up your Funko Pop display case, pack your pencil bag with Pentel and Pilot pens, or get your own personalized items made on the spot by talented artisans. Comic Con Africa’s own merch will also be on sale. 2025 sees the launch of the CONllector Guide: take the time to plan your shopping with this guide packed with info on all of the MANY exclusive show specials and deals from retailers on the show floor. The first 2,000 fans through the door each day will get their own printed copy as a special show memento.

9. Tabletop Gaming

Step away from the screen as you immerse yourself in the realm of strategy and fantasy. Campaigns and lessons for any level of player[CM1]  are brought to the con by Unplugyourself, including traditional titles like Dungeons & Dragons, Pokémon TCG (trading card game), Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, and Star Wars Unlimited, to activations like Catan badge trading. Players can enter paid-for tournaments spanning several hours, or chat with the games masters on hand to teach both newbies and seasoned players tips and tricks for upping their games. Fans are reminded to snag their tickets for entry to the Tabletop Gaming area in advance as they are selling out fast.

10. Chapter One of the Book Nook

Bookworms rejoice: welcome to the all-new Book Nook, a brand-new zone at Comic Con Africa curated especially for book lovers and aspiring writers. This vibrant space offers a variety of engaging activities, including the Indie Author Circle, where you can meet and discover new stories from local authors. Dress up as your favourite literary characters with Hollywood Costumes and the Magicon photobooth and face painting. Daily Fan Meet-Ups and themed quizzes are a chance to hang out with fellow fans. Participate in a Daily Treasure Hunt for a chance to win cool prizes, and snap pics with your favourite characters in the Insta-worthy, themed zones. Enter the experiential activation based on the novel Katabasis with fast-paced puzzles for fans to solve. The Book Nook is your first chapter in discovering new stories and making literary-loving friends.

BONUS THING! Rocking Outdoor Experiences

Comic Con Africa isn’t just happening inside – this vibrant festival offers plenty to explore outdoors too. With three food truck villages, a vibey outdoor stage, and outdoor activations that include Weapons on Wheels, lawn games, a rage room, the School of Rock, and a WWII reenactment. Fans can take a break from the hustle and bustle indoors and enjoy the festive atmosphere and grab a bite to eat or a drink while they soak up the energy and enjoy the outdoor stage fun with family or friends both old and new.Whether you’re here to meet your heroes, game with friends, shop, or just get lost in your favourite fandom, this is the alchemy of Comic Con Africa: a truly one-of-a-kind festival that transmutes fans, friends, and families into unbreakable communities.