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Singapore Comic Con

Singapore Comic Con
StatusActive
GenreMultigenre
FrequencyAnnually
VenueMarina Bay Sands
Coordinates1°16′57″N 103°51′36″E / 1.2825°N 103.86°E / 1.2825; 103.86
CountrySingapore
InauguratedJune 28, 2008; 18 years ago (2008-06-28) (as Singapore Toy & Comic Convention)
Most recentDecember 7, 2025 (2025-12-07)
Attendance56,530 (2022)[1]
OrganizerGeneration Experience Ptd Ltd
Websitewww.singaporecomiccon.com Edit this at Wikidata

Singapore Comic Con is a comic book convention and multi-genre entertainment event held annually in Singapore since 2008. Prior independent conventions were held in 1986 and 1987. The current series was first mooted in 2008 as Singapore Toy & Comic Convention, and quickly expanded into Singapore Toy, Games & Comic Convention. It was brought online during COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Since 2019, the convention has been rebranded as Singapore Comic Con.

History

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1986–1987: Precursor

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Comicon, the first known comic book convention in Singapore, was held in 1986 at the President Merlin hotel by a group of hardcore comic fans. The organisers were expecting 500 attendees, but the event drew 900 people. Although there was criticism that the event was disorganised, it was reported that nobody was in a hurry to go home.[2] In 1987, the second edition was held at York Hotel, and was headlined by Mike Grell and Todd McFarlane. Organisers stated that it cost SGD 15,000 to hold the convention, and not all monies had been paid out before the start of the convention.[3] 1,200 people turned up for the convention.[4]

2008–2018: Singapore Toy & Comic Convention and Singapore Toy, Games & Comic Convention

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In 2008, the Singapore Toy & Comic Convention was held at Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre at the end of the month of June. It was organised by Play Imaginative Events (PI Events) and 3000 people pre-registered for the event.[5] By the end of the two-day event, 140,000 people turned up and left a positive impression on the various vendors and artists such as Sonny Liew, Gary Erskine and Pete Fowler.[6]

In 2009, PI Events added games into the convention and thus the convention name was renamed to Singapore Toy, Games & Comic Convention. Held between 14 and 16 August, the convention space doubled from last year to 6,110 sq m and attracted international companies such as Hasbro and Nintendo to exhibit their offerings. A conference on joining the creative industry was planned as well.[7] More than 74,000 people turned up for the convention.[8]

In 2010, Reed Exhibitions acquired STGCC.[9][10][11] The convention continued to be held at Suntec,[12][13] until in 2012 when it moved to Marina Bay Sands (MBS), where its convention centre allows for a larger convention to be held.[14] In 2010, Marvel Comics exhibited at STGCC, making it the first time that it had done so in a convention in Asia.[15][16] Subsequent conventions continued to be held at MBS.[a] In 2016, STGCC moved into the larger halls in the MBS convention centre.[20] In 2017, STGCC not only was held in MBS, but also had set up interactive Star Wars installation along Orchard Road.[21]

2019–present: Singapore Comic Con

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In 2019, Reed Exhibitions simplified the name of the convention to Singapore Comic Con (SGCC).[23][24] It was held as a part of the Singapore Media Festival annually henceforth.[25] SGCC introduced the Work In Progress program to discover local and regional talents.[26]

The convention was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore.[27] Reed Exhibitions would then licence Singapore Comic Con to a local exhibition event company, Generation Experience in May 2021.[28] The 2021 edition was held virtually across five weekends in December, with the sessions held online.[29]

In 2022, the convention returned to Marina Bay Sands and a mascot designed by Singapore collectibles company, Mighty Jaxx, for the convention, P4L (short for Pop Culture 4 Life) was introduced.[30][31] The first Loki wax figure in Asia was unveiled by Madame Tussauds Singapore at the event in the same year.[32]

Singapore Comic Con promotion at City Square Mall in 2023.

In 2023, Singapore Comic Con introduced Creator Con, targeting at content creators.[33] In 2023, it expanded its Artist Alley to take two floors of the convention centre, with 4 halls taken in total[34] The growth of the convention continued in 2025, now occupying five halls of Marina Bay Sands. Industry Day Zero, an initiative for the various industry players to network was introduced in 2025 as well.[35]

Conventions

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Period Name Main organiser Venue Ref
1986–87 Comicon ’86 / ’87 Independent fan organisers President Merlin Hotel ('86)

Hotel York ('87)

[2][3]
2008 Singapore Toy & Comic Convention (STCC) PI Events / Play Imaginative Suntec [5][6]
2009 Singapore Toy, Games & Comic Convention (STGCC) Suntec [7]
2010–11 Reed Exhibitions / ReedPOP Suntec [9][12][13]
2012–16 Marina Bay Sands [14][a]
2017 Marina Bay Sands

Orchard Road

2018 Marina Bay Sands
2019 Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) Marina Bay Sands [23]
2020 Cancelled — — [27]
2021 Virtual/limited activity; SGCC licence transferred Generation Experience Online [28][29]
2022–present SGCC Marina Bay Sands [b]

Notes

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  1. 1 2 Conventions' references for 2013–2018
  2. ↑ Conventions' references for 2022–present

