C.O.R.E. 2026 Brings India’s Fandom Revolution to Life with over 13,000 Attendees

C.O.R.E. 2026 Brings India’s Fandom Revolution to Life with over 13,000 Attendees With record-breaking participation, immersive global franchises, a ₹5.8 lakh cosplay prize pool, and a multi-generational audience, C.O.R.E. signals the rise of a new era of experiential entertainment in India National, June 2026: What happens when superheroes walk alongside anime fans, children meet their favourite characters, gamers race in F1 simulators, artists showcase their worlds, creators connect with their communities, and thousands of people celebrate their passions under one roof? The answer was witnessed at C.O.R.E. – Culture of Real Experiences, which concluded its spectacular debut edition in Mumbai with over 13,000 attendees across two unforgettable days, establishing itself as India’s largest and most immersive pop-culture festival. Conceptualized by Fanthology Studios in collaboration with Black White Orange, C.O.R.E. brought together the worlds of entertainment, gaming, anime, cinema, music, art, technology, collectibles and storytelling at an unprecedented scale. From children as young as two years old discovering the magic of beloved characters to fans above the age of 60 embracing nostalgia and shared passions, C.O.R.E. became a truly intergenerational celebration that proved fandom has no age. The festival transformed the Jio World Convention Centre into a multi-universe playground featuring over 80 leading brands and exhibitors, more than 2,000 creators and community members, globally loved franchises, immersive installations, interactive zones and live performances that created unforgettable moments for attendees. Among the biggest attractions was the high-speed F1 simulation experience that drew massive crowds, while India Gully stood out as a powerful celebration of India’s achievements in space exploration and defence, showcasing stories from ISRO and the Indian Armed Forces and inspiring visitors with a sense of national pride. The C.O.R.E Artist Lab offered a platform to ten emerging Indian artists to showcase and sell their creations, while experiential zones from leading brands, fan interactions, character parades and interactive storytelling moments made every corner of the festival come alive. The festival also became a landmark moment for India’s growing cosplay community. With six winners recognised over the two days and a cumulative prize pool of ₹5.8 lakh, C.O.R.E. hosted one of the country’s most significant cosplay showcases, celebrating the incredible craftsmanship, creativity and dedication of fans who transformed themselves into their favourite characters from across the worlds of anime, gaming, comics, film and television. Adding a meaningful social impact dimension to the celebration, Mrs. Amruta Fadnavis partnered with C.O.R.E. to bring 400 children from underprivileged farming families, supported by the Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana, to experience the festival. For many of these children, it was their first encounter with the worlds of superheroes, gaming, immersive technology, music, and storytelling, an experience that embodied C.O.R.E's vision of making culture, creativity, and inspiration accessible to all. Through this initiative, the festival extended beyond entertainment, creating moments of joy, discovery, and possibility for young minds from communities that have faced significant challenges. The initiative aimed to foster a sense of belonging, community, and aspiration, encouraging young minds to dream bigger and imagine new possibilities for their future. Reflecting her longstanding commitment to social welfare and youth empowerment, Mrs. Fadnavis championed an experience that placed people at the heart of the celebration, ensuring the joy and opportunities of C.O.R.E. reached those who could benefit from them the most. The entertainment quotient reached new heights with performances by some of India’s most exciting artists, including W.I.S.H., Ritviz, AminJaz, Karan Kanchan and Nucleya, while the festival also featured iconic showcases, creator interactions and conversations spanning global entertainment, anime, gaming and Indian storytelling. Speaking on the overwhelming response to the inaugural edition, Bhavik Vora, Co-Founder, C.O.R.E. and Fanthology Studios, said, "C.O.R.E. was born from a simple belief that fandom is one of the strongest cultural forces shaping today’s generation. The response we witnessed over these two days has exceeded every expectation. Seeing over 13,000 fans, thousands of creators, artists, families and communities come together proves that India is ready for a world-class platform built around shared passions and real experiences. This is just the beginning of the C.O.R.E. journey, and we are excited to take this movement to newer cities and build an even larger community of fans in the years to come." In addition, Avisha Goswamy, Head of Business & Growth at C.O.R.E., said, “C.O.R.E. was created to bring the worlds fans have only experienced on screen into real life. Our goal is to give people the opportunity to immerse themselves in the cultures, characters, and stories they love through meaningful, interactive experiences. We are not competing with other festivals; we are contributing to India’s growing fandom movement by creating immersive, officially licensed experiences that go beyond traditional retail. The response to our debut edition has been incredible, and we are excited to bring C.O.R.E. to more cities across India in the coming year.” In addition, Mrs. Amruta Fadnavis took to the stage at C.O.R.E and said, “This is what culture truly means, bringing real experiences to life. The way gaming, comics, anime, technology, VR, and more have been showcased in one place is remarkable. It is a great space for young minds to connect and a glimpse of what our future looks like. Beyond the fun, there is so much for children to learn through interactive workshops and experiences ranging from ISRO and the Indian Navy to SUMO Wrestlers from Japan. It is a perfect celebration of fandom, and I applaud this first-of-its-kind festival. This is for our next generation and for the world that lies ahead. I congratulate the organisers for putting together this festival for our youth to celebrate.”