Lucca Comics 2026 runs from Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, and this year is a big one: the 60th edition of Europe’s largest comics and games festival, celebrated under the theme “Legacy”. For five days the walled historic centre of Lucca, Tuscany, turns into a city-sized convention with hundreds of exhibitors, international comic and video game guests, cosplay everywhere and the kind of crowds that push ticket sales to the 80,000-a-day cap.
This guide covers the verified 2026 dates, ticket prices, opening hours, guests, how to get to Lucca and the practical stuff nobody tells you, like what to do with your luggage. Arriving by train with a suitcase? Drop your bags near Lucca train station before you walk through the walls.
Lucca Comics 2026: Key Facts
| Dates | Wednesday 28 October – Sunday 1 November 2026 |
| Edition | 60th anniversary (“Diamond” edition), theme “Legacy” |
| Where | Historic walled centre of Lucca, Tuscany, plus Japan Town at Polo Fiere (Sorbano) |
| Daily tickets | €26.50 (Wed) to €34.50 (Sat) |
| Multi-day passes | 2-day from €40.50, 5-day €95 |
| Daily cap | 80,000 entries per day |
| Welcome desks | 6:30–18:30 daily (wristband pick-up) |
| Headline guests | Frank Miller, Go Nagai, Jonathan Hickman, Toru Fujisawa, Yoshinori Kitase, Hideki Kamiya |
| Tickets | luccacomicsandgames.com / TicketOne |
Lucca Comics 2026 Dates and Opening Hours
The festival runs five full days, Wednesday 28 October through Sunday 1 November 2026. Sunday 1 November is a public holiday in Italy (All Saints’ Day), so expect the biggest crowds on Saturday 31 October and Sunday, and holiday train timetables on the final day.
Five welcome desks around the city are open from 6:30 to 18:30 every festival day for wristband collection. The Baluardo San Regolo desk also opens early on Tuesday 27 October, 16:00–19:00, which is the smart move if you arrive the day before. Exhibition pavilions have traditionally opened mid-morning and closed in the early evening; the exact 2026 pavilion hours are published in the official programme, so check the LuccaCG Assistant app before you plan your day.
Lucca Comics 2026 Tickets and Prices
Lucca Comics 2026 tickets went on sale on 1 September 2026 through the official website and TicketOne, and continue until the 80,000-entries-per-day cap is reached. Some areas and street exhibits in the city are free to wander, but the main pavilions, exhibitions and panels require a ticket and a wristband. Prices below include fees.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Daily – Wednesday 28 Oct | €26.50 |
| Daily – Thursday 29 Oct | €29.50 |
| Daily – Friday 30 Oct | €33.50 |
| Daily – Saturday 31 Oct | €34.50 |
| Daily – Sunday 1 Nov | €33.50 |
| 2-day pass | €40.50 – €58.50 (depending on days) |
| 3-day pass | €61.50 – €78.50 |
| 4-day pass | €83.50 |
| 5-day pass | €95.00 |
| “Level Up” 5-day pass (priority entry) | €601.50 |
| Children born 1 Jan 2017 or later | Free with a ticketed adult |
Wristbands, Welcome Desks and “Skip the Desk”
Every ticket holder needs a wristband to enter paid areas. You collect it at a welcome desk, or you can have it posted home: online orders placed by 10:00 on 16 October can choose the “skip the welcome desk” option (€9.99 for 1- and 2-day tickets, free with 3-day passes or longer). From 1 October tickets are also sold at TicketOne outlets across Italy, and GOLD outlets hand out wristbands on the spot. Visitors with disabilities can request free and reduced companion tickets via the official site.
Money-saving tip: Wednesday and Thursday tickets are noticeably cheaper than the weekend, and the 5-day pass works out at €19 a day. Saturday is the peak day and the first to sell out.
The 60th Anniversary: “Legacy” Theme and Poster
The festival started in 1965 in Bordighera, moved to Lucca in 1966 and became Lucca Comics & Games in 1996. The 2026 edition, branded Lucca60, is built around the idea of legacy: heritage, and the passing of the baton from one generation of artists and fans to the next.
The official poster is by Italian comics veteran Claudio Castellini, a single detail-packed image gathering characters from different comic eras, full of references and Easter eggs. At the unveiling, Castellini symbolically handed his pencil to ten-year-old French artist Louise Stéphant, who created an alternative poster. A free exhibition, “Lucca Legacy”, is open at Palazzo Guinigi from 3 October, and every 2026 ticket holder receives a unique-edition Pikachu card as a gift.
Lucca Comics 2026 Guests
The 60th edition has one of the strongest guest lists in the festival’s history, split between comics, manga and video games. Dates below are those announced by the organisers; signing sessions usually require a booking through the app.
Comics and Manga
- Frank Miller (Sin City, 300, The Dark Knight Returns)
- Go Nagai (Devilman, Mazinger Z, Goldrake) – 28–30 October with J-POP Manga
- Jonathan Hickman (X-Men, Secret Wars) – first Italian appearance, with Panini Comics
- Toru Fujisawa (GTO – Great Teacher Onizuka) – first visit to Lucca, 28–31 October
- Peach Momoko, Paco Roca, Tillie Walden, Jung Ji-hoon, Chang Sheng
Video Games
- Yoshinori Kitase (Final Fantasy VII) – guest of honour, Walk of Fame induction, Q&A and masterclass
- Hideki Kamiya (Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, Ōkami) – 29–30 October
- Stephen Bliss (GTA cover artist), Noah Falstein (LucasFilm Games), Charles Cecil, Daniel Dociu, Chris Darril
- Studio panels from CD Projekt Red, Remedy (Control Resonant) and the Alien: Isolation 2 team at Cinema Astra
Music fans: composer Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell) makes her first Italian appearance with a concert-event in Milan on 3 November 2026, right after the festival.
