Lucca Comics: turns 60, 2026 edition celebrates the past and the future

The theme chosen for the 2026 edition is “Legacy”. A concept that encompasses the deepest meaning of an event born in 1966 and which over time has become one of the largest and most authoritative international realities dedicated to comics, gaming, illustration, cinema, television series and video games. Legacy means transmission of values, passage of experiences and sharing of a culture that continues to evolve without losing its roots.

For the organizers, the sixtieth anniversary represents an opportunity to talk about what Lucca Comics & Games has built together with its community. Not just a festival, but a true collective experience that accompanied the growth of entire generations. From the curious childhood of the Seventies to the explosion of comics in the Eighties, from the cultural contaminations of the Nineties to the digital revolution of the 2000s, up to the extraordinary ability to reinvent itself during the 2020 pandemic, when the event managed to transform a global crisis into an opportunity for innovation.

This long history is summarized in the official poster of the 2026 edition, entrusted to Claudio Castellini, one of the most important contemporary Italian designers. Also born in 1966, the same year as the festival, Castellini represents an ideal bridge between the origins of the event and its future. His work for Lucca Comics & Games has been defined as the first “meta-poster” in the history of the event: a work that brings together characters and symbols from the most iconic posters of past editions.

The illustration features the heroine “Lu” by Zerocalcare, the Sandokan by Don Maitz, the robotic gorilla by Phil Hale, Lady Hope by Ted Nasmith and the famous dragon by Ciruelo. Figures belonging to different generations who coexist in a single image full of references and details. At the center of the scene a little girl emerges who raises a pencil towards the sky, symbol of the new generation called to take up the baton and build the future of the imagination.

It is no coincidence that during the official presentation, hosted in the prestigious setting of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Castellini symbolically handed over his pencil to the young French artist Louise Stéphant, just ten years old and already winner of the Petit Fauve of the Angoulême International Comics Festival for two consecutive years. A gesture that perfectly represents the meaning of this edition: heritage not as something to be jealously preserved, but as a tool to be used to create new stories.

Castellini’s importance will also be celebrated through a large solo exhibition, “Claudio Castellini: Touches of the Master”, which will retrace his career from his beginnings at Sergio Bonelli Editore to his collaborations with Marvel and DC Comics. Visitors will be able to admire original drawings dedicated to characters such as Nathan Never, Dylan Dog, Silver Surfer, Batman and Superman, in a journey that highlights the stylistic evolution of one of the most influential Italian artists in international comics.

But the sixtieth anniversary will also be an opportunity to experiment with new languages. For the first time in its history, Lucca Comics & Games will launch an official video game: “Luke & Clea – A Quest for Legacy”. It is an 8-bit style adventure that pays homage to the classic video games of the 1980s and takes the audience on a journey through the history of the event. The project will be available from 24 September 2026, a symbolic date which coincides with the exact day on which the festival was born sixty years earlier.

Among the most significant initiatives is also the large “Legacy” exhibition, set up at Palazzo Guinigi. The exhibition will not be a simple celebratory journey but a continuously evolving interactive experience. Visitors will in fact be able to directly contribute to telling the story of the festival, modifying and enriching the contents over the days. A special section, entitled “My First Lucca”, will collect videos and testimonials sent by enthusiasts to describe their first encounter with the event.

The cultural program promises to be particularly rich also in terms of international guests. Among the most prestigious names, Go Nagai stands out, a true legend of Japanese manga and creator of works that have marked global pop culture such as Grendizer, Mazinger and Devilman. The Japanese maestro will be one of the absolute protagonists of the celebrations and will meet the public on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and Japan.

Tōru Fujisawa, author of the famous manga GTO – Great Teacher Onizuka, one of the most beloved series of the nineties, will also arrive in Italy for the first time. Also present in Lucca will be the Korean JH, author of the award-winning webtoon The Horizon, the Taiwanese Chang Sheng and numerous protagonists of the international comics scene.

There is also great anticipation for the return of Frank Miller, considered one of the most influential authors in the history of American comics. Creator of masterpieces such as “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” and “Daredevil: Rebirth”, Miller represents a symbolic figure for the Legacy theme, having influenced generations of authors and readers. Joining him will also be Jonathan Hickman, architect of many of the most important Marvel sagas of recent years, and Peach Momoko, a Japanese artist who has conquered the international public with her reinterpretation of the Marvel universe.

The celebrations will also involve the world of video games. Lucca will host Yoshinori Kitase, historic producer of the Final Fantasy VII series and key figure in the history of Japanese video games, who will enter the festival’s Walk of Fame. Also highly anticipated is the presence of Hideki Kamiya, creator of masterpieces such as Devil May Cry, Bayonetta and Ōkami, considered one of the most innovative game designers of his generation.

There will be no shortage of events dedicated to collecting, card games and major entertainment brands. For the first time, Pop Mart, world leader in the designer toys sector, will be present, while Pokémon will celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the franchise with special initiatives and a new dedicated area. Bandai will instead bring the new Naruto Card Game as an Italian preview, destined to become one of the most anticipated products of 2027.

Music will also play a central role in the celebrations. Among the most important announcements is the arrival in Italy of the Japanese composer Yōko Kanno, author of the famous soundtracks for Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and numerous other productions that have marked the history of animation. Alongside her, Finley and I Cavalieri del Re will take to the stage, a historic group that has written some of the television theme songs most loved by anime fans. To testify to the cultural relevance achieved by the event, the 2026 edition will be able to count on the patronage of the European Commission. A recognition that enhances the role of Lucca Comics & Games as an excellence of Made in Italy and as a meeting place between different cultures, languages ​​and generations.