How the Comic Con Festival Influences the Development of Subcultures in Uzbekistan

Comic Con takes place every summer in Tashkent. Each year, the event grows in scale. New guests, participants in cosplay competitions, photo zones, and much more. For the so-called "non-conformist" audience, the festival becomes a place where one can finally be oneself and find oneself in the comfortable company of like-minded people. In this article, we will discuss the recent event and the importance of subcultures for society as a whole.

The geek culture festival has been running for the third consecutive year. The event took place on 15–16 August, traditionally at Humo Arena. According to the official website, 14,327 people purchased tickets. Visitors came from other countries, including Kazakhstan and Russia.

This year, two spaces were used simultaneously — the ice arena and the main hall, where the headline performances by the headliner and invited guests took place, along with the group and solo cosplay competitions.

This year, the organisers had prepared an unexpected surprise — a game culture festival called Game Con.

Guests and headliners of Comic Con 2026

This year's headliner was Shawn Fonteno (the likeness and voice of Franklin from GTA V). Special guests included Alina Kovaleva and Dmitry Vdovenko (My Metal Family), Randy Havens (Mr Clarke from Stranger Things), Kristian Nairn (Hodor from Game of Thrones), Dobryak, Chyorny Kabinet, as well as voice actors — Balfor (Alexander Rusakov) and Vsevolod Kuznetsov.

For me, as a fan of My Metal Family, the appearance of Alina and Dmitry was a gift from fate! I had been waiting for them for a long, long time and finally my wait was over. I love the animated series because I adore rock music and non-conformist people. Thanks to the series, I discovered several rock bands and songs.

The creators of the animated series turned out to be very polite, kind and pleasant to talk to. Despite being asked sometimes the same questions (given their previous interviews), they were open and answered them all. There were even spoilers about events we will see soon. Some of them will be in the second season of the series. I'll let you in on a secret: a feature-length film about Victoria might be released. But that's not certain. Another spoiler: Heavy will get a girlfriend named Angelika, who is a k-pop fanatic. The audience was concerned about the fate of Gustav (Glam's father) and Ches's mother. The creators shared that they will tell the story of Glam's father from a different angle, while Ches's mother will most likely be covered in the comics.

In my opinion, Alina and Dmitry should have been made the headliners — none of the other invited guests had such a long queue for autograph sessions or such an engaged audience. As far as I'm concerned, they drew the most attention.

Game Con and first impressions

For the first time in the festival's history, visitors could take part in amateur cosplay. No prior accreditation was required. Anyone in costume could sign up. Spaces were limited — 50 participants took part in the amateur cosplay. The venue was the Game Con zone.

The difference between amateur and professional costumes is often barely noticeable. There are those who make costumes but are afraid to perform in front of an audience, and there are those who prepare for the stage. However, amateur cosplay is more free-form in its participation. It has no strict regulations, and registration took place at a set time during the event. These participants are ordinary festival-goers. No preparation was needed, as it took the form of a catwalk showcase.

As for the official performances, participants must adhere to a specific set of rules from the organisers. These detail the requirements for costumes and performances. Accreditation is mandatory for them. Applications are reviewed in advance by the organisers. Spaces are limited, and time is needed to prepare for the stage presentation. For solo cosplay, performances are usually shorter (20 seconds to 1 minute), while group performances are slightly longer (around 2–3 minutes).

Game Con was mentioned earlier. This time, it could be accessed with a single Comic Con ticket. In the future, a separate festival dedicated to games and cosplay of game characters is planned.

At previous festivals, there was a zone for fans of computer games, Nintendo and Sega console games, as well as those classic 2D games about the Mario brothers and Mortal Kombat. This time, I didn't see such a large-scale setup with games on old computers. However, there were tables for those wanting to play the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D).

I had imagined the arena somewhat differently. Remembering past years, I expected to see many vintage computers and games. The zone was primarily intended for game developers, but there were very few of them.

What did captivate me, though, was the sword-fighting zone, just like last year. Real metal swords weighing 1.5–2 kg could not only be touched but even used to spar with an opponent. You could genuinely gain a bit of fencing experience. Fans of The Witcher were especially delighted.

They were also treated to a special guest — voice actor and the voice of Geralt of Rivia, Vsevolod Kuznetsov. He also voiced Altair from Assassin's Creed, Jim Raynor from Starcraft, Voldemort from Harry Potter, and Puss in Boots from Shrek. No one left without an autograph.

