Malta Comic Con 2026 Schedule of Events
Saturday 10th October 2026
| Time | Stage 1 | Time | Stage 2 |
| 11:00 – 11.45 | One of Us – Life After Starring in a Cult Favourite. From Power Rangers to Little China and Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, these familiar actors have put their stamp on iconic roles which have followed them throughout their lives. Join Chris Thompson (Senior Editor of Heavy Metal magazine) as he sits down with Alyson Sullivan and James Davies from Power Rangers, James Pax from Big Trouble in Little China, and Julie Dawn Cole from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, to discuss their memories of these celebrated roles and how they have impacted their work and lives since then. | 11:00 – 11.45 | Calling all young aspiring artists! Join Dutch comic creator and illustrator Renee Rienties for a fun, interactive Manga Drawing Workshop designed especially for kids! In this engaging hands-on session, children will learn the secrets of drawing in the popular manga style step-by-step. Guided directly by Renee, participants will follow along, practice key drawing techniques, and interact first-hand with a professional artist to bring their own unique characters to life. It’s the perfect opportunity for young creators to unleash their imagination and build confidence on the page! Entry: Free drop-in — no registration required, just show up and get ready to draw! |
| 12:00 – 12.45 | Akira Revisited — Bringing Anime to the West with Andy Frain Join pop culture host LevelUpLeroy and industry veteran Andy Frain for a deep-dive retrospective on Akira. Following its explosive recent cinema returns and brand-new IMAX re-release, this panel explores how Katsuhiro Otomo’s cyberpunk masterpiece shattered cultural barriers, redefined sci-fi cinema, and paved the way for the global anime boom we see today. | 12:00 – 12.45 | Think you know your pop culture? Put your knowledge to the test in the ultimate Pop-Culture Ultimate Trivia Showdown! Join us on the Main Stage for a fast-paced, multi-media quiz battle packed with variety. We’ll be putting your eyes and ears to the test with rapid-fire rounds: name the movie from a single iconic frame, identify famous anime and game theme songs from short audio stings, guess the character behind famous voice impressions, and tackle classic geek trivia! Whether you’re a film buff, gamer, anime fan, or music lover, there’s something for everyone. Come play from the crowd or step up to the mic to claim awesome prizes and ultimate bragging rights! How to Enter: Register in person at the Info Point starting from 10:00 AM on Saturday. Max 4 couples (8 particiapants) |
| 13:00 – 13:45 | Prepare To Meet Your Doom! Game designer and programmer John Romero is an industry legend, known for his pioneering work on Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein 3D. He helped to shape the first-person shooter genre for gamers worldwide and has received numerous awards for his efforts, including the Game Developers Choice Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. In this fascinating one-on-one discussion with Heavy Metal Senior Editor Chris Thompson, he dives into the story of his career and how he has pioneered gameplay to help deliver unique stories and settings. | 13:00 – 13:45 | Super Hero Fight Club! – Learn to put together fight scenes and film them. Create that viral moment for social media and have some fun with comic book artist James Roach, who in his life before comics was a martial arts teacher, fight choreographer and stuntman amongst other things. Ideal for cosplayers, film fans and anyone who wants to have fun! |
| 14:00 – 14:45 | Rewriting the Cosmos — An Audience with Comic Legend Andy Lanning Join pop culture host LevelUpLeroy for an unmissable deep-dive conversation with legendary comic book writer and artist Andy Lanning. From spearheading the definitive modern era of Guardians of the Galaxy and Annihilation—which laid the absolute blueprint for Marvel’s cinematic universe—to iconic runs across DC and beyond, this panel explores the craft of building worlds that capture the global imagination. | 14:00 – 14:45 | Guess Who? challenge: Get ready to test your pop-culture deduction skills in our brand-new stage event: Guess Who? Live! Contestants will go head-to-head on stage in a giant, interactive version of the classic mystery board game. Facing off with secret pop-culture characters—ranging from iconic comic book heroes and anime legends to famous video game stars—players must ask clever Yes-or-No questions to narrow down the field and unmask their opponent’s character before time runs out! Think you have what it takes to outsmart your rival and claim the ultimate victory on stage? Seats are limited, so make sure to register early! How to Enter: Register in person at the Info Point starting from 10:00 AM on Saturday. Max 4 couples (8 particiapants) |
