Lucca Comics & Games 2026 is gearing up to welcome cinema, TV series, and animation enthusiasts for a special edition, celebrating its sixtieth anniversary. From October 28 to November 1, the Movie Area will transform the historic center into a grand stage featuring premieres, international guests, meetings with directors and actors, and immersive installations. Here are the must-attend events.
Harry Potter and Percy Jackson: Magic Captivates Lucca
Among the most anticipated experiences (and ones that will likely require enduring long queues) is the HBO Max pavilion dedicated to Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the new HBO Original series arriving at Christmas 2026. In Piazza San Michele, fans can dive into the world of the young wizard thanks to thematic installations, photo opportunities, and elements inspired by the series, as they await the return to Hogwarts. Across in Piazza della Magione, Disney+ has prepared an experience devoted to Percy Jackson and the Olympians. While awaiting the third season, streaming from November 20, the festival will host actors Walker Scobell, Leah Sava’ Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri, together with producers Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz. On October 30, during a dedicated panel, unseen clips from the third season will be shown.
The Hunger Games, Fast & Furious, and Dexter Returns
Fast & Furious returns to the big screen to celebrate 25 years since the release of the first film. On October 28 at 7:00 PM at the Astra cinema, audiences can relive the underground races and atmosphere that sparked one of the most beloved action franchises, ahead of its return to theaters on October 29. Paramount+ will present the second season of Dexter: Resurrection, premiering October 30, with a special screening preceded by a talk on October 29. In Piazza Anfiteatro, there is also an immersive pavilion dedicated to the franchise’s twenty-year milestone and the new season. Not to be missed, on November 1, the special screening of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, the new chapter drawn from Suzanne Collins’s novels. Directed by Francis Lawrence and hitting Italian cinemas on November 19, the film brings viewers back into Panem’s world. Throughout the event, there will also be a dedicated installation in Piazza San Giusto.
Italian and International TV Series: From 883 to Cyberpunk
Sky and NOW bring to Lucca Nord Sud Ovest Est – The Legendary Story of the 883, the second season of the Sky Original series directed by Sydney Sibilia, available from October 9 on Sky and NOW. On October 30, at the Astra cinema, the director will meet the audience alongside actors Elia Nuzzolo and Matteo Oscar Giuggioli, for a premiere screening of the fifth episode. In Piazza San Francesco, there is also a space dedicated to the world of the 883s.
Fans of Japanese animation can instead delve into the world of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 with the panel Emotional Damage: How Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 Makes You Feel, scheduled for October 30. Showrunner Bartosz Sztybor and executive producer Saya Elder will discuss the creation of the series set in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe, in anticipation of its Netflix debut. Netflix will also celebrate the global phenomenon K-POP Demon Hunters, while Crunchyroll will return for the fourth consecutive year with a 150-square-meter immersive pavilion, installations, exclusive merch, and activities focused on One Piece, Black Clover, The Apothecary Diaries, and Firefly Wedding. Among the main events, the Crunchyroll Show will feature announcements and novelties, including the world premiere of the first two episodes of the third season of Shangri-La Frontier. On Friday, October 30, Li Haoling, author and director of Link Click and To Be Hero X, will make his first official appearance in Italy. The program includes a panel and the screening of an exclusive recap film for Link Click.
Adventure Time, One Piece, and Major Anime Premieres
Animation fans can reunite with Finn and Jake in Adventure Time: Legendary Missions, a new series set in the Land of Ooo. Expect a treasure hunt, an immersive photocall, and special activities, with showrunner Nate Cash participating in talks, screenings, and autograph sessions. The series arrives on October 5 on Cartoon Network and HBO Max and on November 2 on Boing. Toei Animation Europe will dedicate a pavilion to One Piece, featuring activities, photo opportunities, exclusive products, and a space in the KIDS area. PreCure will also return, with the Western premiere of Star Detective PreCure – The Movie! on October 30, followed by a screening the next day, with producer Hibiki Minagawa in attendance. Among notable events is also the national preview of Gintama the Movie 2026: Yoshiwara in Flames, scheduled for October 30. Director Naoya Ando and producer Takashi Maekawa will meet the audience at the screening. Also on October 30, Lucky Red will present Look Back, an adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga, in the presence of director Hirokazu Kore-eda.