I missed the amateur cosplay due to scheduling. At that time, the creators of My Metal Family were performing, and I didn't want to miss them. In my view, the cosplay competition shouldn't have been held at the same time — the audience was forced to choose between two interesting items on the programme.

Comic Con Tashkent Cosplay 2026

The main stage hosted group and solo cosplay competitions. Participants created incredible costumes and sets, and also showcased their acting skills. The performances were engaging, dynamic, and vibrant. In my humble opinion, these were the best performances!

Compared to previous years, I would call this year's performances "absolutely stunning". In the past, I used to skip the competitions due to a lack of dynamism and weak delivery — I found them boring. I understand that the participants are not professional actors or dancers, but I felt something lavish, large-scale, and dynamic was missing. In the realities of Uzbekistan, achieving a great deal is quite challenging, both financially and physically. The country still has few crafters, although there are quite a number of people involved in sewing. But this year everything was different — some participants performed in sewn costumes, while others used crafted pieces. Notably, people in costumes from the rather complex universe of Warhammer 40,000 have been appearing actively of late.

What I enjoyed most was the performance from the group cosplay programme. It was truly dazzling. The participants chose characters from the Chinese animated series based on the book "Heaven Official's Blessing" — Green Demon Qi Rong and the Ghost Fire. One of the surprises for me was the performances set to songs from the cult animated film "Anastasia": Rasputin's song "In the Dark of the Night" and "Once Upon a December".

This number stole my heart. I was genuinely rooting for them, but — alas — they did not clinch the win. Still, they became champions of my personal chart. It is hard to pick second and third place for it, so here it will be a tie — the participants with cosplay based on the Chinese novel "Mo Dao Zu Shi", as well as Lord Shen and the Wolves from "Kung Fu Panda 2".

I really liked the peacock costume. I cannot help but note some acrobatic elements in the presentation. Nothing like that had been seen before. The "Dream Team" showed well-coordinated work. It is clear they had been preparing for more than a day. They carried themselves confidently on stage, even delivering the right emotions. It was truly impressive, given how difficult it is to move with a tail.

I also cannot pass by Dee and Leaf (My Metal Family). The contestants danced on stage. The atmosphere matched the characters from My Metal Family. The dance was excellent, but against the backdrop of participants with far more complex works and stage performances, this number lost out a little.

Despite the nerves before the performances, every participant is a winner. Performing on stage before a huge audience, and giving it your all at 200% — that takes great effort and is a victory in itself. I admire each and every one of them.

Let me briefly touch on solo cosplay. A participant named Akira, overcoming the pain of an injured leg, performed on stage. That requires not only courage but also fortitude. The entire hall cheered and rejoiced. Now that is what I call fan spirit!

Winners of the cosplay competition

There were a great many participants: 48 people in solo cosplay, and 20 teams of 2 to 6 people in group cosplay.

The cosplay competition was judged by experienced cosplayers — Mary Miyako, Nix, Mr. Evil.

The winners of the main cosplay show were Lyubanko and Aki Marso (Scarlet Witch and Agatha Harkness from Marvel), Vinni (Mima Kirigoe from the anime "Perfect Blue"), Vladizart (Harley Quinn from DC), Elester Elle (Dark Justiciar Shadowheart from the game Baldur's Gate III), Dio (Eivor from the game Assassin's Creed Valhalla).

I am genuinely delighted for the winners. Here, the judging operates on an entirely different level. What is assessed is the quality of the performance, acting, the quality of the sewing, and how well one embodies the character.

The geek festival as part of subculture

Subculture is part of almost everyone's life; it is a cultural phenomenon that has been studied since the 1920s. Geek culture is an integral part of it, so Comic Con with its fandom fits right in.

The geek culture festival attracts not only young people. It has become a family event. The boundaries between everyday life and the fantastical were blurred for two days. Anyone who wishes transforms into a beloved character from a comic, anime, cartoon, film, or game. The community warmly welcomes everyone.

Costume as a form of self-expression

People spend varying amounts on costumes. Some can make one from whatever is at hand with minimal expense, while others do it not only for themselves but also to win the competition. Approximate costs for preparation range from 1,000,000 soums and upwards. Some buy ready-made costumes: ordering them from marketplaces or from experienced cosplayers. The difference in price and quality is significant. Creating one takes from one month. The duration is determined by the complexity of the costume. You can spend two to three years. Creativity turns not only into a beloved hobby but also into a modest source of income.