What to Expect: Areas and Highlights
Unlike a convention-centre show, Lucca Comics spreads across the whole walled city. Piazzas, bastions, palaces and theatres all host pavilions, and walking from one to the next is part of the experience (comfortable shoes are non-negotiable on the cobbles). In 2025 the festival sold over 280,000 tickets and hosted around 730 exhibitors, 900 guests and 1,500 events, and 2026 is expected to be at least as big.
| Area | What’s there in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Historic centre pavilions | Comics publishers, board and card games, artist alley, cosplay meetups |
| Japan Town – Polo Fiere, Sorbano | 120+ manga, anime and Japanese culture exhibitors, free shuttle from the centre |
| Palazzo Guinigi | “Lucca Legacy” exhibition (free) and the new Indie Vault with ten indie studios |
| Cinema Astra | Video game panels (CD Projekt Red, Alien: Isolation 2) |
| Casa del Boia | Final Fantasy VII showcase |
| Via Bacchettoni | Multi-brand video games pavilion and Red Bull Wings Cup (EA Sports FC 27) final, 30–31 October |
| Teatro del Giglio | Watch parties and premieres |
Playable previews announced for 2026 include Alien: Isolation 2, Persona 4 Revival and Metaphor: ReFantazio on Nintendo Switch 2. Download the free LuccaCG Assistant app for the interactive map, event booking and live updates; it’s the only realistic way to navigate 1,500 events.
How to Get to Lucca Comics 2026
Take the train. Lucca station (Piazzale Ricasoli) sits just outside the southern walls, a five-minute walk from the festival, and the historic centre becomes a limited traffic zone during the event. In 2025 the ZTL was closed to all vehicles, including taxis, from 9:00 to 19:00; the 2026 ordinance is expected around 20 October.
| From | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pisa Centrale | Regional train | 30–40 min |
| Pisa Airport | PisaMover to Pisa Centrale (about €6.50), then train | 45–60 min |
| Florence SMN | Regional train (direct) | 1h05–1h40 |
| Viareggio / coast | Regional train | About 20 min |
| By car | A11 motorway, park outside the walls (eventi.parcheggilucca.it) | Expect queues |
Trains get very crowded at closing time. Leave before 17:00 or after 20:30 to avoid the 18:30–19:30 crush, and remember clocks go back on 25 October, so double-check timetables. The organisers also run “Eventi in Bus” packages that bundle coach travel, ticket and wristband from several Italian cities.
Bags, Cosplay and Insider Tips
- Travel light. Narrow medieval streets packed with 80,000 people are no place for a suitcase or a large backpack, and security checks at pavilion entrances are faster with a small bag.
- Cosplay props. Check the official cosplay regulations on the festival site before you pack; prop weapons and bulky builds may need to be checked at entrances.
- Book accommodation now. Hotels in Lucca sell out months ahead for the 60th edition; Pisa, Viareggio and Montecatini are easy train-in alternatives.
- Cash and water. Some stands are cash-only and queues for refreshments are long on Saturday.
- Plan meetups. Mobile networks struggle at peak times; agree a meeting point (the Baluardo San Regolo or Piazza Napoleone work well) in advance.
Luggage Storage for Lucca Comics 2026
Here’s the practical problem: most visitors arrive by train, often straight from Pisa airport or Florence, and spend the day buying comics, prints and merch, then head out again the same evening. Dragging a suitcase through the pavilions is a nightmare.
Radical Storage solves it with verified partner shops and businesses in Lucca, close to the station and the historic centre. Book online in a minute, drop your luggage, cosplay bag or shopping, and pick it up whenever you’re done. Every bag is covered by up to €10,000 protection, cancellation is free, and the network has stored over 8 million bags across 2,300+ cities with a 4.8/5 rating.
Heading to Lucca Comics 2026? Store your bags near Lucca train station or inside the walls near Piazza Napoleone and enjoy the festival hands-free.
Lucca Comics 2026 FAQ
Lucca Comics & Games 2026 runs from Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November 2026 in the historic centre of Lucca, Tuscany. It is the festival’s 60th edition, themed Legacy.
Daily tickets cost €26.50 (Wednesday) to €34.50 (Saturday). Multi-day passes run from €40.50 for two days up to €95 for the full 5-day pass. Children born from 1 January 2017 enter free with a ticketed adult.
Yes. A wristband is required to enter paid areas, even with a ticket. Collect it at one of five welcome desks (open 6:30–18:30 daily) or choose home delivery when ordering online by 10:00 on 16 October.
Announced guests include Frank Miller, Go Nagai, Jonathan Hickman, Toru Fujisawa and Peach Momoko for comics, plus Yoshinori Kitase (Final Fantasy VII) and Hideki Kamiya (Bayonetta) for video games.
Lucca station is a five-minute walk from the walls. Regional trains take 30–40 minutes from Pisa Centrale and about 1h05–1h40 from Florence. The historic centre is closed to traffic during the festival, so avoid driving in.
Radical Storage partner locations near the station and inside the historic centre let you drop suitcases, cosplay bags and shopping for the day, with up to €10,000 protection per bag and free cancellation.
