Gurugram Comic Con wraps up debut edition; here are some of the biggest highlights

Comic book fans came from all over dressed as their favourite characters. Photos Courtesy: Special Arrangement

Gurugram Comic Con has wrapped up its inaugural edition at Gym Khana Club Ground, marking the city's first-ever Comic Con.

The debut weekend reflected Gurugram's growing community of comic readers, anime enthusiasts, gamers and pop culture fans who brought their energy to the Millennium City's newest cultural gathering.

From the moment gates opened on March 14, young professionals, students, creators, and fandom communities moved across the venue exploring artist alleys, graphic novel displays, collectible stalls, gaming arenas, and live stage programming.

Indians navigated between creator sessions, live performances, and immersive brand activations. In a city known for its corporate parks, global offices, and bustling tech corridors like Cyber City and Udyog Vihar, the weekend offered fans a chance to step away from boardrooms and coworking spaces and step into a world of comics, cosplay, and fandom.

The creators' stage remained one of the biggest attractions across the weekend. Fans gathered for sessions with artists and storytellers including internationally acclaimed comic artist Raymund Bermudez alongside Indian creators and illustrators who shared insights into storytelling, visual design, and the growing global footprint of comic culture.

Another highlight of the programming included conversations around animation and storytelling with the team behind Mahavatar Narasimha, offering audiences a closer look at the craft behind bringing mythology to animated life. Creator-led sessions and live art showcases continued to draw enthusiastic participation, reinforcing the strong creative culture within India's comic and illustration community.

Music, performances, and comedy kept the stage buzzing throughout the weekend. Comic Con Jukebox delivered energetic live sets featuring performers by prominent Indian rappers like Ikka, Dharmik (Madhusubdhan Sharma), while Gini, a young rising star in the Indian independent music scene also swayed the fans, turning the arena into a lively celebration of fandom and music. The Comic Con Comedy Showcase also played to packed audiences, with comedians including Jaspreet Singh and Onkar Yadav entertaining fans with humour drawn from everyday life and pop culture references.

Cosplay once again emerged as one of the defining highlights of the Gurugram edition. Participants brought a wide spectrum of characters to life from anime, gaming, films, and comic book universes, including fan favourites such as Spider-Man, Deadpool, Batman, Naruto Uzumaki, Tanjiro Kamado from Demon Slayer, Monkey. D. Luffy from One Piece, Harley Quinn, and Geralt of Rivia from the Witcher. The Gurugram Comic Con Cosplay Contest drew large crowds across both days as more than 250 cosplayers competed for a daily cash prize of Rs 30,000, showcasing detailed costumes and performances that captured the imagination of the audience.

The Indian Championship of Cosplay - Gurugram Qualifier, concluded on Sunday, where Vandana Sharma, cosplaying as an Orc from Warcraft, won the title along with Rs 50,000 and a qualifying entry to the ICC Finals 2026. The competition saw over 250 cosplayers from across the region bring their favourite characters to life on stage.

The NODWIN Gaming Arena remained one of the most active zones of the venue across the weekend, with fans testing their skills through competitive challenges and interactive gameplay. Experience zones by Maruti Suzuki Arena and Crunchyroll also attracted strong participation as anime fans, gamers, and first-time visitors explored installations, activities, and exclusive fan experiences.

Shefali Johnson, CEO, Comic Con India, said, "Gurugram is a city full of energy. During the week people are busy building companies, working across global teams, and moving between offices in Cyber City and along Golf Course Road. This weekend we saw many of those same people come together as anime fans, gamers, comic readers, and cosplayers. Watching superheroes and anime characters walk through the Millennium City created some really special moments for all of us. A large part of the Comic Con India team works out of Gurugram, so bringing the festival here for the first time felt very personal. The warmth and enthusiasm from the community has been wonderful to see, and it gives us a lot of excitement about growing Gurugram Comic Con in the years ahead."