From 28 October to 1 November 2026, the Tuscan city of Lucca will welcome fans of comics, Japanese animation, video games, fantasy fiction and cosplay from across the world. For five days, its medieval streets and Renaissance squares become the setting for exhibitions, games, concerts, new releases and encounters with celebrated creators. The 2026 edition is particularly significant: Lucca Comics & Games marks sixty years since the event began in 1966. For international visitors, a flight to northern Italy followed by an airport transfer can be a practical way to attend. Three distinct airports serve this option: Milan Malpensa (MXP), Milan Linate (LIN) and Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY). Each offers different routes and departure times, while a transfer connects the arrival terminal with accommodation in Lucca.
How medieval Lucca became a capital of popular culture
The story began in 1966, when comics were still fighting for recognition as a serious art form. Over the following six decades, a specialist gathering developed into one of Europe's best-known celebrations of comics, illustration, manga, gaming and fantasy. Today the event brings together publishers, writers, film-makers, musicians, game developers, artists and enthusiastic visitors of all ages. More than 280,000 admission tickets were sold for the 2025 edition, in addition to visitors enjoying the freely accessible streets. Despite that scale, the festival has preserved an extraordinary characteristic: it takes place across the historic city rather than in a remote convention centre.
Lucca's architecture is essential to that experience. The walled centre retains medieval towers, old churches, intimate squares and Renaissance buildings, and many become stages or meeting points during the event. Cosplayers portraying comic-book heroes, anime characters and fantastical creatures mingle with residents and tourists. Elaborate costumes look particularly striking against the stone façades and winding streets. A visit is therefore about far more than browsing an exhibition hall: it is a chance to experience a historic Italian city temporarily transformed by contemporary imagination.
Legacy: the theme of the diamond anniversary
The organisers chose Legacy as the theme for the sixtieth-anniversary edition. It refers both to the history of the festival itself and to the characters, stories and creative ideas that pass between generations. Works once appreciated mainly by enthusiasts have grown into global cultural landmarks, shaping cinema, literature, animation and games. The anniversary programme explores that continuity through major guests, archival exhibitions and projects involving a new generation of artists. Instead of looking at the past in isolation, the festival asks what today's creative communities will pass on to tomorrow's audiences.
The official anniversary poster is the work of Italian illustrator Claudio Castellini, whose career includes major American superhero comics. His composition brings together characters associated with historic Lucca festival artwork, turning the image into a visual story of the event's development. The exhibition Tocchi da Maestro celebrates Castellini's technique and influence, while Lucca Legacy: A Comics & Games Story at Palazzo Guinigi considers six decades of publishing, illustration, play and community. These projects give the anniversary a cultural dimension beyond the spectacular costumes and product launches.
Famous guests: Frank Miller, Go Nagai, Hideki Kamiya and more
Japanese manga pioneer Go Nagai is among the most eagerly awaited guests. His creations include Mazinger Z, Devilman and UFO Robot Grendizer, titles that helped shape generations of animation fans far beyond Japan. The programme for 28 October includes Go Nagai: Maxishowcase, an opportunity to watch the artist at work, alongside events exploring his creative legacy. Italian audiences have a particularly strong connection to these titles, which became part of the country's television culture decades ago. His appearance illustrates how the festival connects international creators with local communities of fans.
American comic-book artist and writer Frank Miller, associated with Sin City, 300 and influential Batman stories, is another leading name. A 29 October event considers the impact of his work on the superhero genre. The announced guests also include Marvel writer Jonathan Hickman, Beastars creator Paru Itagaki, British illustrator Chris Riddell and composer Yoko Kanno, whose music is familiar to anime audiences worldwide. Together, these figures represent the breadth of the programme: visitors can move from European illustration to American comics and from Japanese manga to the music of animated series.
Video games and tabletop role-playing occupy an equally important place. Game director Hideki Kamiya, whose career is associated with Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, is scheduled to meet audiences on 29 October. Actor Joe Manganiello is involved in special activities centred on Dungeons & Dragons, while designers and publishers present collectible card games, new tabletop releases and role-playing projects. Such sessions are not merely promotional: they offer fans a rare opportunity to hear from the people who build the fictional worlds in which they spend so much time.
Cosplay, anime and games throughout the city
At Lucca Comics & Games the public is part of the spectacle. Thousands of visitors create costumes inspired by cinema, manga, superhero comics and games, often spending months on precise details and custom-made props. Some outfits include sophisticated mechanical parts, lighting or large structures; others recreate recognisable characters with astonishing accuracy using fabric and make-up. Groups stage scenes from their favourite fictional universes, while photographers use the medieval city as a natural backdrop. This makes a walk through Lucca unexpectedly theatrical, even for someone who has not purchased a ticket to a pavilion.
