Pune, Mar 24: Pune Comic Con, presented by Maruti Suzuki Arena and powered by Crunchyroll, concluded its latest edition at Mayfield Yash Garden, drawing over 25,000 fans across two days of immersive pop culture experiences. The weekend brought together Pune’s deeply rooted creative spirit and its evolving fandom communities, reflecting the city’s identity as the cultural capital of Maharashtra, where tradition and contemporary expression meet effortlessly.
From the moment gates opened, students, artists, young professionals, and families filled the venue, moving between artist alleys, comic showcases, collectibles, and interactive zones. In a city known for its historic wada architecture, thriving theatre circuits, literary legacy, and bustling college culture across areas like FC Road, JM Road, and Koregaon Park, Comic Con found a natural home among audiences who are as passionate about storytelling as they are about self-expression.
The creators’ stage remained a focal point throughout the weekend, with sessions featuring voices from across India and beyond. Fans engaged with creators like Josh Blaylock, alongside Indian artists including Savio Mascarenhas, Abhijeet Kini, Saumin Suresh Patel, Vibha Rao, and Alaina Vinayak, who shared insights into comic creation, visual storytelling, and the growing intersection of global and Indian narratives. Sessions such as The Webtoon Creator’s Guide with Satan Navi and Creators Across Borders reflected Pune’s openness to diverse creative influences, while community-led moments like the Pune Anime Community spotlight highlighted the city’s strong grassroots fandom culture.
Programming across both days blended art, humour, and performance, keeping the energy high across the venue. From interactive sessions like Doodle Mayhem: Ubharta Kalakar, celebrating emerging local talent, to Kvizzing with KV, which brought together trivia lovers in a lively pop culture face-off, the stage consistently drew enthusiastic crowds. The Comic Con Comedy Showcase featured performers like Vivek Desai, Siddhartha Shetty, and Fatima Ayesha, whose relatable humour struck a chord with Pune’s young and expressive audiences.
Music added another layer to the experience, with Comic Con Jukebox and Street Pulse performances featuring artists such as Gamak, Geek Fruit, and 99side, blending indie, hip-hop, and experimental sounds. Voctronica’s all-vocal orchestra performance stood out as a unique highlight, echoing Pune’s long-standing appreciation for both classical and contemporary musical forms.
Cosplay once again emerged as one of the defining highlights of Pune Comic Con. Across both days, hundreds of cosplayers transformed into fan-favourite characters from anime, comics, films, and games, including Dr. Octopus from Spiderman, The Flash from DC Comics superhero, Gojo from Jujutsu Kaisen, Jinu Kpop Demon Hunters, Riyo Reaper from Gachiakuta. The Pune Comic Con Cosplay Contest saw participants compete for a daily cash prize of ₹30,000, with audiences gathering in large numbers to witness the craftsmanship and performances on stage.
The Indian Championship of Cosplay 2026 – Pune Qualifier, presented by Maruti Suzuki Arena, concluded on Sunday, with Jessica Das, cosplaying as Maleficent, winning ₹50,000 along with a qualifying spot at the ICC Finals 2026. The competition reflected Pune’s growing cosplay community, where attention to detail and performance continue to evolve with each edition.
Beyond meeting comic artists and creators, the event delivered a fully immersive entertainment experience across the show floor. Fans explored live gameplay, competitive challenges, and interactive showcases, including special installations by Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures, a dedicated Nykaa corner, racing simulator experiences by Logitech, and a Just Dance booth. The NODWIN Gaming Zone featured virtual and simulator gaming setups, while the Maruti Suzuki Arena Fan Experience Zone hosted reflex-based challenges and interactive activities. At the Crunchyroll Zone, anime fans stepped into themed experiences inspired by SPY x Family, alongside a special Suzume door installation. Gaming enthusiasts also witnessed a high-energy fan moment as Royal Challenge Packaged Drinking Water hosted leading Indian gaming creator Sc0ut (Tanmay Singh) for an exclusive meet-and-greet, alongside its Challenger Gaming Zone offering a VR cricket experience. Interactive sessions with partners like Amar Chitra Katha, Alpha Comics, and Radio Mirchi added layers of storytelling rooted in both Indian and global pop culture traditions.
Shefali Johnson, CEO, Comic Con India, said, “Pune has a cultural rhythm that is very distinct. It’s a city where you grow up around literature, theatre, music, and ideas, whether its conversations in old bookstores, performances across its theatre circuits, or the energy that comes from its many colleges. Over this weekend, we saw that same spirit come alive at Comic Con. Fans showed up with a lot of intent, from carefully crafted cosplay to spending time with artists and creators, really engaging with the work. There’s also something very ‘Punekar’ about the way people experience culture here, it’s thoughtful, curious, and deeply involved. Seeing that blend of legacy and contemporary pop culture play out across the venue made this edition feel very true to Pune’s identity as the cultural capital of Maharashtra.”
Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming, said, “For us at NODWIN, Pune represents one of the most important intersections of youth culture in the country. With its student population, growing creator ecosystem, and a strong base of gamers, anime, music and pop–culture fans, it’s a city that naturally leans into our offerings. Over the past two weekends, it was incredible to see how deeply fans engaged with two of our IPs, ICONiQ White NH7 Weekender and Pune Comic Con. There’s a certain sincerity in how Pune embraces culture, where people come together to participate and express themselves. That makes it a very exciting city for us as we continue to build and grow these experiences.”
Over two days, Pune Comic Con brought together fans from across the city and beyond, celebrating a shared love for storytelling, creativity, and community. The event reflected how seamlessly global pop culture continues to blend with Pune’s strong cultural roots, creating a space that feels both contemporary and deeply local.
As the curtains close on this edition, Pune Comic Con further cements its place within the city’s cultural calendar, setting the stage for even larger celebrations in the years to come.
