Japan Expo Sud 2026: A Look at Anime, Gaming, and Pop Culture Highlights
Japan Expo South 2026 in Marseille offered a diverse lineup of events, with a particular focus on anime and gaming. While the festival continues to evolve, this year’s edition showcased both familiar favorites and promising new developments, delighting fans of Japanese culture.
Anime Screenings and Announcements
The festival featured a screening of Child of Kamiari Month, the animated film available on Netflix since February 8, 2022 Crunchyroll. Producers used the event to announce Beast of Kamisari Month, a spin-off film continuing the mythology explored in the first installment. The new film delves into the myth of nation-creating on Onokoro Island in Awaji, often considered the birthplace of the Japanese archipelago Kongbakpao.
Attendees had the opportunity to meet key staff members behind both films, including Toshinari Shinohe, the creator, screenwriter, and communications supervisor; Michihiko Suwa, producer and supervisor; and Uko Oshia, producer Japan Expo Marseille. Michihiko Suwa, likewise known for his function on the Detective Conan films and City Hunter, was present to discuss Beast of the Month of Kamisari Instagram.
Cosplay and Competitions
Cosplay remained a central attraction, with the World Cosplay Summit (WCS) qualifying event on Saturday and the Cosplay Show on Sunday. The WCS winner will represent France at the final in Nagoya in August.
Video Game Highlights
The video game section of Japan Expo Sud 2026 showed improvement over the previous year. Nintendo League provided playable terminals featuring the latest Nintendo Switch 2 productions, including Mario Tennis Fever, Pokémon Z-A, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Tournaments were also held to enhance the gaming experience.
Ankama celebrated the 25th anniversary of Dofus with a dedicated stand, offering attendees a chance to play the long-running MMO and purchase related merchandise.
Other Events
The Anime Awards 2025, presented by the Kanimy association, recognized achievements in anime soundtracks and other categories. Cyprien also appeared on stage to discuss his book, The Worst Guide to Japan.
Looking Ahead
While Japan Expo Sud 2026 demonstrated positive steps, particularly in the video game area, the festival maintains a similar structure to previous years. Expanding the video game section with more exclusives and potentially attracting publishers or prominent guests could further enhance the event’s appeal in future editions.