The different creative fields also have dedicated spaces. Comics publishers and artists take part in presentations and signing sessions; tabletop and role-playing activities are concentrated around the Carducci pavilion; manga and anime attract audiences to spaces dedicated to Japanese culture. The anniversary programme includes a presentation of Defenders of Hogwarts, a board game set in the Harry Potter universe and developed with the involvement of the design studio MinaLima. These events give visitors opportunities to discover upcoming titles as well as established favourites.
Saturday 31 October coincides with Halloween, adding another dimension to the festival's atmosphere. Fantasy costumes, horror-inspired designs and elaborate make-up naturally fit the date, but the event is much more than a giant costume party. Across five days there are talks for professionals, exhibitions, performances and activities for families and children. That diversity explains why the festival appeals to curious travellers as well as committed collectors and fans.
Dates, tickets and planning a visit
The festival runs from Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November 2026. The main exhibition hours are generally 09:00 to 19:00, with additional evening events. Because programmes take place simultaneously in different parts of the old city, a visitor cannot realistically attend every meeting in one day. Admission to the principal paid festival areas requires a named ticket, and certain talks, signings and special sessions operate separate booking systems. A standard entry ticket does not guarantee admission to every encounter with a famous guest, particularly when audience numbers are restricted.
Not every part of the experience requires a ticket. Public streets remain an important part of the celebration, and several cultural exhibitions have separate access arrangements. The official programme, ticketing details and reservations are published at official Lucca Comics & Games 2026 website. For a large anniversary event, planning accommodation, arrival times and onward transport is as important as selecting a favourite panel. The busiest periods are likely to be the weekend and the Halloween celebrations, when many people will want to be in the historic centre at the same time.
Which airports are convenient for reaching the festival?
Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA) is geographically closer to Lucca than any of the three airports discussed here. Nevertheless, the choice of flight can make northern Italy attractive, particularly for visitors who prefer a direct service or are connecting from a long-haul destination. Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), Milan Linate Airport (LIN) and Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport (BGY) have different networks, locations and airlines. They are three separate airports, not one generic 'Milan airport', and the onward road journeys differ accordingly. A convenient flight schedule can sometimes outweigh the additional road distance to Tuscany.
Festival visitors often travel with more than a small suitcase. Large cosplay outfits, fragile props, display material, collectible purchases and luggage for a multi-day stay can make several railway changes inconvenient. A transfer offers a single road journey from the chosen airport to a hotel or agreed arrival point in Lucca. The final drop-off must nevertheless respect temporary restrictions on motor vehicles around the historic centre. That detail is especially important during the festival, when normal access and parking rules may change.
Transfer from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) to Lucca
Milan Malpensa is an important international gateway for northern Italy, with European flights as well as long-haul connections. For overseas visitors attending Lucca Comics & Games, it may offer an attractive arrival schedule even though the airport is some distance from Tuscany. The road journey to Lucca is approximately 325 kilometres, with an indicative driving time of three hours and twenty minutes in favourable conditions. During the festival, traffic around the destination and on major roads can extend the trip to four hours or longer. Roadworks, departure times and the exact accommodation address also affect the total journey.
The route normally runs towards Parma and then crosses the Apennines in the direction of La Spezia before continuing to Lucca. It includes motorway sections, bridges and tunnels through mountainous terrain. Travellers coming off an intercontinental flight may particularly appreciate continuing directly from the terminal rather than first travelling into Milan to find a train. Families, groups of friends and people carrying bulky costumes benefit from keeping luggage in one vehicle throughout the journey. The precise vehicle category can be chosen according to the number of passengers and the available baggage space.
Transfer from Milan Linate Airport (LIN) to Lucca
Milan Linate lies near the eastern side of the city of Milan and mainly serves domestic and European routes. In road-distance terms, it is closer to Lucca than Malpensa: approximately 277 to 280 kilometres separate the airport and the Tuscan city. Under favourable conditions the journey can take around three hours, generally using the northern Italian motorway network, including the A1 and A15 corridors. Traffic near Milan, in the Apennines and around Lucca can change those estimates, particularly during a popular festival weekend.
For passengers arriving from another European city, Linate can offer an efficient combination of short flight and onward road transport. A train journey from the airport requires additional connections and does not run directly to Lucca. By contrast, a transfer leaves from the airport and continues to an agreed location in or near the destination. This is useful for families and small groups as well as festival participants travelling with costumes, art materials or purchases that would be awkward to carry from platform to platform.
