Cosplay, K-Pop and a celebration of pop culture: what was the FANCON 2026 festival like?

Report from the first day of FANCON 2026. Photo: Yuri Gryaznov

Last weekend, June 6-7, the third festival of modern pop culture FANCON took place in Kyiv. Along with more than 40 thousand visitors, a correspondent for "TyKyiv" was there.

How the country's main pop culture event went, which star guests visited the festival this year, and what surprises the organizers had — read our report from the first day of FANCON 2026.

11:00

There are still two hours until the official opening, and the space of the IEC, which was expanded this year with an additional pavilion, is already steadily filling with people. At the same time, it is filled with a multitude of voices, colors and symbols (both well-known and quite niche): a significant part of the visitors are dressed in costumes of their favorite characters from games, anime, movies, comics, etc. Only a few of them - at least two hundred people - will take to the main stage today to present their images at the cosplay competition.

All the other hundreds of cosplayers came just to have fun without participating in the competition (unless as spectators). After all, FANCON is a great opportunity to transform into your favorite characters, show yourself and look at other like-minded people. And also - to join the activities offered at the festival and just enjoy the atmosphere. Because ahead of them are several hours (and for some - all two days) of shows, meetings, acquaintances and bright moments.

12:10

Among the dozens of thematic stands of various companies also present at the festival, there were five "Kinomania" photo zones with activities and raffles. In this way, the Ukrainian distributor of Disney and Warner Bros. films is teasing some of its big premieres this year.

Perhaps the most attention-grabbing photo corner of the blockbuster "Dune: Part Three", which will be released in December: in addition to a large stand with the main characters of the film, you can see "Arrakisian" sand and stones here. You can also get a poster for the film and win an invitation to a pre-premiere screening or tickets to any cinema in Ukraine.

For Valerian Perevoznyuk, marketing director of Kinomania, the completion of Denis Villeneuve's science fiction trilogy is the most anticipated new product of 2026. Although in reality, for him, every film is "like a child that you want to raise, take to school, and send off."

"It's gratifying that at this important time for Ukraine, such big events are taking place, where everyone can at least temporarily forget about the horrors of war. In addition to "Dune", we have photo zones here for the films "Supergirl", "Toy Story 5", "Moana" and "The Cat in the Hat". These are the films that people are waiting for the most. And we do this because we want them to be relevant to the big world of Hollywood," explains Perevoznyuk.

12:30

On the comic stage, representatives of Molfar Publishing tell about how they translate manga into Ukrainian. According to translator Alina Kudina, many difficulties are connected with the very fact that they work with the original, that is, with the Japanese language. And the most difficult thing in working with Japanese texts are onomatopoeias. These are onomatopoeias, which are separate drawings, and which are very difficult to adapt into Ukrainian.

After the conversation and the raffle of copies of various publications, the speakers will announce two new titles from Molfar Publishing — the manga "Blam: Backstory" and "Psycho-Pastor: Warden." In the following hours, other publishers will present their own upcoming news on the same stage. For example, Vovkulaka announces the comic "Absolute Batman," Mal'opus — the manga "Child of the Weather," Varvar Publishing — the comic "The Last Ronin" and the manga "Trigan," and UA Comix presents the Ukrainian illustrated book "The Carcass."

13:00

"Are you ready?" - ask the audience M'yach Dreadbol and Viktor Devik Demidenko, who open this festival. In response - an affirmative, joyful cry from those who have already gathered under the main stage:. These are fans of comics, manga, anime, computer and board games and many other forms of pop culture. In other words, "people who are immediately visible when you ride the subway," as the hosts aptly note. Then the hosts make a countdown and turn on the official track of the festival with the same name FANCON (the song was created by Ivan Marunych and the rock band Karta Svitu).

13:05

"Hello, FANCON! Hello, Kyiv!" - these are the words with which the star of "Strange Wonders" Sadie Sink greets the Ukrainian audience (in English, of course) from the main screen. It broadcasts a short video that the actress and her colleagues recorded as part of the promotional campaign for the Marvel film "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." For a few seconds, they talk about what to expect from the superhero action movie, which will be released in theaters at the end of July. This is the first, but not the only, star video surprise of the day, prepared exclusively for FANCON visitors.

13:10

The cosplay competition is starting - one of the favorite traditions of the festival. For visitors, this is an opportunity to see "live" characters who seem to have stepped off the pages of manga and comics or from the screens of movies, TV series and games directly onto the FANCON stage. And for the participants themselves - the culmination of weeks or even months of work. After all, behind a short performance there are often dozens, and sometimes hundreds of hours of creating costumes, props and makeup and preparing for the performance.

The first act of the Cosplay Show begins with a performance by Liza Revis from Kyiv, who appears before the audience in the image of Furina from the game Genshin Impact. After her, characters from the animated series Arcane, the games Honkai: Star Rail and League of Legends, the anime Land of the Lustrous and all subsequent participants take the stage. Everyone has a very limited time to demonstrate their image or even act out a small scene.

For the next two hours, hundreds of spectators watch the action, cheering on the participants. But their costumes, movements, and every detail are watched and evaluated even more closely by three jury members — cosplayers Vesnyana, Kimekomi, and Pugoffka.

