MessinaCon Day Zero
The MessinaCon preview: a day of comics, cosplay, and pop culture at Giardino Corallo
About MessinaCon Day Zero
The MessinaCon Day Zero
MessinaCon Day Zero is the opening event of the MessinaCon season, the historic comic and pop culture festival in Messina, Sicily. Originally conceived as a preview for the September event, Day Zero has grown into a standalone, well-attended day that brings together comic book fans, cosplayers, gamers, and curious visitors in the heart of the city.
The event is organized by the StrettoCrea association, the same team behind MessinaCon, and is held at the Giardino Corallo, a large green space and cultural hub of the Municipality of Messina that has allowed the event to expand and open up to the city.
What to expect at Day Zero
Day Zero is more than just a preview: it is a true celebration of pop culture. A typical day's program includes:
- the traditional cosplay competition, one of the most anticipated moments, judged by established cosplayers;
- meetings with guests from the world of voice acting and animation;
- stands dedicated to gadgets, action figures, comics, and industry publishing;
- areas dedicated to board games, role-playing games, and LARP;
- musical contests, ranging from K-pop to new sounds from the youth scene.
During Day Zero, the official MessinaCon poster is also unveiled, kicking off the countdown to the main edition held in September at Villa Dante.
An event that tells the story of the Strait
MessinaCon Day Zero represents an important piece of the cultural scene in Messina and the entire Strait area. StrettoCrea has built a true ecosystem around the event that connects artists, professionals, and the public, promoting comics and pop culture as languages capable of enlivening the city's public spaces. For this reason, Day Zero, while remaining the festival's preview, has become an event in its own right, a symbol of a young and creative Messina.
MessinaCon Day Zero — edition 2026
MessinaCon Day Zero 2026
The third edition of MessinaCon Day Zero took place on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at the Giardino Corallo in Messina, with doors opening at 10:30 AM and closing at 8:00 PM. The formula, according to the organizers, was a success: over a thousand attendees transformed Day Zero from a niche gathering into a full-fledged city cultural event.
Guests and contests
Special guest was voice actress Federica Valenti, the voice of Chopper in One Piece, Pan in Dragon Ball Z, and Dexter in Dexter's Laboratory. Alongside the traditional cosplay competition, judged by Bralix, Sonjicosplay, and Deb Cosplay among others, Nebula debuted, a musical contest dedicated to K-pop curated by the Solar Eclipse Crew. There was also space for the Messina Vinyl Fest, the Palermo School of Comics, Officina del Sole APS, and a LARP area managed by Role & Roll from Reggio Calabria.
The 2026 MessinaCon poster
During Day Zero, the official poster for the eleventh edition of MessinaCon, scheduled for September 4, 5, and 6 at Villa Dante, was unveiled: a tribute to the 25 years of One Piece signed by the Calabrian artist Umberto Giampà.
Programme MessinaCon Day Zero 2026
Time: Sunday, April 12, 2026, from 10:30 AM to 8:00 PM, Giardino Corallo (Messina).
- Meeting with voice actress Federica Valenti (Chopper in One Piece)
- Cosplay competition with judges Bralix, Sonjicosplay, and Deb Cosplay
- Nebula, K-pop musical contest curated by the Solar Eclipse Crew
- Messina Vinyl Fest, music and high fidelity
- Gadget, action figure, and comic stands; Palermo School of Comics and Officina del Sole APS
- LARP area by Role & Roll from Reggio Calabria and gaming activities
- Unveiling of the 2026 MessinaCon poster
Highlights MessinaCon Day Zero 2026
Prices MessinaCon Day Zero 2026
Practical information — MessinaCon Day Zero
Location
MessinaCon Day Zero takes place at the Giardino Corallo in Messina, centrally located and easily reachable on foot from the city's main streets.
How to get there
By train: Messina Centrale station is a short distance away. By car: the city is served by the A18 and A20 motorways; parking is available in the area. By plane: Catania Fontanarossa and Reggio Calabria airports are connected to Messina by bus and ferry.
Tickets
Admission is paid, with affordable tickets available online or at the box office on the day of the event. It is recommended to check updated prices and times on the official StrettoCrea channels.
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Where does it take place — MessinaCon Day Zero
Giardino Corallo
Viale della Libertà, 98121 Messina