| 15:00 – onwards | Cosplay Competition (All Groups) | 15:00 – onwards | Cosplay Competition (All Groups) |
| 18:00 | Event Ends | 18:00 | Event Ends |
Sunday 11th October 2026
| Time | Stage 1 | Time | Stage 2 |
| 11:00 – 11.45 | British Talent Making The Descent Heavy Metal Senior Editor Chris Thompson sits down with a vast array of British film and television talent to discuss the way they approach darker narratives and strange settings in their work. This panel includes an impressive line-up of stars, including actors Shauna MacDonald, Julian Lewis Jones, Hugh Spight, and John Simpkin. | 11:00 – 11.45 | Children’s Workshop with Esther van de Bund Calling all young artists! Join acclaimed Dutch illustrator and comic creator Esther van de Bund (Floris en Meneer Tortellini, Cooking with Abe and Esther) for a fun, hands-on workshop at Malta Comic Con! Known for her vibrant manga-inspired art, love of nature, and interactive storytelling, Esther will guide kids through the magic of creating their own characters and comic strips. Perfect for budding illustrators eager to learn how to bring fun ideas and furry friends to life on paper! |
| 12:00 – 12.45 | Setting Sail with the Marines The Journey Of One Piece from Page to Screen! — An In-Depth Conversation with Vincent Regan & Craig Fairbrass Join pop culture host LevelUpLeroy for an exclusive, high-energy conversation with One Piece stars Vincent Regan and Craig Fairbrass. Dive behind the scenes of Netflix’s groundbreaking live-action adaptation, explore the unique journey of bringing an iconic manga and anime to global live-action life, and discover what happens when classic British screen grit meets the ultimate anime phenomenon. | 12:00 – 12.45 | LEVEL UP YOUR COSPLAY: 3D Modeling & Wearable Design “Discover how to create digital designs to evolve the way you create cosplay armor, props and wearable pieces. In this workshop, Horo Von Kaida will introduce you to the art of 3D and the creative process behind turning an idea into a cosplay piece using 3D modeling and 3D printing. From the fundamentals of ZBrush and Blender to preparing models for wearable designs, custom props and sewing patterns. Join the panel to learn the practical techniques through cosplay examples. Whether you’re completely new to 3D modeling or already experimenting with digital art, the workshop is designed to give you an introduction to bringing your cosplay ideas from screen to reality”. |
| 13:00 – 13:45 | Sketch Challenge – Watch a lineup of talented artists take the stage to battle head-to-head, drawing famous pop culture figures in completely hilarious, absurd settings. This is a fresh new twist on our popular One-Minute Sketch Challenge—and audience impact is paramount. As they race against the clock to capture the madness, your cheers and votes will directly decide who conquers each round and claims the crown as this year’s ultimate winner! | 13:00 – 13:45 | In Conversation with Pietro Ubaldi | Moderated by Wicked Comics Join us at Malta Comic Con for an exciting live interview with legendary Italian voice actor Pietro Ubaldi! Famous for bringing iconic characters to life—from Captain Barbossa (Pirates of the Caribbean) and Jeremy Clarkson (Top Gear) to beloved cartoon figures like Doraemon, Patrick Star (SpongeBob SquarePants), and Uan (Bim Bum Bam)—Ubaldi is a true giant of voice acting. Moderated by Wicked Comics, this session will take fans behind the mic for a fun, nostalgic look at his decades-long career dubbing anime, blockbuster films, and classic TV shows. |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | Master Class with Neil Marshall | Moderated by Arts Council Malta Join us at Malta Comic Con for an exclusive master class with acclaimed British director, writer, and editor Neil Marshall! From cult horror classics like Dog Soldiers and The Descent to helm-directing epic TV battles in Game of Thrones (“The Watchers on the Wall”) and Westworld, Marshall brings decades of genre-defining experience to the stage. Moderated by Arts Council Malta, this session offers aspiring filmmakers and fans an in-depth look into visual storytelling, directing high-octane action, and navigating the film industry. Don’t miss this chance to learn directly from a master of suspense and world-building! | 14:00 – 14:45 | Script to Page Hosted by Alex De Luca American writer of Dragon Whisperer and Enigmatown and James Roach comic artist (Blades of the Fallen Sun, Ghost Protocol) from Liverpool in the UKLearn how comics are made from a finished script to the pencilled page. featuring a live drawing session with audience participation. Come along and learn how to make your own comics or just laugh as you get to watch an artist buckle under the time constraints! |
| 15:00 – onwards | Cosplay Competition (All Groups) | 15:00 – onwards | Cosplay Competition (All Groups) |
| 18:00 | Event Ends | 18:00 | Event Ends |