Gulf Living
MEFCC Festival Plaza 2026: Everything You Need to Know About Abu Dhabi’s Ultimate Pop-Culture Weekend
Get ready, Abu Dhabi — Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC) is back from 11–13 September 2026, bringing three days of celebrities, cosplay, anime, gaming, music, food and all things pop culture to ADNEC Centre.
One of the biggest attractions? The Festival Plaza, MEFCC’s outdoor entertainment hub, where fans can take a break from the convention floor while still being right in the middle of the action.
Who’s coming?
The celebrity line-up is a major draw this year. John Cena will be appearing on 12 and 13 September, while Simu Liu — aka Marvel’s Shang-Chi — joins the festival on 11 September.
Anime fans can look forward to Mackenyu, Netflix’s One Piece star who plays Roronoa Zoro. Other guests include Pom Klementieff (Guardians of the Galaxy), Arden Cho (Teen Wolf, KPop Demon Hunters), Charithra Chandran (Bridgerton, Dune: Prophecy), Joonas Suotamo and Jacob Romero.
What can you expect?
The Festival Plaza is where MEFCC’s entertainment really comes to life. Expect live music, DJs, dance performances, competitions, games, giveaways and plenty of photo opportunities throughout the weekend.
Friday kicks things off with the Just Dance 2026 Competition, live performances and music, while Saturday is all about cosplay.
The MEFCC Cosplay Competition is one of the weekend’s biggest highlights, with fans battling it out across categories including Best Kids Cosplay, Best Performance and Best Craftsmanship. There’s also the World Cosplay Summit UAE Preliminary, giving UAE cosplayers a chance to progress towards the global competition in Japan.
Sunday brings even more entertainment, including K-pop-inspired performances and a DJ set from DJ Jeremy.
Food, food and more food
You’ll also find the MEFCC Food Truck Park in the Plaza, serving a variety of food and drinks throughout the festival. Expect everything from sweet treats to vegan and gluten-free options — perfect for refuelling between celebrity appearances and cosplay competitions.
When is it?
📍 ADNEC Centre, Abu Dhabi
📅 11–13 September 2026
Friday: 3pm–11pm
Saturday: 12pm–11pm
Sunday: 12pm–11pm
Tickets currently start from AED 160, with a Buy 4, Get 1 Free offer available on selected tickets. VIP tickets are already sold out.
Whether you’re there for John Cena, Zoro, Marvel, anime, K-pop, cosplay or simply the atmosphere, MEFCC Festival Plaza is set to be one of the liveliest places to be in Abu Dhabi this September.
Our tip? Check the celebrity schedules before you go, plan your must-see moments and leave plenty of time for the Plaza — because you’ll probably end up staying longer than planned.
For more info visit: https://www.mefcc.com/
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