14:35

The cosplay show is suspended due to an air raid warning: a ballistic threat is reported. Fortunately, the show is over at 2:46 p.m., and the show resumes at 2:55 p.m. The participants perform again, and the audience returns to the stage from shelter and the street.

15:30

Dancing as Cyberman to the song Sympathy for the Devil, Mickey Lewis, the first foreign guest of this year's festival, appears on the main stage. The British actor of episodic roles came to FANCON for the second time, and this time - in the original costume of the character, in which he starred in the series "Doctor Who". When the guest sits down in a chair, he first says the slogan "Glory to Ukraine!", and then admits that he is glad to return to Kyiv and feels great here.

During the conversation, Mickey Lewis talks about what it's like to build a career without the audience recognizing you. He explains why he enjoys playing monsters while hiding behind masks, armor, and makeup. What is the most important acting tool in a costume that doesn't show your face. And ultimately, what you can do as Cyberman that you can't do without it.

The actor also reports that he came to Ukraine a few months ago to film. In Rakhiv and Khust Castle in Transcarpathia, he starred in a short film about Dracula directed by Marianne de Mort, where he played the title role — this time without a mask.

In addition, Lewis says that he has written a story for a book about cybermen, which is soon to be published in the UK. And then he retells the plot of his work, the action of which takes place first in Ukraine, and then in the Kremlin. In the first part, cybermen appear on the battlefield and help the Ukrainian military destroy Russian soldiers. And in the second part, one of them gets into Putin's secret office and kills the Russian dictator.

The actor also recalls the Daleks' favorite word from Doctor Who - "Destroy!". And then he repeats "Destroy Putin!", and the audience chants this phrase along with him.

16:15

"It's a bit of a cheating technique," says Max Kidruk when asked why he kills characters. The lecture continues with a conversation with the writer about his science fiction novels "Colony" and "Collapse" from the "New Dark Ages" series.

The author argues that literature should be impressive, especially now, when it competes with the Internet and social networks. At the same time, he does not consider himself a skilled enough stylist or a good enough storyteller.

Accordingly, I engage in cheating. There are simple tropes. I just make you fall in love with a certain character, and then in some completely wild, unnatural way I kill him. But if it didn't work, you wouldn't be here today, - Kidruk tells the audience.

He also reports that in September he plans to republish his novel "Peek into My Dreams" in his own publishing house "Borodatiy Tamarin".

17:30

The second foreign guest of the festival is invited to the main stage, and this is a man who has long inspired thousands of cosplayers from all over the world with his own example. German cosplayer Ben Bergmann, known as Maul Cosplay, has been the official Geralt of the studio that developed the video game "The Witcher" CD Projekt Red for 10 years. It was in this image of his most recognizable character that he visited FANCON. And he did it, like Mickey Lewis, for the second time.

During the half-hour conversation, Maul Cosplay answers various questions from the host. In particular, about how he became so convincing that people stop seeing the costume and start seeing the character. What traits he uses to choose "his" characters. How the Witcher became not just another cosplay, but a key part of his life. And how his stunt background helps him.

Maul Cosplay admits that he no longer knows who he really is, behind all his images. But he always tries to be a good person — at least better than yesterday. For example, he strives to help people. Actually, that's why he comes here. Here he has a good time, and at the same time demonstrates support for Ukraine.

Finally, the cosplayer shares his impressions of Ukraine and explains why he returns here. He says that everything here feels different than in any other place he has been. According to the guest, Ukrainians are special — very kind, warm, and emotional. He suggests that because of the war, we also live this life to the fullest, and it is amazing.

"I think this is the best way to deal with the situation. I think that's why you feel more satisfied when you're having a good time. You know how to live in the moment much better than the rest of the world," says Maul Cosplay and promises that he will return to Ukraine every year.

18:10

A few minutes after announcing the date of the next FANCON (June 5-6, 2027), the hosts hint at a possible future guest. They say that negotiations are already underway with one famous actor who has expressed a desire to come. There is every chance that he will indeed appear on the FANCON stage, but for now they offer to watch his speech.

Hello, fans, says Misha Collins, best known for the series "Supernatural."

This is the second star video surprise of the day for visitors who are the first to learn exclusive information. In the video, the actor is wearing a cap with the Coat of Arms of Ukraine. He says that he is currently in the USA, but is thinking about Ukrainians, and also apologizes for not being able to be here with us, and hopes to visit soon.

Glory to Ukraine! Keep fighting. You are an inspiration to the whole world. I hope to see you soon, - these are the words that Misha Collins concludes her address.

18:15

On the same main stage, almost the only event that can attract an audience no smaller and cause an even louder reaction than a cosplay fashion show begins - the K-Pop Cover Dance Show.

The first in the competition is the Kyiv cover dance team Saints & Sinners. Over the next two hours, more than 20 groups from different cities, including Dnipro, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi and Zaporizhia, will perform. Each of them has up to five minutes to present their number and impress the audience and the jury.

Meanwhile, more and more people are gathering near the stage to enjoy this big and long-awaited show - the finale for the first day of the festival. As the contestants dance, both the tracks themselves and their enthusiastic and active listeners make maximum noise.

In these moments, thanks to the unity of participants and visitors in music, the festival energy reaches its peak - today's pop culture celebration was a success.

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