Spring Edition 2026 · Parco Esposizioni Novegro · 16–17 May 2026
There are events you attend as a photographer, and then there are events you actually live. Festival del Fumetto, for me, has always been the latter.
The Spring Edition 2026 returned to Parco Esposizioni Novegro on the weekend of 16–17 May, and — as it does every year — it turned the fairgrounds of Segrate into one of the most visually alive spaces in northern Italy. Over 20,000 square metres of exhibition space spread across four pavilions, more than 200 exhibitors, a dedicated Cosplay Village, a full Artist Alley with fifty illustrators, live stage performances, gaming areas, manga, retrogaming, trading cards, and the kind of energy that makes it genuinely difficult to decide where to point a camera first.
The park surrounding the venue — all 100,000 square metres of it — was once again the unofficial shooting stage for anyone who came dressed for the occasion. And that, this year, is exactly where my focus was.
A different approach: booked sessions, not happy accidents
I’ve covered this event before, working the floor with a camera, catching candid moments and spontaneous encounters. That approach has its own magic. But this edition, I wanted something more intentional. Weeks before the event, I reached out to a group of cosplayer friends and set up dedicated shooting sessions — pre-planned, unhurried, and built around the idea of treating each person as a subject rather than a subject in a crowd.
The result was a day that moved between two very different rhythms: the frenetic, colourful chaos inside the pavilions, and the quieter, more focused sessions out in the park, where the light was good and there was actual space to breathe and collaborate.
The roster
Fifteen people gave me their time that weekend, and I’m genuinely grateful for every one of those sessions. In order of when we shot: Akira, Alessandra, Anna, Gaya, Kara, Laura, Lilla, Nekos, Nicoleta, Pepi, Scarlet G, Scarlett, Cami, Silvia, and Francesca. Each of them brought something different — a different character, a different costume, a different personality in front of the lens. The photos say the rest.
What struck me most about working this way — pre-booked, personal — is how much more you get out of both sides of the camera. There’s a conversation that happens when someone knows you’re there specifically for them. The posing becomes more natural. The expressions open up. And as a photographer, you’re not chasing the shot; you’re building it together.
The event itself
Beyond the shooting, Festival del Fumetto delivered exactly what its audience expects — and then some. The Cosplay Village in Pavilion D was buzzing all day, with association stands, activities, and a competition stage that drew solid crowds. Pavilion B’s Artist Alley was a highlight, packed with original illustration work ranging from manga-influenced pieces to Western comics styles, with artists taking commission requests on the spot.
Saturday’s guest of honour was voice actor Renato Novara — one of the most recognisable names in Italian anime dubbing — whose presence drew a dedicated crowd and underlined how much the festival has grown into a proper pop-culture event, not just a trade fair. The Huntrix Cosplay Crew also took the stage Saturday evening, closing with a choreographed performance that was, by any measure, worth staying for.
If you’ve never been to Novegro for this, the Spring Edition is the one to catch. The weather cooperates, the park is at its best, and the cosplay quality at this event consistently raises the bar. I’ll be back for the next one — probably with an even longer booking list.
