Europe hosts a variety of major entertainment expos and festivals annually. Gamers eagerly anticipate Gamescom in August, film enthusiasts mark their calendars for the Cannes Film Festival in May, and an increasing number of comic-focused events, such as Comicon Napoli, San Diego Comic Con Malaga, and MCM Comic Con, are gaining prominence. For Italian readers, Lucca Comics & Games is a highlight of the year, and the 2026 event is poised to be its grandest yet, celebrating six decades of existence.
Lucca Comics & Games recently held a press conference to unveil its plans and the schedule for the expo, set to run from October 28th to November 1st. Gamereactor was present and has the latest updates.
The main poster for this 60th-anniversary edition was revealed, created by veteran Italian comic artist Claudio Castellini. Described as a “meta-poster,” it features a single, highly detailed image rich with symbolism, references, and nods to the iconic protagonists from Lucca’s historical posters. Additionally, a unique alternative poster has been crafted by 10-year-old French talent Louise Stéphant, who is being hailed as a rising star in illustration and comics.
The event also announced its impressive roster of guests. Fans of video games and comics will find numerous compelling reasons to visit Lucca this fall, as evidenced by the comprehensive list of confirmed attendees.
Comic Talents at Lucca Comics & Games 2026:
- Go Nagai (creator of Grendizer)
- Tōru Fujisawa (creator of Great Teacher Onizuka)
- Jung Ji-hoon (creator of The Horizon)
- Chang Sheng (known for his science fiction and fantasy works featuring hyperrealistic heroines)
- Frank Miller (writer for Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Daredevil: Born Again, and other famous works)
- Jonathan Hickman (celebrated for his work on X-Men, Spider-Man, and Fantastic Four)
- Peach Momoko (recently known for writing and illustrating Ultimate X-Men)
- Paco Roca (Spanish writer known for *Wrinkles*)
- Gregory “Seth” Gallant (a seasoned and highly regarded North American comic writer)
- Samantha “Boum” Leriche-Gionet (Canadian author and illustrator known for The Jellyfish)
- Tillie Walden (an American artist who will also host a panel titled “Time Capsule,” exploring “the potential of the comic language”)
- Alessandro Barbero, Davide Savelli, and Iris Biasio (known for ‘Garibaldi’)
- Mario Moroni (known for *Achille & KiPI – I Disconnessi di M1RC*)
Video Game Talents at Lucca Comics & Games 2026:
- Yoshinori Kitase (producer of the Final Fantasy VII: Remake trilogy and director of the original Final Fantasy VII)
- Hideki Kamiya (creator of Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, Okami, and many more)
- Stephen Bliss (the artist behind the cover art for GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, GTA V, Red Dead Redemption, and L.A. Noire)
- Daniel Dociu (the artist behind the visual identity of Guild Wars)
- Noah Falstein (LucasArts veteran, notably known for The Secret of Monkey Island)
- Chris Darril (creator of Bye Sweet Carole and Remothered)
In addition to these headline guests, the event will cater to enthusiasts of collectible items, card games, and board games. Highlights include a Pop Mart featuring unique Pop figures, a Pokémon Play Lab celebrating 30 years of the pocket monsters, a panel on Magic: The Gathering with illustrators Rebecca Guay and Scott M. Fischer, and much more.
Lucca Comics & Games will also host concerts by Yōko Kanno, Finley, and I Cavalieri del Re.
The program for this 60th-anniversary edition is exceptionally rich. Tickets will be available for early buyers starting July 24th, with the official ticket sale opening on September 1st.