Fantasy Day
Three days of fantasy, comics, gaming, and cosplay in the park of Villa Bruno, just outside Naples
About Fantasy Day
Fantasy comes to a Vesuvian villa
For three days in early June, the park and halls of Villa Bruno, in the heart of San Giorgio a Cremano, in the province of Naples and the Campania region, undergo a complete transformation: the tree-lined avenues of this 18th-century villa are filled with exhibitor stands, role-playing game tables, artist stations, and groups of cosplayers in costume. This is Fantasy Day, the fantasy festival organized by the Altanur Cultural Association.
The choice of venue is significant. Villa Bruno is part of the heritage of the Vesuvian villas of the Golden Mile and now serves as a cultural hub for the municipality. The contrast between the historic architecture and the fantasy imagery has become one of the event's most recognizable features, standing in stark contrast to the typical exhibition halls that the industry usually relies on.
A history spanning nearly twenty years
Fantasy Day was founded in 2007 and has been held almost continuously in San Giorgio a Cremano, a Vesuvian town also famous for being the birthplace of Massimo Troisi. Over the years, the event has grown into a key reference point for fantasy in Southern Italy, attracting visitors from across Campania and neighboring regions.
The Altanur Association, an interdisciplinary cultural organization based in Naples, has built a project that goes beyond a simple trade fair: the stated goal is to promote the culture of comics and fantasy through creativity, gaming, and community, while providing a platform for independent publishers and emerging local authors.
Themed areas
The visitor route is organized into themed zones distributed throughout the park and the villa's buildings. Recent editions have featured:
- Cosplay Area, with parades, contests, themed gatherings, and an «SOS Cosplay» service for last-minute repairs;
- K-pop Area, dedicated to dance covers and dance competitions;
- Drawing and Live Painting Area, with comic artists and illustrators working in front of the public;
- Video Game Area with free-play stations;
- Gaming and LARP Area, featuring board games, live-action role-playing, and local gaming associations;
- Asian Area, dedicated to manga, anime, and Eastern culture;
- Kids Area, designed for children and families;
- Meeting Area, with talks, book presentations, and themed panels;
- Authors and Publishers Area, featuring small and medium-sized publishers, artist alleys, and fantasy artisans.
Guests, cinema, and competitions
Fantasy Day is also an event for networking. Over the years, San Giorgio a Cremano has hosted designers, voice actors, animators, and pop-culture experts, including Japanese animator Yoshiko Watanabe, comic artist Andrea Dentuto (a Lupin III specialist who has designed several event posters), and illustrator Pasquale Qualano, who has worked for Marvel and DC Comics.
Since 2023, the film section has gained its own identity as the Fantasy Day Film Festival, created by director Salvatore De Chiara and dedicated to short and feature films in fantasy subgenres: science fiction, horror, supernatural, and dreamlike cinema. Competition entries are selected via an annual call for submissions and screened during the three days.
Rounding out the program are the competitions, the true highlights of the event: the cosplay contest, judged by costume makers and industry content creators, and the K-pop contest, both featuring prizes and a qualified jury.
A popular and family-friendly event
Compared to large industry trade shows, Fantasy Day maintains a human scale and affordable prices, with tickets accessible to families and long opening hours that cover the entire day. It is the kind of event where you can spend the morning browsing stands, the afternoon at a role-playing game table, and the evening watching a screening or a contest.
For those visiting the Vesuvian area, it is also a great excuse to discover San Giorgio a Cremano and its villas: Fantasy Day takes place right in the center, just minutes from the Circumvesuviana train line and a few kilometers from Naples, the ruins of Pompeii/Herculaneum, and Mount Vesuvius.
Fantasy Day — edition 2026
Fantasy Day 2026
From June 5th to 7th, 2026, Fantasy Day returned to the grounds of Villa Bruno in San Giorgio a Cremano, near Naples, for three consecutive days with continuous hours from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The event, promoted by the Altanur Cultural Association, was reported by local press as the nineteenth edition of a journey that began in 2007.
The theme: «The Phoenix»
The guiding thread of the edition was «The Phoenix», expressed in all its nuances: rebirth, creativity, sharing, and play. A theme that permeated the park's layout, the content of the meetings, and the offerings of the individual themed areas.
Areas and competitions
The visitor route maintained the zone-based structure that characterizes the event: Cosplay Area, K-pop Area, Drawing Area, Video Game Area, LARP Area, Gaming Area, Meeting Area, Asian Area, Live Painting Area, Kids Area, and the space dedicated to authors and publishers, with a particularly extensive gaming section.
There were two main competitions: the cosplay contest, with a jury composed of Jenny Desu, ICHIGO Cosplay, and RED LILY, and the K-pop contest managed by the KC Group, both with prizes to be won.
