Convention - Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show 2026 : More Booths Than Ever for a Record-Breaking Event

By Mulder, Parc des expositions de Paris Nord Villepinte (Hall 7), 14 march 2026

The Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show 2026 once again transformed the Villepinte Exhibition Center into the true French capital of pop culture for a particularly packed weekend, confirming the event’s place among the country’s most popular conventions. For two days, the aisles were packed with people, bringing together thousands of visitors who came for the panels, international guests, concerts, but also and above all for the massive exhibitor area, the beating heart of the show. This 2026 edition left a lasting impression with the impressive diversity of its booths, bringing together publishers, artists, associations, specialty shops, independent creators, and major franchises in an atmosphere that was festive, lively, and passionate—true to the show’s DNA since its inception.

Among the most popular areas, the booths dedicated to manga and publishing once again drew a constant crowd, featuring well-known publishers such as Editions Kana, Anime Store, Meian, Hana, Hot Manga, Light Novel Cyberpunk, LN-FR / Light Novels Français, and Manga Café, which offered new releases, Japanese imports, and collectibles hard to find elsewhere. Several visitors we spoke with on-site explained that they come every year primarily for this area, which over time has become a true specialty market where one can discover both popular series and more niche publications. Independent artists were also well-represented, with booths such as Loïc Morel – Kami no Akuryo, Geraldo Mangaka, Camille Poli Illustrations, Aurélie Passion Dessin, Alexane Guth, and Céleste Illustration, confirming the importance the show places on emerging creators, who were often very approachable, happy to chat with the public, sign prints, or create live drawings—a highlight for regulars.

As is often the case at the Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show, film and science fiction culture played a major role in the exhibitor area, with the notable presence of numerous associations and fan groups. Visitors were able to visit spectacular booths such as 501ST French Garrison, Alliance Impériale, Bulles de Star Wars, R2 Builders France, Dark Troopers Squad, Star Wars Normandy, and L’Escadron des Midi-Chloriens, which offered costumes, sets, replicas, and photo ops that were very popular throughout the weekend. These groups are now an integral part of the convention, and several members noted that Paris Manga remains one of the French events with the highest attendance, particularly for universes related to Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, or major American franchises. The presence of guest actors such as Jason Isaacs, Craig Parker, Emily Swallow, and Lee Arenberg further reinforced this cinematic aspect, creating a direct link between the panels and the booths, with visitors often moving from one to the other within the same hour.

Video games and gaming were also very prominent this year, with dedicated areas such as the Nintendo Zone, Super Retro World, Tactic Games TCG, Goddess TCG, Kawaii Gamer’s Life x The Imaginarius, and XP PEN Graphics Tablet, which allowed visitors to test equipment, discover games, or participate in demonstrations. Several booths also offered tournaments or introductory sessions, particularly for card games, pixel art, and digital drawing, confirming the show’s evolution toward an increasingly interactive pop culture. There were also more specialized areas such as Go, Shogi (Japanese chess), and LudoSport Paris, proof that the event isn’t limited to current trends but continues to highlight more traditional aspects of geek culture.

Finally, it would be impossible to discuss the booths at the Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show 2026 without mentioning the massive area dedicated to creators, merchandise, and Japanese cultureikely the most densely packed section of the show. Dozens of exhibitors, including Geek Sekai, Geeky Legacy, Narutopia, Kawaii Wonderland, Tokyo Kudan Store, Toy Haven, Tsume, Legend Icon, La Geek-en-délire, Little Geek, Waky Waku Shop, Otakuzein, Chibi Tokyo, and Kira Kira offered figurines, clothing, jewelry, cosplay accessories, and items inspired by anime, video games, or cult films. In addition, there were numerous food and Asian street food stands, such as Ishi Sushi, Japan Snack, Joa K-Food, Snacks Asie, and Fruits Thaï, which contributed to the event’s unique atmosphere—a blend of convention, market, and festival. Several visitors we spoke with on-site mentioned that they sometimes spent more time in the exhibitor area than at the conferences, proof that this section remains one of the weekend’s main attractions.

With this 2026 edition, the Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show once again confirms that its success rests as much on its guests as on the diversity of its booths, which bring together all facets of pop culture in one place—from manga to science fiction, from cosplay to video games, including independent creations and collectibles. The overall impression left by the show is that of an event that remains as vibrant as ever, where people come as much to shop, discover, and meet others as to attend the conferences, and which already makes you want to come back next year to see how this massive showcase of geek culture will continue to evolve.

You can check out our photos on our Flickr account

Photos and video 4K : Boris Colletier / Mulderville