Etna Comics – International Festival of Comics, Games and Pop Culture
The major Sicilian festival for comics, gaming, and pop culture at Le Ciminiere
About Etna Comics
Etna Comics, the pop capital of the Mediterranean
For four days, Catania becomes the beating heart of pop culture in Southern Italy. Etna Comics is the international festival of comics, games, and pop culture that has been animating the Le Ciminiere exhibition center since 2011—a striking venue housed in a former sulfur refinery overlooking the sea in the heart of Catania, Sicily. What began as a niche event is now one of the largest in Italy, capable of drawing over 100,000 visitors and standing alongside the country's most prominent industry events.
Many areas, one great festival
The festival is organized into thematic areas covering every facet of pop culture:
- Comics: the area dedicated to Italian and international comics, featuring artists, writers, and publishers.
- Artist Alley: illustrators and comic artists at work, offering sketches, commissions, and public meet-and-greets.
- Asian Wave: manga, anime, Asian street food, and Japanese pop performances.
- Games and Videogames: tournaments, retrogaming, esports, and demo stations.
- Cosplay: parades, contests, and thousands of costumed enthusiasts.
- Potter Alley and Altrimondi Area: immersive experiences dedicated to Harry Potter, medieval settings, and fantasy worlds.
- Movie and Fantasy Literature: cinema, TV series, and genre fiction.
An exceptional lineup of guests
What makes Etna Comics a nationally renowned event is the quality of its guests: manga legends, Italian and American comic artists, actors from major film sagas, musicians, influencers, and web stars. Each edition offers autograph sessions, panels, meet-and-greets, and exclusive encounters that delight fans arriving from all over Sicily and the mainland.
Beyond comics: shows, exhibitions, and charity
Alongside the exhibition halls, the festival extends to the Palazzo della Cultura in Catania with free thematic exhibitions, while the main stage hosts concerts, cosplay competitions, and evening shows. A long-standing tradition is the final charity auction, featuring works donated by artists to support social causes. Today, Etna Comics is an unmissable event for fans of comics and entertainment, serving as a key economic and cultural driver for the metropolitan city of Catania and all of Sicily.
Etna Comics — edition 2026
The fourteenth edition of Etna Comics confirmed the event as one of Italy's largest pop festivals. Officially presented at the Palazzo della Cultura by founder and director Antonio Mannino, the 2026 edition chose the motto #showmustgoon, dedicating the official poster to the memory of Pippo Baudo, who was also celebrated with a special variant cover of Topolino no. 3679.
Among the novelties were the Urban Games Area featuring a fingerboard park, the collective exhibition TabooCom dedicated to female artists, and the Harry Potter-themed Potter Alley. The event was supported by the patronage of the Metropolitan City and the Municipality of Catania, with Rai and Rai News 24 as media partners.
Programme Etna Comics 2026
Thematic areas
- Comics and Artist Alley: meetings with comic artists and writers, autograph sessions, and live drawing
- Asian Wave: manga, anime, street food, and Japanese performances (Piazza Giovanni XXIII)
- Games and Urban Games (2026 novelty): tournaments, fingerboard park, and gaming stations
- Potter Alley and Altrimondi Area: immersive experiences themed around Harry Potter, fantasy, and post-apocalyptic settings
- Cosplay: parades and cosplay contest on the main stage
- TabooCom: collective exhibition of female artists focusing on the female body beyond stereotypes
Main guests
- Comics and manga: Yōichi Takahashi (creator of Captain Tsubasa, present May 30-31), Leo Ortolani (Rat-Man), Giorgio Carpinteri, John McCrea (Hitman), Ariel Olivetti, Esad Ribić, and Disney artists Celoni, Mottura, Frare, Bigarella, and Casty
- Cinema and TV: Matthew Modine, Ricky Memphis, Ilenia Pastorelli, Diana Del Bufalo, Matteo Oscar Giuggioli, Guia Jelo, and Lee Ingleby (Potter Alley)
- Music: Caparezza (May 31 on stage), Heather Parisi, Morgan, Rob (winner of X Factor 2025)
- Science and popularization: Gabriella Greison
Free exhibitions (until June 14)
- "Sicily and Italy in cinema through the brush" — Palazzo della Cultura
- "Videogames, what a story! Pixel emotions from the dawn to the 2000s" — Palazzo della Cultura (hours 10 AM - 7 PM)
Hours
- Exhibition area: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Stage area: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Highlights Etna Comics 2026
Prices Etna Comics 2026
Practical information — Etna Comics
Location
Le Ciminiere exhibition center, Viale Africa, Catania (CT). The festival also extends to Piazza Giovanni XXIII (Asian Wave), Piazzale Rocco Chinnici, and the Palazzo della Cultura, connected by a free shuttle service.
Getting there
Le Ciminiere is located just a short walk from the Catania central train station and the "Galatea" metro stop. By car, take the Catania Centro exit from the ring road; on peak days (Saturday and Sunday), public transport is recommended to avoid traffic and parking difficulties.
Tickets
Full-price daily ticket €15, reduced for children aged 6-11 €10, free for children under 6 and people with disabilities (reduced price for companions). 4-day pass €50. For groups of 25 or more: [email protected] or +39 376 152 1015. Online advance purchase is recommended to avoid queues.
Opening hours
Exhibition area from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM; stage area from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
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Where does it take place — Etna Comics
Centro Fieristico Le Ciminiere
Viale Africa, 95121 Catania