Comic Con Africa 2025 in Johannesburg kicked to August due to other Nasrec event and renovations

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African organisers of this year's 2025 Comic Con in Johannesburg have been forced to move it from September to August due to the conference centre no longer being available and to "protect the interest of its fans and the event".

Comic Con Africa 2025 will no longer take place in September in Johannesburg but has now been pushed a month earlier with cosplayers who will don their finest from 28 to 31 August at the Johannesburg Expo Centre at Nasrec.

Comic Con Cape Town will still go ahead as planned from 1 to 4 May in the Mother City's Cape Town Convention Centre (CTICC).

The organisers now say the date and month change for the Johannesburg event is because of another event taking place at the venue in September. They are however unwilling to say what Red Hulk exactly kicked Com Comic Africa from September to August. 

South Africa is set to host the G20 summit in November and this specific convention centre happens to currently be busy with extensive renovations for whatever event is hiring the space during September and got Comic Con Africa 2025 kicked forward.

"This change is unavoidable due to a major international event taking place at the Johannesburg Expo Centre which will be announced in the media shortly," says Mogul Media who organises the South African Comic Cons. 

Carla Massmann, show director, says "Comic Con Africa's fans often plan months ahead of time to attend the con, and travel from all around South Africa to get there. Comic Con's incredible fans are the reason behind everything we do".

"We offer our sincerest apologies to them should this date change be an inconvenience.

"Our incredible fans have been the backbone of the festival since 2018. Whilst we are disappointed that we must change the dates of our 2025 festival, the Johannesburg Expo Centre is the perfect home for Comic Con Africa and so changing the venue was not an option."

"A festival of Comic Con Africa's complexity requires a large venue with multi-usage spaces that can accommodate all of the many aspects of the festival."

"And of course, when you have over 70 000 people in attendance, the size of the venue is of key importance. The Johannesburg Expo Centre has the capacity and the space we need to accommodate our high volume of fans."

"We are excited to see the results of the renovations, and we believe the upgrades will positively contribute to our fans’ experiences at Comic Con Africa in future editions.”

Comic Con Africa 2025 will still showcase and include gaming and eSports tournaments, cosplay, tabletop gaming, fandom merch, anime and manga, comics, trading card games, as well as film and series personalities, panel and Q&A sessions, screenings and interactive experiences.

Comic Con Africa 2026 is envisioned to again take place during September next year.

Reed Exhibitions Africa sets September 2022 as the return date for Comic Con Africa 2022 that will return for a 4-day event to the new venue of the Johannesburg Expo Centre.

by Thinus Ferreira

Comic Con Africa plans to return in September 2022 and to a new venue - the Johannesburg Expo Centre - with its next 4-day live event in Johannesburg that will be its first since the global Covid-19 coronavirus derailed plans for a third edition in South Africa last year.

Reed Exhibitions Africa organised and held the first Comic Con Africa in 2018, followed by a second edition in 2019 after a third planned live event in 2020 had to be scuppered because of Covid.

"Waiting until 22 to 25 September 2022 is the safest option especially with the current third wave," says Reed Exhibitions.

"Returning in September 2022, also makes it possible for Comic Con Africa to come back in the expected full force – with bigger numbers, more activations and international talent," says Carla Massmann, Comic Con Africa show director.

Comic Con Africa 2022 is also moving to the Johannesburg Expo Centre that can accommodate 80 000 visitors with the showcase that will again have a food truck village and a beer garden.

"We have many new editions like StreetCon, TechCon and many more areas that Comic Con Africa are excited to be introducing in 2022, and the Johannesburg Expo Centre allows for us to safely introduce these new and exciting editions," says Carla Massmann.

"The Expo Centre is easy to access via all highways and is a mere 20 minutes from central points like Fourways, opening the show up to so many more visitors. It also offers ample parking and easy access points, making arrival at the show more efficient and streamlined."

"We miss the fans and we look forward to welcoming them back in September 2022 to a safe environment."

ALSO READ: Coronavirus: 'Devastating' as Comic-Con Africa 2020 is cancelled over Covid-19, Reed Exhibitions Africa putting together a virtual online 4-day meet-up.