Transfer from Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport (BGY) to Lucca
Bergamo Orio al Serio is located beside Bergamo, roughly 45 to 50 kilometres east of Milan. It is marketed internationally as Milan Bergamo Airport, but it is geographically the airport of Bergamo. Its extensive European low-cost route network makes it relevant to people travelling to major cultural events. Depending on the chosen road, the journey to Lucca is approximately 290 to 320 kilometres, with an indicative driving time of three and a half hours when roads are flowing freely. A direct flight to Bergamo may be more useful than a less convenient itinerary to another airport.
There is no railway station inside the passenger terminal, so visitors using public transport normally begin with an airport bus and then connect to other services heading south. Several changes can make the journey significantly longer, particularly with bulky baggage or after an evening arrival. A transfer avoids those extra stages and keeps the group together on the drive to Tuscany. For groups sharing one vehicle, the cost can also be considered per passenger, while sufficient room for costumes and luggage remains an important booking detail.
Where to find transfers from Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo
Three different journeys need to be compared when planning the trip: Malpensa to Lucca, Linate to Lucca and Bergamo Orio al Serio to Lucca. Each has its own road distance, likely driving time and traffic conditions. The appropriate car also depends on the number of travellers and the space needed for luggage or cosplay equipment. A saloon may be suitable for two people with ordinary suitcases, while families and larger groups may need a minivan or minibus. Vehicle suitability must be confirmed against actual luggage dimensions, not just the number of seats.
The ItalianAirports.eu transfer routes provides a searchable directory of routes by departure and destination, indicative road distances and information about operating transport companies. Lucca is the destination and the selected airport is the starting point. Final prices and availability are confirmed directly by the carrier, because they depend on the vehicle, timing and specific travel arrangements. During Lucca Comics & Games, an agreed drop-off point compatible with the temporary city traffic restrictions is another important part of the journey.
Traffic restrictions in Lucca from 28 October to 1 November
The concentration of visitors in a compact historic centre requires a special traffic plan. The municipality of Lucca has announced temporary changes to road circulation, parking and access to areas near the city walls. Some measures begin before the festival itself so that stages, pavilions and technical facilities can be installed safely. From 28 October to 1 November, important roads and entry points around the historic centre will have additional restrictions. This means that a hotel address which is normally reachable by car may not be accessible by the usual route during the event.
Italian authorities have also announced coordinated security and transport arrangements, involving the prefecture, police, local services and railway operators. Extra public-transport capacity and parking provisions are designed to manage substantial visitor numbers. Transfer passengers should therefore expect agreed meeting and drop-off locations to reflect the rules in force on their travel date. The last section of the journey may occasionally have to be completed on foot, especially for accommodation within the historic walls.
The journey home deserves just as much attention. On Sunday 1 November many visitors will leave Lucca at similar times, creating possible congestion on roads leaving the city. Someone travelling to Malpensa, Linate or Bergamo Orio al Serio for an international flight needs to account for that congestion in addition to ordinary motorway travel time. Airport check-in, baggage drop and security procedures require further time after arrival at the terminal. A realistic road-transfer schedule is therefore an important part of attending a festival of this scale.
Lucca deserves a visit beyond the festival
Lucca would be a compelling destination even without Comics & Games. Its Renaissance walls are remarkably well preserved and now form a broad tree-lined pedestrian promenade. Within them are Romanesque churches, old palaces, small squares and streets that retain the character of historic Tuscany. Piazza dell'Anfiteatro follows the oval footprint of an ancient Roman amphitheatre, while Guinigi Tower is remarkable for the trees growing on its roof. From the tower visitors can see a panorama of tiled rooftops and the surrounding hills.
The city is also the birthplace of composer Giacomo Puccini and has a rich musical heritage. Pisa, the coastal resorts of Versilia and other Tuscan towns are within reach, making the festival a possible starting point for a longer Italian journey. Travellers arriving through the Lombardy airports can combine different regions, cuisines, landscapes and cultural experiences in one trip. Lucca remains worth exploring when the exhibitors have packed away their stands and the streets return to their everyday rhythm.
Five days of imagination in the heart of Tuscany
The anniversary edition of Lucca Comics & Games promises a memorable combination of history, art, games and popular culture. Between 28 October and 1 November, world-renowned authors and artists will meet the audiences whose imaginations they have shaped, while new publishers and creators introduce the next generation of stories. The Legacy theme reminds visitors that these fictional worlds connect people across time and borders. It is precisely that sense of community, set against the dramatic architecture of a medieval city, that makes the event so distinctive.
For international guests, the trip can begin at Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate or Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport. A transfer from the chosen airport to Lucca offers a practical connection between the flight and the final accommodation, without having to organise several changes of transport. Distances, schedules and any temporary restrictions should be considered when planning the arrival, but the reward is five days in a city devoted to imagination. During Lucca Comics & Games, Tuscany becomes the place where fantasy and everyday life meet.
