Paris Manga by TGS 2026 : The Booths and Pop Culture Experiences

The 40th edition of Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show by TGS transformed Hall 7 of the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre into a sprawling celebration of manga, science fiction, Japanese culture, cinema, video games and cosplay on October 3–4, 2026. Marking the convention’s 20th anniversary, the event brought together a diverse community of exhibitors, independent artists, specialist retailers, collectors and fan associations. According to the organizers, the convention featured approximately 300 stands, four stages and 35,500 square metres of event space, illustrating how significantly the show has developed since its beginnings at Espace Champerret in 2006.

Beyond appearances by international guests including Christopher Lloyd, Emilie de Ravin, Tyler Hoechlin and Ed Westwick, the exhibition floor offered another compelling reason to attend. Its themed villages, interactive activities and specialized booths allowed visitors to explore the creativity behind their favourite franchises. The official floor plan highlighted dedicated areas for Japanese culture, comics, video games, cosplay, exhibitions and autograph sessions, turning the anniversary edition into an experience that extended well beyond its main stages.

Star Wars Booths Bring the Galactic Universe to Villepinte

The Star Wars Village was among the convention’s most distinctive themed areas, bringing together organizations such as the 501ST French Garrison, Alliance Impériale, R2 Builders France, Star Wars Normandy, Coruscant 78, Bulles de Star Wars and L’Escadron des Midi-Chloriens. Their presence demonstrated the remarkable diversity of fan communities inspired by the galaxy created by George Lucas, from costuming and character representation to the technical craftsmanship involved in recreating iconic science-fiction droids.

R2 Builders France represented a particularly fascinating dimension of this enthusiasm, highlighting the culture of fan-built astromech replicas. Meanwhile, the presence of costuming associations illustrated how Star Wars fandom extends beyond collecting memorabilia into collaborative projects and public appearances. With The Galactic Tavern also appearing among the exhibitors, the convention’s Star Wars offerings connected craftsmanship, collecting and community participation in a shared environment.

Transformers, Collectibles and Legendary Movie Vehicles

Transformers enthusiasts could discover Animation Transformers alongside exhibitors such as Blokees, Geek and Toys, Jouet Geek and Legend Icon. Blokees was specifically promoted by the organizers with products connected to Saint Seiya, Naruto and Hatsune Miku, alongside an announced distribution of 1,000 articulated characters during the event. This combination of established franchises and collectible formats demonstrated the increasingly close relationship between Japanese animation, action figures and contemporary pop culture merchandise.

Cinema memorabilia received equally prominent attention through the movie vehicle exhibition. The organizers announced a display presented with CineCar Studio featuring the DeLorean from Back to the Future, the Ford Explorer associated with Jurassic Park, the Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo and the Plymouth associated with Homer Simpson. These vehicles provided recognizable connections between the exhibition floor and decades of popular cinema and television, while the participation of Christopher Lloyd, celebrated for portraying Doc Brown, gave the Back to the Future display particular relevance during the anniversary weekend.

Artist Alley Showcases Independent Manga and Illustration Talent

The Artist Alley was an essential part of the exhibition’s creative identity, offering space to independent illustrators, manga-inspired artists and designers. Exhibitors included Akage Sensei, Akemi no Sekai, Camille Poli Illustrations, Cece Illustration, Elois Illustrations, Graychuu_Draws, JC Makes Art!, Kamiraii, Maïté Draws, Nono Draws, Puchi Puchi & Iggy Drawing, Ravendraw, The Art of Mégane and Yoh-Mangaka. Their inclusion reflected the importance of independent visual creation within a convention traditionally associated with major entertainment franchises.

Other participants, including Crystarte, Cyanocitta Studio, Madou Studio, Kinnoishi Studio, Rika Studio, Paiheme Studio and Néphilim Studio, contributed to the breadth of the exhibitor selection. Rather than limiting the experience to licensed merchandise, this creative ecosystem offered visitors opportunities to discover individual artistic identities, illustration styles and original designs. The presence of publishing-related exhibitors such as Editions Kana, LN-FR / Light Novels Français, Sudarènes Editions and Dragon Ball Multiverse also highlighted the relationship between professional publishing, independent storytelling and fan-driven projects.

Japanese Culture, Traditional Crafts and Korean Influences

Japanese culture occupied an important place within the convention’s thematic organization. The Japanese area included exhibitors such as Kimono Yume, Le Japon selon Luca, Cours-de-japonais.com, Ishi Sushi, Japan Snack, Manga Dori, Shin Sekai and Otaku-Ten. Together, these names illustrated the show’s interest in presenting Japanese culture through language, food, clothing, specialist products and entertainment rather than manga alone.