We have already written more about cosplay in our article:

Cosplay in Tashkent: Dress up to become yourselfFrom the first masquerades to costume battles at Comic Con. HD magazine tells the story of how cosplay in Tashkent went from three people in a park to a community of thousands of heroes in armor and wigs.mag.humodoc.com

Why do people want to transform into heroes?

Transforming into a character is not merely a desire to become someone else. It is a sense of freedom, a chance to feel like who you want to be, here and now.

Today, events like Con (short for convention) have become an integral part of the subculture. Here, geeks from different fandoms come together: anime fans, gamers, fantasy enthusiasts, and comic book collectors.

The geek festival does not restrict its guests or participants. The only exception: certain countries may have specific rules for cosplay show contestants. Otherwise — come as you are, be whoever you want to be.

The role of subculture in society

A subculture is not just a way to attract attention. It is about communities built around shared interests and the support they offer. And the most important thing of all — being yourself.

The older generation in the CIS countries views subcultures with scepticism. Uzbekistan has its own challenges. We spoke with Comic Con attendees to hear their thoughts on how subcultures are perceived in our country, what benefit society gains from their diversity, and whether self-expression is worth pursuing.

— How do you think subcultures are viewed in Uzbekistan today?

I think it's more or less positive, because our cosplay community is constantly growing. Festivals take place at least twice a year. I believe this will have a positive impact on how people see us.

Grenka

Many people are against cosplay. They think it promotes non-traditional values. But it's simply a form of self-expression and creativity. There are plenty of people over 30 who make their own costumes, props, and sew by hand. They put a lot of work into it.

Elizabeth

I understand where the rejection of art forms like cosplay comes from in our country, since we've had some unpleasant incidents. Still, I hope that in the future cosplayers can walk down the street without fear of disapproving looks. It's the same kind of creativity as painting. You just express it in a more tangible form: costumes, props, wigs. It's all your own creative work. I hope people will come to understand that.

Monica

— Are subcultures beneficial to society?

It's hard to say definitively. There are movements that help clean up and protect nature, assist animals and people with illnesses. Such subcultures exist too. You should always judge not by cultures in general, but by individuals. Because any subculture can have a bad apple. But that doesn't say anything specific about the subculture itself.

Daler

I think subcultures are useful because they allow people to unite in communities and find like-minded individuals. That means we'll get out of the house and meet new people. Events will be organised, and there will be an exchange with others. Today, many international guests have arrived who will perform on the main stage, so that's a plus for tourism in Uzbekistan.

Dinara

— Why do you think it's important to let people express themselves through subcultures?

Self-expression isn't just about how young people present themselves to others. They have interests and ideas that can be brought to life. And it's actually quite admirable that people are willing to show that outwardly.

Samira

Yes. Because people may have a creative mindset but no way to express it other than through their appearance. And I believe that if people express themselves through their subculture, that's a good thing. It helps any generation grow.

Rina

I completely agree with Rina. Self-expression gives people freedom. That's how they channel their creative spirit. Self-expression benefits every person in their own way.

Lilin

Needed or not? Drawing conclusions

As a representative of a subculture, I'm pleased to see a growing number of people in this space. Geek culture festivals are more than just a means of self-expression — they're also a way to grow within society. Creative people are thinkers, seekers, and innovators. But they can often be shy, hesitant to wear a costume, afraid of judgement. And when a person finds a place where they're understood, admired, and accepted, self-confidence begins to bloom.

For many, Comic Con has become a place where they can be themselves. They don't need to pretend or hide. They come here to relax, socialise, make new friends, and discover something new. On a personal note, Comic Con has been held in the US since 1970. I dreamed of attending it. And I'm glad it now takes place in Uzbekistan. Yes, the scale isn't there yet, but this year's event was held to a high standard. I believe the bar will rise every year. Personally, I'm already looking forward to next year.

Subcultures are a layer of creative, talented people. Uzbekistan needs them, as they are a marker of cultural competition within society. And competition, as we know, has a positive effect on the development of all participants in the process. That's why subcultures should be allowed to flourish, not face obstacles because of isolated negative incidents in other countries.

In closing, I'd like to highlight one more significant moment that happened at Comic Con for the first time this year — and it was truly romantic. One of the cosplay show participants proposed to his beloved right after his performance, on the main stage. So far, it's the only such case in all the years the event has been held in Uzbekistan. So the festival isn't just about a love of creativity. It's also about love for people. As the host put it: "Miracles happen at Comic Con!"

Wishing you love and miracles too!

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