References

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  1. ↑ Merican, Sara (14 December 2022). "Singapore Comic Con: Marvel Comics Chief Talks Asian Business, Advice for Creators". Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Comics convention proves a super draw". The Straits Times. 26 May 1986. p. 11. Archived from the original on 27 October 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  3. 1 2 Tan, Stephen (13 December 1987). "Putting Singapore on the comics map". The Straits Times. p. 2. Retrieved 12 September 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  4. ↑ "Home". The Straits Times. 14 December 1987. p. 2.
  5. 1 2 Rahmat, Zaidah (27 June 2008). "Toys, comics convention's big draw". The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 September 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. 1 2 Koh, Hui Theng (1 July 2008). "Surprise as 140,000 turn up at first toy convention". My Paper.
  7. 1 2 Loh, Sherwin (25 April 2009). "Bigger toy fair". The Straits Times. pp. E18.
  8. ↑ Lin, Zicheng (15 August 2009). "Singapore Toy, Games & Comic Convention stronger". Archived from the original on 26 April 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Reed Acquires Singapore Show". ICv2. 13 April 2010. Archived from the original on 15 September 2026. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  10. ↑ "Reed goes after pop culture with comics convention". Conference and Meetings World. 15 April 2010. Archived from the original on 15 September 2026. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  11. ↑ MacDonald, Heidi (13 April 2010). "Reed acquires Singapore Toy, Games & Comic Convention". The Beat. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Singapore Toy Games Comics Convention 2010". Otaku House. 13 December 2010. Archived from the original on 25 June 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Singapore Toy, Game, and Comic Convention this weekend". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  14. 1 2 "STGCC 2012 will be invading the Marina Bay Sands!". 1 December 2011. Archived from the original on 23 June 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  15. ↑ Johnston, Rich (8 November 2010). "Marvel Makes It To Singapore Comic Con". bleedingcool.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2026. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
  16. ↑ "Marvel Makes Their STGCC Debut". Anime News Network. 12 September 2026. Archived from the original on 11 January 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
  17. ↑ "Singapore Toy Game & Comic Convention 2013 (STGCC)". 29 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
  18. ↑ Louisse, Donna (6 September 2014). "Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention: The Coolest Event of the Year!". Archived from the original on 15 March 2026. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
  19. ↑ "BREAKING: STGCC 2015 brings superstar artist Adam Hughes to Singapore". 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
  20. 1 2 "All the action from the Singapore Toy Game and Comic Convention 2016". 13 September 2016. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
  21. 1 2 "What's on at Singapore Toy, Game and Comic Convention". Time Out Singapore. 7 September 2017. Archived from the original on 15 September 2026. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
  22. ↑ Tan, Freddy (7 September 2018). "STGCC 2018: A Convention For the Fans, By The Fans". IGN Southeast Asia. Archived from the original on 15 September 2026. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
  23. 1 2 "Comics and collectibles take centre stage at Singapore Comic Con 2019". AsiaOne. 12 December 2019. Archived from the original on 15 October 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  24. ↑ "What to expect at Singapore Comic Con 2019 happening this December". SG Magazine. 2 July 2019. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  25. ↑ "Comic Con to return to Singapore this December". www.connectedtoindia.com. 2 July 2019. Archived from the original on 13 August 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  26. ↑ "Singapore Media Festival launches VidCon Asia Summit and a new festival village". InCinemas SG. 7 October 2019. Archived from the original on 15 September 2026. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
  27. 1 2 "Singapore Comic Con 2020 cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions". NME. 20 October 2020. Archived from the original on 15 September 2026. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  28. 1 2 "Reed Exhibitions Singapore licenses Singapore Comic Con event to Generation Experience". Television Asia Plus. 27 May 2021. Archived from the original on 27 May 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  29. 1 2 Ramachandran, Naman (3 December 2021). "Singapore Comic Con Boasts MM2 Talent, Local Works-In-Progress in Rich Virtual Line-Up". Variety. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  30. 1 2 "Singapore Comic Con 2022 returns in December with 350 exhibitors across 4 halls". AsiaOne. 20 August 2022. Archived from the original on 11 June 2026. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  31. ↑ "Sneak Peek of Singapore Comic Con 2022 At City Square Mall". BYKidO. 3 October 2022. Archived from the original on 12 October 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  32. ↑ "First Loki wax figure in Asia". Daily Tribune. 11 December 2022. Archived from the original on 15 September 2026. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
  33. 1 2 Ilagan, Pheona (29 November 2023). "Singapore Comic Con 2023: A Fusion of Cultures, Creativity, and Community". sg.theasianparent.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2026. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  34. ↑ Fong, Jesmine (3 January 2024). "Singapore Comic Con 2023 - Highlights and Interview!". SG Boardgame Design. Archived from the original on 8 June 2026. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  35. 1 2 Su, Jake (31 October 2025). "Singapore Comic Con 2025 Expands with Five Halls, Star Guests, and Ultimate Preview Night". SavePoint Gaming. Archived from the original on 13 March 2026. Retrieved 12 September 2026.
  36. ↑ Seet, Mingli (3 September 2024). "Singapore Comic Con returns this December with hundreds of exhibitors and brands". Time Out Singapore. Archived from the original on 15 September 2026. Retrieved 15 September 2026.
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