2026-09-01 02:31
BY Khalel Vallo
The 22ndMacau Comic Festival (MCF22) was held over the weekend at the Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre in Sai Van, bringing together nearly 100 anime and fan organisations from Macau, Hong Kong, and the Chinese mainland for two days of exhibitions, performances and creative exchange.
Organised by the local Maple Studio and supported by the Cultural Development Fund (FDC), MCF22 is one of Macau’s representative doujin* events and aims to support creative work while serving as a platform for exchange among the local anime and creative industries, according to a recent statement by the organisers.
This year’s exhibition covered 1,853 square metres and featured nearly 100 participating organisations. Activities included a doujinshi market, cosplay**, band and dance performances.
Japanese anime singer Chihiro Yonekura was among the overseas guests. Known for songs including “Shining in the Storm”, the opening theme of Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team, and “WILL”, the opening theme of Soul Hunter, she performed at the festival.
Hong Kong comic artist, illustrator, character designer and animation creator Fung Chin-pang (馮展鵬), known professionally as FCP, also took part in the event. Known for his understanding of human anatomy, cinematic storyboarding and dynamic action sequences, FCP has worked on titles such as Running 5ive(跑攻籃球), and illustrated the personal computer (PC) game “Soul Origin” by Valhalla Entertainment.
Attendees share their MCF22 highlights
Seventeen-year-old high school student Evan said he attended this year’s festival to cosplay and spend time with friends, describing the atmosphere of the Macau Comic Festival as more “homey” than other conventions because of the city’s close-knit community. He also said that events such as MCF could help Macau’s cosplay culture grow by bringing greater exposure to lesser-known cosplayers, while also creating more opportunities for interaction within the established community.
Evan also noted a growing variety of Western-related merchandise at MCF, including works from Marvel, DC, Call of Duty and Devil May Cry, which he welcomed as part of the festival’s changing culture. “I just love cosplaying in general,” he said.
Dilan, 28, who is a full-time worker and has attended the festival annually, said that the spacious layout was one of this year’s highlights. He said that the atmosphere remained similar to previous editions but found the stalls less cramped, making it easier for visitors to move around.
Dilan said he believes the festival provides valuable exposure for people interested in cosplay who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate. His favourite part of the event was interacting with fellow cosplayers, photographers and visitors, while he hopes future editions can reach the scale of conventions such as the Hong Kong Comic Con, with larger venues, more showcases and appearances by notable actors and influencers.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old local exhibitor Liana, who was attending her third local convention with her friends, said their booth featured original artwork and handmade merchandise inspired by Resident Evil and Pokémon, including crocheted items, key rings, posters, and acrylic standees.
Liana said that the group deliberately developed a different concept this year after selling older anime merchandise at the previous edition. While Resident Evil and Pokémon attracted more attention, she felt Western-orientated works remain relatively limited at Macau conventions, where Japanese anime continues to dominate the merchandise on offer.
*A doujin event is a gathering where independent creators and fans sell and trade creative works, including self-published ones. These gatherings are known in Japanese as “sokubaikai” (“instant sale events”). Unlike mainstream comic conventions that focus on corporate merchandise, panels, or celebrity guests, doujin events function primarily as massive artist alleys. – Gemini
**Cosplay is a portmanteau of the words “costume” and “role-play”. It is a performance art and hobby where participants, called cosplayers, wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character from a work of fiction. – DeepSeek
Cosplayers pose during the 22ndMacau Comic Festival (MCF22) at the Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre in Sai Van on Sunday.
Festivalgoers engage with vendors during the festival in Sai Van yesterday. – Photos: Khalel Vallo
0 COMMENTS
LATEST NEWS
Govt to start Senior Sports Games Sept 13Pre-packed rice noodles from Taiwan contain formaldehyde: IAMBetter Associations After the ReformHotel guests dip 1.4 pct to 8.3 million in Jan-July