From Studio Ghibli to The Cat in the Hat: Animation Takes Center Stage
On October 31, Warner Bros. Pictures will present The Cat in the Hat, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s first animated feature, directed by Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja, slated to arrive in Italian cinemas on November 5. Participating in the presentation will be Carloni and Italian voice actors Stefano Fresi and Herbert Ballerina. A dedicated area for the film will also be set up at Loggiato Pretorio. Lucky Red will open the Movie Area program on October 28 with the preview of Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon, accompanied by the founder of Aardman Studios Peter Lord and director Matthew Walker. For fans of Japanese animated cinema, Kiki’s Delivery Service will return to the big screen, a remastered 4K edition of Hayao Miyazaki’s classic. Lucky Red will be present at Loggiato Pretorio with a stand and a full area dedicated to Studio Ghibli.
Horror Nights: From Godzilla to Popeye’s Revenge
In 2026, the Lucca Comics & Games Horror Nights return as well, featuring premieres and special screenings for genre cinema lovers. Among the most anticipated events is Godzilla Minus One, which will have its national premiere on October 31 at the Astra Cinema. Director Takashi Yamazaki returns to helm the franchise after the success of the previous chapter, which won an Oscar for its visual effects. The film, produced by TOHO and the first Japanese feature shot in IMAX, will arrive in Italian cinemas on November 12.
On October 28, It Ends will be shown, the feature debut of Alexander Ullom, a psychological horror that turns a nighttime journey into a spine-chilling experience. Minerva Pictures, FilmClub Distribuzione, and Digital United Studios will also bring The Nameless Ballad, Federico Zampaglione’s new film, which will be present in Lucca with co-screenwriter Barbara Baraldi before its theatrical release on November 5. Also on the bill are Arachnid – Deadly Web, a story about a residential complex invaded by venomous spiders, and Popeye’s Revenge, a horror reinterpretation of the iconic Popeye, destined for streaming on Scream Hub after its premiere. The program is completed by Hope, a horror thriller from South Korean director Na Hong-jin, making its Italian premiere in Lucca before a national release on November 5, distributed by MUBI. The film tells of the arrival of a mysterious creature that turns a hunting trip into a nightmare, featuring an international cast that includes Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Hoyeon.
Auteur Cinema, Comics, and Docu-Games
The Movie Area program isn’t limited to the big franchises. Among the titles to discover is Caro Mondo Crudele, directed by Niccolò Falsetti and enriched by animated sequences conceived by Zerocalcare, the author of the concept and character design for the animated characters. The screening will be introduced in Lucca by Falsetti, Francesco Turbanti, and Zerocalcare himself.
From Ratigher’s graphic novel comes Le ragazzine stanno perdendo il controllo. La società le teme. La fine è azzurra, Pierluca Di Pasquale’s debut feature with Sara Ciocca and Anita Serafini. The film will be introduced by the author of the original comic, who also co-wrote the adaptation. The festival will also pay homage to Frank Miller with the screening of the documentary Frank Miller: American Genius, directed by Silenn Thomas. The film traces nearly fifty years of the creator’s career, with works such as Sin City and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. Miller and the director will be present in Lucca. Among other offerings, there is Momo, a new adaptation of Michael Ende’s novel directed by Christian Ditter, featuring Martin Freeman as Master Hora and slated for release on January 21, 2027.
There will also be space for RIFT – The Future Is at Stake, a docu-game written by Claudio Di Biagio and Andrea Gallo and directed by Di Biagio himself. The project turns climate change into a role-playing game, following four communicators confronting near-future scenarios. The screening will be introduced by the director, who also serves as the game master. Mediaset Infinity will offer a “time machine” dedicated to cult content of Italian television, including a mini-game about the history of cinema and TV. Finally, on November 1, Lucca will host La mia anima ha fretta, the debut documentary by Giuseppe Contarino that tells the story of Nicolas Gentile, who dreams of building in Abruzzo a real Hobbit-like county inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien after a diagnosis that changed his relationship with time.
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