JAKARTA, October 3, 2026 — The tenth edition of Indonesia Comic Con (ICC) opened Saturday at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, bringing together fans, creators, artists, brands, industry players, and international partners in what has become one of Indonesia’s biggest pop culture gatherings.

But this year, there was more at stake than costumes, comics, collectibles, and celebrity appearances.

With the event officially opened by Deputy Minister of Creative Economy and Head of the Indonesian Creative Economy Agency Irene Umar, the opening stage brought together representatives from the Indonesian government, the Jakarta provincial administration, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, and Japan’s World Cosplay Summit.

The lineup offered a glimpse of how far Indonesia Comic Con has evolved since its early community roots. What was once primarily a gathering for pop culture enthusiasts is increasingly becoming a meeting point for the creative economy—where creators can connect with audiences, businesses can explore intellectual property opportunities, and Indonesian talent can build international connections.“Today, the doors to Indonesia Comic Con open once again, and we are grateful to have reached this point together with so many people who believe in the event,” said Andita Tirtawisata, Director of Panorama Media. “Seeing the government, international partners, associations, communities, and creators standing on the same stage gives us great hope that Indonesian works can be seen by the world.”

For Panorama Media, which organizes ICC, the ambition now goes beyond creating an annual event.

“We want Indonesia Comic Con to be more than an annual event people look forward to. We want it to become a gateway for the world to see what Indonesian creators are capable of producing,” Andita added.

From Jakarta to Hong Kong and Nagoya

The international dimension of this year’s convention was evident from the opening morning.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta brought Hong Kong comic artists to the ICC Creator Area, creating opportunities for interaction between creators and readers from both markets.

“Hong Kong and Indonesia both have strong comic traditions,” said Libera Cheng Ching-Mon, General Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta. “We are pleased to bring Hong Kong comic artists to Indonesia Comic Con and hope their participation will create more opportunities for creative exchange between creators, publishers, and readers in both places.”

Japan also had a significant presence through Tokumaru Oguri, Founder of the World Cosplay Summit.

This year’s Indonesia Cosplay Grand Prix serves as the Indonesian national selection for the World Cosplay Summit, giving the eventual winner a chance to represent Indonesia on the international stage in Nagoya.

“Cosplay began as a way for fans to express their love for a work, and today it has become a language understood across borders,” Oguri said. “The quality of Indonesian cosplayers continues to improve year after year, and we are happy to see an official pathway to Nagoya beginning on a stage like this.”

The connection is significant for Indonesia’s growing cosplay community, transforming what was once largely a fan-driven activity into a platform with an international competitive pathway.

Jakarta Wants More Than a Weekend Crowd

For Jakarta, ICC is also part of a broader effort to strengthen the city’s position within the regional creative economy.

Andhika Permata, Head of the Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Agency, said events of this scale generate impact well beyond the convention hall—from hotels and transportation to small businesses operating around the venue.

“Jakarta wants to be known not only as a business city, but also as a city where creative ideas come together,” Andhika said.

One of the clearest examples is Jakarta Futura Connectiva (JFC), a program under the Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Agency that occupies a dedicated area inside the ICC venue.

Unlike the public-facing exhibition floor, JFC is designed as a business-to-business forum, connecting creative industry players with businesses from other sectors. Its focus includes potential partnerships, licensing opportunities, and intellectual property development.

The idea is to ensure that conversations sparked during the weekend can continue long after the convention closes.

Through JFC, Jakarta is positioning itself not simply as the host city for a major pop culture event, but as a bridge between creators and the market.

Pop Culture as an Economic Engine

The message was reinforced by Irene Umar during the official opening.

“Pop culture is one of the most effective entry points for introducing Indonesian works both domestically and internationally,” Irene said.

“What we see here is not simply a busy weekend, but an ecosystem at work. There are creators, associations, publishers, brands, and markets. Our task is to make sure this ecosystem has the space to continue growing.”

That ecosystem is visible across the exhibition floor.

International cosplayers HaneAme and Lily Universe headline the cosplay area, while two major competitions run throughout the weekend: the RAYA Championship of Cosplay, an original ICC competition, and the Indonesia Cosplay Grand Prix, whose winner will advance toward the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya.

Nearby, Artist Alley brings together comic artists, illustrators, and independent creators who sell their work directly to readers. Indonesian creators share the space with artists from Hong Kong and Malaysia, turning the area into a lively marketplace for ideas as well as artwork.

The creator program itself is developed with AKSI (Asosiasi Komik Indonesia), which represents Indonesian comic creators and industry players, alongside WCS Indonesia, which manages Indonesia’s official pathway to the World Cosplay Summit.

Beyond comics and cosplay, visitors can explore toy auctions, movie panels, gaming competitions, creator workshops, stamp rallies, and live performances throughout the weekend.

Where Gaming Meets Community

Gaming is another major draw.

The gaming zone has become one of the busiest areas of the convention, featuring gaming competitions and a Tokopedia activation. ICC 2026 also presents GameHers in collaboration with UniPin, creating a dedicated space to recognize and support women gamers within Indonesia’s esports ecosystem.

The experience extends beyond digital gaming. Board game tables invite visitors to sit down and play together, ranging from popular international titles to games developed by local creators.

It is another reflection of ICC’s increasingly broad definition of pop culture: not just something to watch, but something people create, play, collect, share, and potentially turn into a career or business.

A Decade Later, a Bigger Ambition

Indonesia Comic Con 2026 is supported by Tokopedia as Official Gaming Top Up Platform, BTN as Official Bank Partner, Pacific Licensing, Mattel, and FujiFilm as Brand Partners, and Anteraja as Official Logistic Partner.

The convention continues through Sunday, October 4, at Hall Expo & Arena, JIExpo Kemayoran.

The second day brings one of the weekend’s biggest attractions, with Japanese actor Mackenyu scheduled to appear as the main guest on the main stage.

But perhaps the more interesting story unfolding across the halls is larger than any single celebrity appearance.

Ten years after its debut, Indonesia Comic Con is increasingly becoming a space where fandom meets commerce, where local creators meet international partners, and where pop culture becomes part of a broader conversation about Indonesia’s creative economy.

For one weekend in Jakarta, comics, cosplay, gaming, film, art, brands, and business are sharing the same floor.

And increasingly, they are speaking the same language.