Comic Con Africa 2025 is here, taking over the Joburg Expo Centre, Nasrec from 28 to 31 August.
The weekend brings together international film and TV stars, anime and gaming from Japan, and high-energy tournaments in the Doritos Crunch Arena. And this year’s event is packed!
We’re talking celebrity line-ups with autograph sessions, a new collaboration with JETRO, and expanded gaming offerings with daily tournaments and giveaways.
Comic Con 2025: What to expect
So what exactly is waiting for you on the Con this weekend?
Celebs on the main stage
Comic Con Africa has pulled in some big names this year. Fans of fantasy, action, and cult TV can expect plenty of live panels and Q&As.
Misha Collins, best known as Castiel in Supernatural, will be on site from 29 to 30 August.
He’s also hosting a one-man show, It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, at Monte Casino on 30 August.
Jessie T. Usher, the speedster A-Train from The Boys, is appearing across three days, alongside Dan Fogler from Fantastic Beasts and Kung Fu Panda.
Julie Caitlin Brown, best known for her role in Babylon 5, will make an appearance on 31 August.
South African-born Nigerian actress Chioma Umeala, who plays Nojiko in Netflix’s One Piece, joins from 28 to 30 August.
Virtual panels will also bring in creators like Aaron Ehsaz (Avatar: The Last Airbender) and the team behind The Amazing World of Gumball.
Japan’s pop culture connection
Comic Con Africa continues its partnership with JETRO, focusing on anime and gaming as part of a growing business ecosystem.
The highlight this year is the “Made in Japan Collection” gaming station, where fans can try over 30 titles from 19 Japanese developers.
The popular Otaku Town has been rebranded to Poptaku Town, expanding its offering to cover anime, gaming, and wider pop culture.
Post-event, a seminar will link South African and Japanese businesses to explore licensing opportunities for anime, characters, and merchandise.
This partnership has already delivered 75 matchmaking meetings, with 32 success cases across licensing and imports, and it continues to build stronger trade connections between the regions.
Doritos Crunch Arena
Doritos is stepping things up with the new Crunch Arena, replacing the old Crunch Zone. It’s set up for tournaments, free-to-play titles, and a whole lot of flavour.
The Doritos TEKKEN 8 Tournament will also run twice a day, with a R10,000 prize pool up for grabs daily!
Meanwhile, casual gamers can jump into free-play titles like EAFC25, COD Modern Warfare III, Street Fighter, and Fortnite.
A Retro Arcade Zone adds joystick-slamming classics for a nostalgic kick.
PS5 consoles will be given away daily through live draws, and fans can track down QR codes around the floor to enter.
The Doritos Loaded Truck is back too! It will be serving up wild snack twists like Doritos cheesecake and pulled beef-loaded nachos.
