Lucca Comics & Games

Lucca Comics & Games is the most famous and prestigious comic book festival in Italy. Every year, between the end of October and the beginning of November, the city of Lucca becomes the stage for an international fair dedicated to animation, video games, board games, role-playing games, and the fantasy and science fiction imagination. The event is known and appreciated worldwide, and it hosts thousands of enthusiasts, from casual visitors to passionate cosplayers ready to parade along the historic walls and participate in parties and competitions.

Among comic book fairs, Lucca Comics & Games is considered the most important in Europe and the second in the world after Tokyo’s Comiket.

How the event is organized

Where does the Lucca Comics festival take place? The comic book festival is divided into thematic areas, meaning pavilions that house a lot of stands related to the same category: Games, Junior, Music & Cosplay, Movie, Japan Palace. The stands are scattered around various points of the city, both inside and outside the historic center. Once they have purchased their tickets, visitors can choose how many and which ones to visit according to their preferences.

Cosplay fans, in addition to parading along the streets of the city center, will have the opportunity to participate in official competitions for the Italian selections of the Extreme Cosplay Gathering promoted by Japan Expo and the Lucca Cosplay Contest.

What draws the most fans, however, are the Italian and international guests who enrich the program each year, making the festival increasingly prestigious.

The 2025 edition: the most anticipated guests

Lucca Comics & Games 2025 will take place from Wednesday, October 29, to Sunday, November 2.

After the 2024 edition dedicated to Giacomo Puccini, the Europe’s largest comic convention is once again ready to surprise its visitors. The theme is French Kiss, a tribute to France and the bande dessinée – literally “drawn strip”, the French term for comics.

The heart of the event remains Lucca’s historic city center with its exhibition pavilions, joined as always by Japan Town at the Polo Fiere and other themed areas. This edition will once again host a wealth of artists, publishers, and creators from all over the world.

From the world of video games, some of the most anticipated guests include Hideo Kojima (Lucca will host the final stop of the Death Stranding World Strand Tour 2) and John Romero, the legendary creator of DOOM and Quake. Also attending are Keiichirō Toyama, creator of Silent Hill and Siren, and Italian game developer Luca Galante, known for Vampire Survivors, who will present a unique immersive experience at the Casa del Boia, above the historic city walls.

Japanese manga artist Tetsuo Hara, creator of Fist of the North Star, will also be one of the major figures of Lucca 2025. His monographic exhibition Like a Thunderbolt from the Sky, held at the Church of Santa Annunziata dei Servi, will feature over a hundred original works.

This year, music will also take center stage: Caparezza will present his Orbit Orbit project, and Max Pezzali will unveil his new comic book created in collaboration with Roberto Recchioni. Joining them are Elio e le Storie Tese, Omar Pedrini, and the Poncle Live Orchestra featuring Yoko Shimomura.

You can find the full list of guests for the 2025 edition on the official website.

Netflix at Lucca Comics & Games 2025

Once again, Netflix will be one of the biggest stars of the event.

Piazza San Michele will host a pavilion entirely dedicated to Stranger Things, celebrating the release of its long-awaited final season. On October 31, for the presentation of the new episodes, the city will welcome Finn Wolfhard (Mike), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Noah Schnapp (Will), and the series creators, Matt and Ross Duffer. A true celebration for a show that has defined an entire generation.

Also on the agenda: a fan screening of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and special previews during the event celebrating 10 years of Netflix in Italy, featuring appearances by YouTuber Yotobi and comedian Stefano Rapone.

The Must-See events of 2025

This year, the Movie Area celebrates its 15th anniversary with exclusive previews and talks, including special screenings of the new TV series IT: Welcome to Derry. The animation section will also feature Italian premiere screenings – such as Digimon Beatbreak – with the participation of producer Nobuharu Takada.

And there’s big news: the prestigious exhibitions will move from Palazzo Ducale to Palazzo Guinigi. They will open on October 18 and be free and open to the public until October 28. Access will remain free from October 29 to November 2, with priority entry for festival ticket holders.

Another unmissable addition is an immersive project that’s sure to stand out: LEGO Adventure! LEGO Italia will present a massive diorama of Lucca’s historic center built entirely with LEGO bricks. This installation will celebrate pop culture through themed zones dedicated to One Piece, Star Wars, Minecraft, and more – allowing visitors to take part in the building process themselves.

And finally, two of the most beloved events for cosplayers: 

• Lucca Cosplay Contest: on Sunday, November 2 at the Auditorium San Francesco, open to cosplayers of all levels with multiple categories and awards up for grabs.
• Extreme Cosplay Gathering (ECG): on Saturday, November 1 at the same venue, where the Italian selections will determine who goes on to compete in the grand finals at Japan Expo.

On the official website, you can view the full, constantly updated schedule, access the exhibitor map, and find all information on ticket prices, entry passes, and subscriptions.

Just remember that to fully enjoy the 2025 edition of Lucca Comics & Games, it’s ideal to stay in the historic center. Antica Bifore Guest House offers you the opportunity to fully experience the festival and move between events, pavilions, and stands. A cozy stay in a 12th-century historic building in the heart of Lucca, just steps away from all the major attractions of Italy’s biggest comic book fair.