.jpg?20260326')
Thousands of pop culture and comic fans are expected to flock to the Bahrain International Circuit today for one of the most anticipated social events of the year.
Taking place today and tomorrow, the sixth edition of the Bahrain Comic Con (BCC 2025) promises an immersive experience, celebrating comics, gaming, anime, cosplay and more.
BCC is being held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
British actress Katie Leung, best remembered as Cho Chang from Harry Potter, who was previously announced to be attending, has cancelled her appearance at BCC 2025 due to ‘a shooting commitment’, organisers said in a story posted on their Instagram channel.
A number of celebrities have been confirmed for the two-day event, with question-and-answer sessions, meet-and-greets and autographs for each lined up.
The Kylo Ren Pop! figure
The confirmed celebrities are Japanese game director and producer Katsuhiro Harada, known for titles like Tekken and Dark Souls; Japanese voice actor Kikunosuke Toya, who voices the character Denji in the popular anime Chainsaw Man; American actor Giancarlo Esposito best known for portraying Gus Fring in Breaking Bad; British actor Isaac Hempstead Wright, best known for playing Bran Stark on Game of Thrones; Japanese voiceover actor Katsuhisa Houki recognisable from his parts in One Piece and The First Slam Dunk; Indian wrestling superstar Dalip ‘The Great Khali’ Singh; Egypt-born voiceover actress Aysha Selim, known for voicing Ana in Overwatch and Disney artist James C Mulligan.
The Great Khali
Tickets for autographs and photographs with select celebrities will be sold separately at the meet and greet area within BCC 2025.
Empire In The Desert expected to be launched by Mr Mulligan
Mr Mulligan announced this week that one of his pieces Empire In The Desert would be launched exclusively in Bahrain.
“Marhaba Bahrain! I cannot wait to see you guys this weekend,” Mr Mulligan said, in a video posted on social media.
“For Bahrain Comic Con, we got all kinds of fun stuff!”
Mr Esposito
Metal Gear Solid producer Scott Dolph, Perfect Blue animator Eiji Matsuo and the first Saudi female superhero’s creator Prince Fahad Al Saud have also been confirmed to be attending this year’s event.
Prince Fahad is the founder of Bedouin Comics and co-wrote Latifa: The Bedouin Blade with Stan Berkowitz.
Bahraini personality Baraa Abdulla is confirmed to, once again, be hosting the question-and-answer sessions this year.
Amongst other exclusives to BCC 2025 are special edition John Cena, Kylo Ren and Leroy (from Lilo and Stitch) Funko Pop! figures.
The Leroy Pop! figure expected to be showcased exclusively at BCC2025
In addition to celebrity appearances, there will be Tekken 8, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Marvels Rivals, Street Fighter, Fortnite, Overwatch, Mobile Legends, FC25, Valorant and Mortal Kombat esport tournaments, each with prize pools ranging from $500 to $1,500 (BD188 to BD565).
There will also be a cosplay competition in collaboration with Middle East Cosplay Summit, with a prize pool of $3,000 (BD1,131).
Kuwaiti cosplayer Majed Alkanderi will be returning to judge the competition. He will be joined by Saudi cosplayer ‘Hesakura’ and Indian cosplay champion Sameer Bundela.
Bahrain’s Kingdom Pro Wrestling will also be conducting a wrestling show tomorrow.
.jpg)
naman@gdnmedia.bh
Day 1 Schedule:
1pm: Doors open
2pm – 4pm: Autograph Sessions: Giancarlo Esposito, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Kikunosuke Toya, Katsuhisa Houki, Dalip ‘The Great Khali’ Singh, Katsuhiro Harada, Aysha Selim
4.15pm: Q&A with Aysha Selim and Katsuhiro Harada
4.40pm: Q&A with Giancarlo Esposito and Isaac Hempstead Wright
5pm: Q&A with Kikunosuke Toya and Katsuhisa Houki
5.30pm: Q&A with The Great Khali
5.30pm – 7.30pm: Autograph and Photograph sessions: Giancarlo Esposito, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Kikunosuke Toya, Katsuhisa Houki, Katsuhiro Harada, Aysha Selim
5.45pm – 7.45pm: Photograph session: The Great Khali
10pm: Gates close
&uuid=(email))