Lucca Comics & Games 2026: sixty years of stories, a legacy to share
From 28 October to 1 November, Lucca celebrates its sixtieth anniversary with Legacy: comics, games, exhibitions and encounters connecting generations of readers.
A city filled with stories
At Lucca, stories move beyond the page into squares, cosplay and conversations around a gaming table. From 28 October to 1 November 2026, Lucca Comics & Games brings comics, manga, animation, fantasy and gaming culture together in the Tuscan city. Its sixtieth anniversary offers a chance to consider what these shared passions pass on to future generations.
Legacy: imagination across generations
This year’s theme, Legacy, embraces characters, creative languages and communities. A comic recommended by a parent, a game discovered with friends or a saga accompanying adolescence can become part of a personal history. The anniversary looks back at the festival while asking how these worlds will develop.
Claudio Castellini’s anniversary poster
Claudio Castellini’s official poster brings together figures from earlier festival artwork: Zerocalcare’s Lu, Don Maitz’s Sandokan, Phil Hale’s gorilla and robot, Ted Nasmith’s Lady Hope and Ciruelo’s dragon. These images meet in a new collective scene. The exhibition Tocchi da Maestro also explores Castellini’s career, from his early work to collaborations with Marvel and DC Comics.
Exhibitions across different worlds
The exhibition programme includes Guido Crepax’s Valentina and a celebration of Lucky Luke’s eightieth anniversary. Time Capsule focuses on Tillie Walden, while Daniel Dociu’s exhibition explores imagined environments. The official exhibition season runs from 3 October to 1 November; check each listing for venues, opening hours and admission arrangements.
A history visitors can help tell
At Palazzo Guinigi, Lucca Legacy, a Comics & Games story combines memories, images and objects with interactive experiences. Visitors can explore the rooms, follow a paper game or use the dedicated app. Developed with POLI.design, the exhibition reflects the contribution of audiences to the festival’s history.
Games as shared storytelling
Joe Manganiello returns as special curator of the programme dedicated to Dungeons & Dragons. Announced projects include D&D Icons, with Tracy and Laura Hickman also attending. The Games programme spans demonstrations, talks, Daggerheart, trading card games, miniatures and live-action role-playing, offering different ways to build a story together.
Authors and encounters
The official guest list includes Go Nagai, Frank Miller, Tillie Walden, Leo Ortolani, Zerocalcare and Paru Itagaki. Moving between creative languages is part of Lucca’s appeal: an illustrated page can lead to a novel, and a conversation to a new series. Choose a few priority events while leaving time for discoveries.
Planning your visit
Use the official programme to check events and plan your route. Before travelling, confirm times, venues, ticket requirements and any separate reservations. Admission arrangements vary between activities. The links below lead to the current programme, edition website and official visitor information.