Cartoon Club

From July 12 to 19, 2026, Rimini is preparing to host the 42nd edition of Cartoon Club / Riminicomix, one of the most anticipated events among Italy’s comic book, animated film, and video game festivals.

Set between the sea and the historic center— —and taking place across outdoor arenas, museums, libraries, and art galleries, a rich program of events will infuse the entire city with the myriad shades of pop culture: 200 animated short films, film premieres, creative workshops, masterclasses, meetings with internationally renowned authors and artists, and exhibitions. Among these is an exhibition dedicated to John Nevarez, a guest of the festival and visual development artist for *Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse*, *Coco*, *Inside Out*, and many other animated gems.

From July 16 to 19, Piazzale Fellini will come alive with festivities once again this year, hosting a major gathering for fans of comics, anime, video games, and TV series—an event that annually brings together publishers, artists, vendors of merchandise and comics, themed areas, and exciting performances.
The evenings at the Show & Music Stage will feature concerts by Italian and international artists such as:

• Mai dire Goku, a live show featuring a band and DJ sets centered around anime and cartoon theme songs that have served as the soundtrack for an entire generation,
• Raggi Fotonici, legendary composers of cartoon music (Gumball, Fairy Tail, Digimon Adventure), celebrating 30 years in the business and 25 years since their first live performance
• Mika Kobayashi, a Japanese singer-songwriter and pianist—one of the most iconic voices in anime music—who will take the stage with a special performance in collaboration with Tetsuro Shimaguchi, choreographer of the martial arts scenes in Tarantino’s *Kill Bill* and many other films, and his group of martial artists, Samurai Artist Kamui.
• Generazione Vanni, a unique show where you can sing your heart out to all your favorite theme songs, from the ’90s to today, with the iconic voice of Giorgio Vanni… and then let loose to the beat of the bass drum with Daniel Tek’s “Alla DiscoTEKa” DJ set .

As always, cosplay will take center stage (July 16–19), thanks to one of Italy’s most prominent conventions, which will culminate on the afternoon of Saturday, July 18, with the official contest.
In addition, for the first time in Rimini, you’ll be able to catch Crossover Wrestling, the only cosplay wrestling show in Italy. 
Among the most memorable events is Italy’s largest cosplay sunrise: a unique event that, on the morning of July 18, will bring together hundreds of cosplayers and fans for a group photo by the sea at first light, transforming Rimini’s beach into an extraordinary stage where fantasy and reality meet.

This year’s guest of honor is Giorgio Cavazzano, one of the great masters of European comics, famous for revolutionizing the Disney style with a dynamic, cinematic approach.

To honor him, the following events are planned:

• the exhibition “Giorgio Cavazzano, the Mark of a Master” from July 12 to September 6 at the Rimini City Museum
• the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Comic Book Literature during the evening of Saturday, July 18. On this occasion, to celebrate the master, a staged reading of *Mickey Mouse Presents: La Strada* will be performed , in collaboration with the Fellini Museum.