One of Europe’s biggest pop-culture festivals has unveiled the full programme for its diamond anniversary — and it reads like several conventions rolled into one.

Lucca Comics & Games celebrates 60 years in 2026 under the theme LEGACY, with the festival running across the historic Italian city from 28 October to 1 November. The newly detailed programme spans comics, gaming, film, anime, tabletop and collectibles, with headline names including Frank Miller, Go Nagai, Jonathan Hickman, Peach Momoko, Yoshinori Kitase and Hideki Kamiya.

Pokémon, Final Fantasy VII and a huge collectors’ programme

For ASACC readers, the collectibles side is particularly strong. Pokémon is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a dedicated area featuring the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon Champions, Pokémon TCG Pocket, a Pokémon Store and LEGO Pokémon installations. The wider programme includes Funko, Topps, POP MART, Iron Studios, Mighty Jaxx, Blokees and other collectible brands.

Square Enix is bringing Final Fantasy VII to Lucca, with producer Yoshinori Kitase appearing for a community Q&A, career masterclass and signing sessions. The programme also promises a dedicated Final Fantasy VII Revelation showcase, merchandise and giveaways.

Comic-book royalty heads to Lucca

The official festival site lists more than 400 guests across its Comics area. Frank Miller, Jonathan Hickman, Brian Michael Bendis, Peach Momoko, Tillie Walden and manga legend Go Nagai are among the major international creators announced.

Nagai will be celebrated with an exhibition covering work including Mazinger Z, Grendizer and Devilman, while Lucky Luke receives an exhibition marking 80 years of the famous cowboy.

Gaming goes city-wide

Lucca’s gaming programme brings major creators and studios into the city. Alongside Kitase, the guest list includes Hideki Kamiya and former Rockstar Games artist Stephen Bliss. CD PROJEKT RED is represented with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 and The Witcher 3 activities, while the wider programme includes SEGA, ATLUS and other publishers.

Dungeons & Dragons and tabletop

Joe Manganiello returns as special curator of Lucca’s Dungeons & Dragons programme, with Tracy and Laura Hickman also attending. Trading-card gaming stretches beyond Pokémon to titles including One Piece, Dragon Ball Super, Gundam, Digimon, Naruto and more.

60 years of Comic Con history

Lucca began in 1966 and the anniversary theme is built around passing creativity from one generation to the next. Claudio Castellini created the official 60th-anniversary “meta-poster”, bringing characters from historic Lucca posters together in a single image. At its centre, a child raises a pencil — the festival’s symbol for the next generation of creators.

The official Lucca site confirms the festival dates as 28 October–1 November 2026, with exhibitions beginning from 3 October.

Which part of this line-up would get you to Lucca — the comics legends, Pokémon, Final Fantasy, D&D or the collectibles?

Image credit: Claudio Castellini / Lucca Comics & Games. Official Lucca Comics & Games 2026 “LEGACY” anniversary poster, published by the event on its official media site. © respective rights holders.

Sources: Lucca Comics & Games official 2026 site and programme; programme announcement checked 25 September 2026.