The cultural programme also included Japanese-language activities from Cours-de-japonais.com and workshops involving calligraphy, painting and seal engraving with Isabelle Jeudy. Lense Odyssey Studio was associated with a maid café experience, while After 5 brought City Pop music into the convention’s entertainment programme. The Korean Village complemented these attractions, reflecting the growing place of Korean cultural influences within events historically centred on Japanese popular culture.

Cosplay, Creative Workshops and Interactive Experiences

Cosplay remained another cornerstone of Paris Manga by TGS 2026, with a dedicated village and exhibitors including AMF Cosplay, Cosplay Smart, Cosplayers de France, Cosstar, Cosuka Art Studio, Kamui Créations, Magical Cosplay Show and Wigly. These participants represented different aspects of the costume-making community, from accessories and creative techniques to the shared passion for recreating fictional characters. The convention also featured competitive cosplay programming, including a selection event connected to an international championship.

Interactive activities broadened the experience through LudoSport Paris, France Haidong Gumdo, WPE Catch Corner, Jeu de Go, Meneurs & Merveilles, Just Dance and Saitama Punch Machine. The range of activities connected physical demonstrations, tabletop role-playing, traditional strategy games and entertainment inspired by anime. For visitors, this created opportunities to participate directly in pop culture rather than simply browse exhibitions or purchase collectibles.

Retro Gaming, Video Games and Collector Communities

Video games occupied their own area of Hall 7, with Nintendo League, Retro Island, Super Retro World, Retrogaming by Ludigoodies and other exhibitors contributing to the gaming selection. The association MO5 independently confirmed its participation, bringing original consoles for visitors to play freely, including multiplayer experiences and classic retro games. Its involvement highlighted the preservation of video game history as an important complement to the convention’s contemporary entertainment offerings.

Collecting culture also extended into trading card games and specialist merchandise through exhibitors such as Goddess TCG, KJ TCG, Gacha no Jutsu, Hihi Market, Waky Waku Shop and Little Geek. These booths reflected the variety of collecting interests represented at the convention, from cards and figurines to Japanese-inspired accessories. Their presence reinforced the event’s role as a meeting place for established collectors and newcomers exploring different corners of geek culture.

Immersive Exhibitions and the Diversity of the Convention Floor

The exhibition programme included Fallout Rads N’ Props, Jurassic Live Experience, Squid Game Teams, Emergency Movies Car France and the cinema vehicle exhibition. These attractions added a visual and thematic dimension to the convention, connecting visitors with recognizable fictional universes. The organizers also promoted the Hollywood Museum, featuring replicas and objects associated with cinema and television, further strengthening the event’s appeal to film enthusiasts.

The wider exhibitor selection encompassed handmade accessories, jewellery, clothing, decorative objects and original creations from names such as Atelier Alphonsine, Au Fil de Nous, Godot-San Maroquinerie, La Boutique du Chat, Les Miaou Bijoux, Mizuhiki Fantaisy, Wooly Garden and Whisker’s Cookie Bakery. This variety was one of the defining features of the exhibition floor: large franchises existed alongside independent craftspeople, specialist associations and small creative businesses, providing an alternative to a convention experience focused exclusively on celebrities and commercial merchandise.

Paris Manga by TGS 2026: A Convention Built Around Its Communities

The 40th edition demonstrated the importance of exhibitor villages and interactive attractions in the identity of Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show. From Star Wars costuming groups and original manga illustrations to retro consoles, Japanese crafts and famous movie vehicles, the booths offered multiple ways to experience pop culture. The convention’s anniversary was therefore not only a celebration of its history but also an illustration of the communities that have contributed to its development over two decades.

The event’s organization into dedicated thematic areas made this diversity especially visible. For visitors interested in discovering independent creators, exploring science-fiction craftsmanship or revisiting the entertainment of previous generations, the exhibition floor provided a substantial programme in its own right. Paris Manga by TGS 2026 ultimately illustrated how a major pop culture convention can connect entertainment, artistic expression, collecting and fan participation within the same space.

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Event Recap: Paris Manga by TGS 2026

Where: Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre, Hall 7, 82 Avenue des Nations, 93420 Villepinte, France.
When: Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4, 2026.
What: The 20th-anniversary edition of the convention, featuring approximately 300 stands, four stages, manga and comics, independent artists, Japanese and Korean culture, Star Wars fan associations, Transformers collectibles, movie vehicle exhibitions, cosplay, retro gaming, creative workshops and interactive entertainment.
Official website: https://www.parismanga.fr/

Photos : Boris Colletier / Mulderville