Top Ten Things To Do At The Middle East Film & Comic Con This April

Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC), the region’s largest pop culture festival, will take place from April 18 – 20 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. Fans of all ages can expect an action-packed weekend filled with cosplay, gaming, celebrity appearances, live entertainment and unique activations.

From bucket list experiences to unforgettable activities, here are the top 10 most unmissable experiences at this year’s MEFCC:

#1A-Listers Assemble

The celebrity lineup is sure to wow pop culture superfans with the biggest line-up of stars yet. Headlining this year is the one and only Andrew Garfield –The Amazing Spiderman. Alongside this beloved Hollywood actor, huge names includeDaredevil’s Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio, Grant Gustin aka The Flash, Star Wars‘ Emperor Palpatine otherwise known as Ian McDiarmid, Natalia Dyer from Stranger Things, and Emily Rudd who plays Nami in the One-Piece live action series and English Voice Actor Colleen O’Shaughnessy who is the voice of Tails from Sonic the Hedgehog. Ticketholders get a chance towatch all their panels for free at the Main Stage or purchase autograph or photograph opportunities with them for everlasting memories.

#2 Cosplay Showdown

What is Comic Con without the cosplayers? Suit up like Deadpool or Sailor Moon and unleash your inner hero. From various new features introduced this year including meet and greets with professional cosplayers, a meet-up spot for the cosplay community, and a cosplay costume shop to the most loved Cosplay Competition at the Festival Plaza. You don’t want to miss out!

#3 Artist Alley

Stroll down the Artist Alley and explore local and regional artists, take home hand-crafted artworks, drawings, keychains, stickers or memorabilia. There’s no way you’ll leave feeling uninspired.

#4Festival Plaza Frenzy

The beating heart of MEFCC, Festival Plaza is the go-to spot for families and friends. Packed with food trucks, dance-offs,live performances, a kids play areas and competitions.This year, The Festival Plaza will feature ASH DA HERO’s anime jams, CelinedeeMatahari’s trilingual pop, and the Cosplay Competition.Don’t miss Tidal and Lunar Idols’ dance spectacle, Reem AlTinai’s nostalgic Arabic anime tunes, and the Just Dance 2025 showdown with a Nintendo Switch up for grabs!

#5 Main Stage Magic

From exclusive celebrity Q&As and stories to epic fan moments and community spotlights—this is your chance to hear it straight from the source. Whether you’re into film, anime, comics, or gaming, the biggest names in pop culture are stepping up for raw, real, and unforgettable conversations you won’t find anywhere else.

#6Gaming Gauntlet

The Gaming Arena is the home of video games, tournaments, challenges and entertainment tech. Fans can expect unreleased and indie games, as well as cash prizes and exclusive goodies. The gaming zone is for gamers of all levels, from casual to pro!

#7Anime Extravaganza

Five legendary seiyuu (Japanese voice actors) are flying in for the first time at MEFCC: Daiki Yamashita (Deku from My Hero Academia), Hideo Ishikawa (Itachi from Naruto), Kotono Mitsuishi (Sailor Moon, Evangelion’s Misato),Kentaro Ito, (Renji in Bleach) and Tetsuya Kakihara (Natsu from Fairy Tail).From the chance to get autographs and photographs with Japanese Voice Actors to an authentic Japanese experience, MEFCC will have it all. Try on traditional kimonos, test your skills at shogi, calligraphy and origami, and savour an authentic Tea Ceremony.

#8A Blast for Families

Outdoor games, inflatable rides, face painting, canvas art, board games and more fun awaits at the Kids Zone. Step into the Tabletop Zone, where Back to Games and Superheated Neurons invite you to enjoy a variety of board and card games, all free of charge! Get competitive with family and friends and create unforgettable memories.

#9StorytellersUnite

Chill out at the Bookworm Lounge – swap books, find hidden gems, attend community panels or meet a community of readers. Empowering stories in every form, as well as young filmmakers across the Middle East, it’s here that MEFCC will be screening the short films that made it to the finals of this year’s competition. Eight incredible short films will be screened on day one at the Main Stage with the winners taking home amazing prizes in a testament to MEFCC’s commitment to support independent storytellers.

#10Memorabilia and More

Shop exclusives, merch and stock up on rare finds. That’s not all, you can also get your items autographed and increase their value by getting them authenticated at CGC x JSA at MEFCC.

MEFCC 2025 is a must-attend event for comic book lovers, cinephiles, and pop culture enthusiasts alike. From cosplay showdowns to gaming battles, immersive fan experiences, and rare collectibles, MEFCC 2025 is set to be an electrifying celebration of all things pop culture with something for everyone across the threedays. Visit www.mefcc.comfor tickets, and follow @mefccfor news and event updates.