Guests and CrossOver Partenopei
Announced guests included voice actor Flavio Aquilone, pop culture host and expert Beatrice Lorenzi, fantasy storyteller Lo Scribacchino, creators Ludo Thorn and Inazuma-sensei, and violinist Carla Grimaldi. In the comic book area, artists such as Pasquale Qualano, Gerardo Gambone, and Andrea Dentuto were present.
The novelty this year was the CrossOver Partenopei initiative, born from a collaboration with the Naples Crime Festival and the Romance Book Party: a path started online in April 2026, featuring interviews with national authors, which created a dialogue between fantasy, crime, and romance genres. Among the guests linked to this project were the Archer Sisters, authors of the «The Hidden Society» series.
Programme Fantasy Day 2026
Dates and times
- Friday 5th, Saturday 6th, and Sunday 7th June 2026, from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
- Ticket office and entrances closed at 8:00 PM (Sunday at 5:00 PM).
- Venue: Villa Bruno, via Cavalli di Bronzo 22, San Giorgio a Cremano (NA).
Edition theme
«The Phoenix»: rebirth, creativity, brotherhood, sharing, and play as keys to interpreting the entire event.
Themed areas
- Cosplay Area — parades, contests, themed gatherings, and SOS Cosplay service
- K-pop Area — dance covers and contest managed by the KC Group
- Drawing Area and Live Painting Area
- Video Game Area
- LARP Area and Gaming Area — board games and role-playing games, including Daggerheart sessions
- Asian Area — manga, anime, and Eastern culture
- Kids Area — activities for children
- Meeting Area — talks, panels, and presentations
- Authors and Publishers Area — small publishing, artist alley, and workshops with professional illustrators
Competitions
- Cosplay Contest — jury composed of Jenny Desu (content creator), ICHIGO Cosplay (styling), and RED LILY (costume maker).
- K-pop Contest — qualified jury and prizes for participating groups.
Announced guests
- Flavio Aquilone — voice actor
- Beatrice Lorenzi — pop culture host and expert, linked to the romantasy genre
- Lo Scribacchino — fantasy author and storyteller
- Ludo Thorn and Inazuma-sensei — content creators
- Carla Grimaldi — violinist
- Pasquale Qualano — illustrator (Marvel, DC Comics)
- Gerardo Gambone — illustrator (Gargoyles)
- Andrea Dentuto — comic artist, Lupin III specialist
- Archer Sisters — authors of «The Hidden Society» series, as part of CrossOver Partenopei
CrossOver Partenopei
Project shared with the Naples Crime Festival and Romance Book Party, started online in April 2026 with a series of interviews with national authors and continued live during the three days of the event.
Highlights Fantasy Day 2026
- Three days at Villa Bruno, June 5th-7th, 2026, 10:00 AM-10:00 PM.
- Edition theme: «The Phoenix».
- Cosplay contest with jury Jenny Desu, ICHIGO Cosplay, and RED LILY.
- K-pop Contest managed by the KC Group.
- Special guest: voice actor Flavio Aquilone.
- Eleven themed areas including cosplay, K-pop, drawing, video games, LARP, gaming, Asian area, and kids area.
- CrossOver Partenopei initiative with the Naples Crime Festival and Romance Book Party.
- Daily ticket 8 euros, three-day pass 20 euros.
Prices Fantasy Day 2026
Practical information — Fantasy Day
How to get there
Villa Bruno is located at via Cavalli di Bronzo 22, in the center of San Giorgio a Cremano. By train, the most convenient connection is the Circumvesuviana (Naples-Sorrento / Naples-Poggiomarino line), with a stop at San Giorgio a Cremano, a short walk from the villa. By car, take the A3 Naples-Salerno motorway and exit at San Giorgio a Cremano; parking in the center is limited during the event, so public transport is recommended.
Hours and tickets
The event generally runs from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM over the three days, with early closure of the ticket office and entrances. Tickets can be purchased online on the platform indicated by the organizers or on-site; those who buy online have access to a priority lane. Three-day passes are available.
Tips
- The villa is largely outdoors: on sunny days, it is advisable to bring water and a hat.
- Parades and contests are concentrated in the afternoon, while guest meetings are spread throughout the day.
- The detailed program, guest list, and competition rules are published on the official website and social media channels in the weeks leading up to the event.
- San Giorgio a Cremano is perfect for a wider day trip: the ruins of Herculaneum and other Vesuvian villas are just minutes away.
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Where does it take place — Fantasy Day
Villa Bruno
Via Cavalli di Bronzo 22, 80046 San Giorgio a Cremano