Casale Comics & Games
Casale's comics, cosplay and games festival: a spring weekend spread across the Castello del Monferrato, the Palafiere and other venues in the centre, with comic artists and exhibitions, an artist alley, cosplay, gaming and Lego areas and live shows.
Why it's special
It uses the whole city rather than one hall: the castle, the fair halls, the Teatro Municipale and in some years museums, libraries and the synagogue complex host exhibitions of original artwork. Big names in comics and animation come as guests (in 2025 the One Piece animation director Keiichi Ichikawa and Vittorio Giardino), and the charity auction of guests' drawings supports research into environmental and asbestos-related diseases.
Programme · 2027
10th edition, at the Castello del Monferrato, the Palafiere Riccardo Coppo and the Teatro Municipale.
- Tickets are sold online on the festival site.
- The venues are a short walk apart in the centre, with the castle as the hub; the cosplay parade goes round the fortress.
- Some exhibitions open a week before the festival weekend.
For one spring weekend Casale Monferrato is taken over by comics, cosplay and games. Casale Comics & Games doesn't sit in a single hall: the Castello del Monferrato is the hub, the Palafiere Riccardo Coppo takes the publishers, games and the big Lego and gaming areas, and the Teatro Municipale and, in some years, the city's museums and libraries host exhibitions of original artwork.
There's an artist alley with a hundred-plus authors, signings, a cosplay parade round the castle, retro gaming and live shows: cartoon-theme singers, voice actors and online creators. The guest list mixes Italian comics masters with names from Japanese animation.
The festival also raises money for research into environmental and asbestos-related diseases: guest artists draw original plates that are auctioned online, and decorate limited-edition tins of the town's Krumiri biscuits.
Past editions
| Year | Dates | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 3–4 April 2027 | 10th edition, at the Castello del Monferrato, the Palafiere Riccardo Coppo and the Teatro Municipale. Sat 3 – Sun 4 April – comics and gadget stands, artist alley, games and video-game areas, cosplay parade at the castle, live shows with voice actors, authors and online creators |
| 2026 | 23–24 May 2026 | 9th edition, at the castle, the Palafiere and in the historic centre. Sat 23 – Sun 24 May – publishers' stands and signings at the Palafiere, cosplay through the town with free photo shoots, Italian cosplay associations and guests |
| 2025 | 24–25 May 2025 | 8th edition, across ten venues in the city, 10:00–19:00 both days; some exhibitions open from 16 May. Exhibitions – Keiichi Ichikawa (One Piece animation director) in the castle chapel; a double exhibition of Vittorio Giardino Artist alley – more than 100 authors Cosplay – guests including NikitaCosplay and Blondie Vegas, and a Cosplay Challenge on the main stage Palafiere – Japan pavilion, retro gaming and a Lego area of over 1,000 m² Sun 25 May – Giorgio Vanni in concert Charity – "Tavole della Ricerca" original drawings auctioned online, and Krumiri tins decorated by the guest artists, for research into asbestos-related diseases |
| 2024 | 25–26 May 2024 | 7th edition. |