Whether you’re looking for a different kind of family day out or a weekend of maximum geek immersion, Comic Con Africa has something for everyone. The con features a diverse daily programme packed with content from the fun to the educational for fans, families, and first timers.

Content: What Does it Mean?

What does content mean in the context of Comic Con Africa? It’s perhaps not what one would expect.

Think K Pop performances, comic creation workshops for kids, panel discussions about AI’s role in film and cinema, Q&As with celebs, artists in live Sketch Battles, an introduction to speaking Japanese, professionals sharing tips on how to finesse voice overs or break into the art world, discussions about protecting IP, Cosplay and esports tournaments, live dubbing competitions, writing workshops… and that’s only just scratching the surface of what’s on offer at Comic Con Africa.

With over 120 hours of carefully planned and curated content on the programme, every fan, family, and first time con-goer will find something to experience, learn, and enjoy.

Multiple Stages

Comic Con Africa has three content stages: the Main Stage and the Poptaku Stage in the Pop Culture hall, and the Artist Alley Stage in the dedicated Artist Alley hall. Additionally, there are gaming tournament stages in the Experience hall and KidsCon Zone where fans of all ages can watch esports tournaments and gaming challenges live.

Main Stage

The Main Stage is where fans can watch panels and participate in live Q&As with international film and series celebs, as well as watch the casual Cosplay competitions and the Cosplay Championships. This is where fans can join in daily themed quizzes with a chance to win great prizes. Each morning of the con, the Main Stage opens with a Fan Briefing, where con-goers can find out about highlights of the day and how to make the most of their Comic Con Africa experience. In 2025 the Main Stage’s lights will shine on Misha Collins, Jessie T. Usher, and Dan Fogler, among other local and international celebs, artists, comic creators, and Cosplayers.

Poptaku Stage

The Poptaku stage features tons of fun fan-driven content and loads of fascinating talks from industry specialists. Fan-driven content includes live dubbing of anime series, where fans can get behind the mic and show off their voice acting skills. Polished dance performances by K-Pop fan groups will have con-goers dancing and singing along, followed by lessons on using Lightsabers in battle.

Many con-goers are themselves in the pop culture space, working as educators or as professionals in creative industries. These professionals join in to generously share their knowledge about their specialisations. Educational content sparks debate about topical issues, and upskills fans who are looking to break into the myriad creative industries in southern Africa. Topics explore issues like AI in art, developing games, upping your improv skills, how to get started in Cosplay, interactive anime workshops, breaking into esports, how the digital world we live in is impacting education in schools, scriptwriting, and more.

Artist Alley Stage

This stage is for fans of comics and art. This is where local and international artists take part in live draws, breaking down exactly how they bring our favourite characters to life. Exciting Sketch Battles see two or more artists on stage drawing in friendly competition against one another. The Superhero Showdown is a quick-fire debate where Artist Alley creators pit their original characters against each other and passionately argue why their superhero trumps the others. This is also where artists engage in panel discussions and interactive Q&As so that fans can hear about the behind-the-scenes of the comic and art worlds.

Gaming Content

In the Experience Hall, fans should act quickly to grab their seats and watch tournaments such as the Telkom VS Gaming Masters final, the Doritos Crunch Cup, and Red Bull’s Gaming Grounds hosting an EAFC tournament. Esports athletes and gaming influencers speak at the con and meet fans, sharing insights into their worlds.

Content for Kids

Comic Con truly is for everyone, and kids and families will be able to participate in interactive Kids Art workshops that teach kids how to make their own manga and comics. RGB Gaming brings a dedicated gaming and free-to-play zone for the little ones in the KidsCon Zone, and kids can also learn about how to play trading card games with the Scarlet & Violet Academy. YouTuber Dr Squish will be sharing all of her fun slime content. They can also play the Spy Guy board game, participate in Freak Marbles racing, and meet some of their favourite kids’ characters.

Get Ready

Con-goers are advised to keep an eye on the Con programme found at https://comicconafrica.co.za/programme/. With additional content launched daily in the lead-up to the festival, there’s so much to do that fans are encouraged to plan their days in advance to make sure they don’t miss a moment in their very own happy place, Comic Con Africa.