Five-day anime festival kicks off in Taipei amid new safety rules

Taipei, Feb. 5 (CNA) Thousands of fans flocked to the 2026 Taipei International Comics & Animation Festival (TICA), a five-day exhibition expected to draw more than 500,000 anime lovers, organizers said.

The festival, hosted by the Chinese Animation and Comic Publishers Association (CCPA), runs from Thursday through Monday at Hall 1 of the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center.

An organizer told CNA that the venue was packed with long lines as turnout exceeded expectations. Presale ticket sales were up 15 percent compared with previous years, the CCPA said.

Before the festival opened, organizers estimated that roughly 30,000 fans were already waiting to enter.

Under new Taipei Metro safety regulations, attendees wearing gas masks or costumes resembling terrorist attacks will be asked to leave the venue. The rules also restrict the use of overly realistic prop guns and swords.

Some student cosplayers told CNA that while the regulations prevent them from portraying certain characters, they believe the measures help improve overall safety.

CCPA Chairman Su Wei-chuan (蘇偉銓) said this year's TICA features about 100 vendors and more than 800 booths.

The exhibition is expected to generate NT$250 million (US$7.9 million) in revenue and attract more than 500,000 visitors.

Su added that more than 40 vendors accept culture points - government-issued cultural consumption vouchers worth NT$1,200 (US$38.17) available to Taiwan residents aged 13 to 22, including foreign permanent residents.

Organizers have also set up an "Original IP Top Rankings" (原創IP風雲榜) booth to showcase high-quality Taiwanese original novels and comics, Su said.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said last year's TICA generated more than NT$200 million in revenue, and the expanded scale of this year's event is expected to bring even higher returns. He added that Taipei is currently hosting several anime-themed events and expressed hope that the city can further develop as a hub for anime-related activities.