The Games section at Lucca is expanding significantly, promising exclusive previews, thrilling tournaments, and special editions. Asmodee Italia will present Dixit, featuring a new card designed by Marie Cardouat, specifically dedicated to Lucca. The Gundam Card Game is set to make its European launch, with interactive workshops and demo sessions available at the Gametrade x Bandai Card Games stand.

MS Edizioni is celebrating its 10th anniversary with new titles inspired by popular franchises like Stranger Things and One Piece. Pessime Notizie, the satirical Lercio party game, will make its debut, promising humorous and chaotic gameplay.
The 30th Ruolimpiadi, Lucca’s legendary roleplaying tournament, returns with new adventures, including Wildsea and an exciting Dungeons & Dragons crossover with Sì, Oscuro Signore.
Video games take the spotlight: Kojima, Toyama, and Vampire Survivors
Gaming is truly taking centre stage at Lucca 2025, with an impressive roster of industry titans and indie darlings. The festival will host the final stop on Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding World Strand Tour 2, showcasing Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Hideo Kojima’s renowned vision for narrative-rich, cinematic gaming continues to redefine the medium, and Lucca is honoured to be the concluding destination for this global tour.
Joining Kojima is Keiichiro Toyama, the legendary developer behind iconic titles like Silent Hill and Slitterhead. Toyama’s work has been instrumental in defining the psychological horror genre, and fans will have the rare opportunity to hear him discuss his creative journey and his new studio, Bokeh Game Studio.
Indie success story Luca Galante, the visionary creator of Vampire Survivors, will also be present. His journey from a personal passion project to a global hit resonates deeply with Lucca’s community-first values. Attendees can look forward to demos, panels, and hands-on experiences across the expanded video game zones.
Celebrating French Culture: A “French Kiss” for Lucca
For 2025, Lucca Comics & Games is honouring France, a nation that has profoundly shaped nearly every art form celebrated at the festival. The Institut Français’s core values of Liberté, Créativité, Diversité (Liberty, Creativity, Diversity), rooted in the principles of the French Revolution, perfectly align with Lucca’s own five pillars: Community, Inclusion, Discovery, Respect, and Gratitude. This synergy forms the backbone of the “French Kiss” theme for the year.
The festival’s theme, “French Kiss,” delves into the kiss as a powerful narrative and emotional catalyst—a moment that can transform stories, relationships, and even genres. This evocative concept is beautifully captured in this year’s official poster by French illustrator Rébecca Dautremer. Her artwork features six fantastical characters—a werewolf, a warrior, a vampire countess, a monster, a witch, and the “Lukawa,” a manga creature inspired by Lucca itself—each poised in a suspended moment just before a transformative kiss.
Dautremer’s captivating work will be showcased at the brand-new exhibition space within Palazzo Guinigi. This exhibition will also mark the debut of her new graphic novel, Ruby Rose, slated for release in France in 2026. Her artistic journey, moving from traditional fairytale aesthetics to more theatrical tableaux, reflects the dynamic evolution of French comics, or bande dessinée.
Further celebrating the rich history of French comics, the Palais de France at Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lucca will host HEXAGONES. This curated exhibition will feature twelve trailblazing French comic artists, including luminaries like Moebius, Claire Bretécher, Jacques Tardi, and Florence Cestac. Special guests Edmond Baudoin and Cestac are scheduled to discuss the fascinating evolution of the bande dessinée and its enduring social relevance.
In the realm of French literature, Éric Fouassier, the author of the Valentin Verne series, will be on hand to discuss his historical-mystical thrillers, continuing a long-standing tradition of French fiction that masterfully blends elements of mystery with the paranormal.
Florence Alibert, the director of the Institut Français Italy, presented the extensive list of French guests and activities. Among the most exclusive names announced was Julien Papelier, general manager of Média-Participations, a significant multimedia group with interests spanning publishing, printing, audiovisual production, video games, board games, and even amusement parks. The strong ties with Paris are further highlighted by a partnership with the French Embassy in Italy, underscoring the deep cultural exchange facilitated by Lucca.
Streaming sensations: Netflix headlines with Stranger Things
The Movie section at Lucca promises to be more vibrant than ever, with Netflix making a grand return to celebrate the highly anticipated fifth and final season of Stranger Things. Curated by QMI, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary as a crucial meeting point for cinema and TV series fans, this section promises a series of unmissable events.
On October 31, the festival will host a unique event anticipating the final chapter of one of the most beloved series of all time. For fans eager to know when to mark their calendars, the final season of Stranger Things will be released on Netflix in three parts: Volume 1 (episodes 1-4) premieres on November 27, Volume 2 (episodes 5-7) on December 26, and the climactic final episode will debut on January 1, 2026.
Cartoon Network is also making a comeback, building on the success of last year’s Teen Titans Go! activation. This year, fans will be invited to step into “The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball” within an immersive pavilion meticulously designed to capture the chaotic charm of the Wattersons. Anime aficionados will be pleased to hear that Crunchyroll will return with its custom anime pavilion, offering sneak peeks, screenings, and exclusive merchandise.
Pokémon takes over Lucca: An unmissable experience for fans
The global phenomenon that is Pokémon will make a grand return to Lucca Comics & Games 2025, taking over a newly dedicated and significantly larger space. Located in the monographic pavilion at Piazza Colonna Mozza, fans will have the opportunity to discover wonders from across the vast world of Pokémon, promising an even richer experience than before.
The Art of Comics: Icons from East to West
Lucca 2025 is set to welcome Sensei Tetsuo Hara, the celebrated creator of Fist of the North Star, for his first-ever appearance in Italy. A dedicated exhibition at the Chiesa dei Servi will proudly display over 100 original pieces from his illustrious career, alongside exclusive limited-edition merchandise created specifically for this historic visit. Hara’s mythological hero, Kenshiro, continues to resonate with fans globally for his profound humanity amidst brutal action.
Also appearing are Kei Urana and Hideyoshi Andou, the creative minds behind Gachiakuta. Known for their dynamic blend of graffiti art and manga, the duo will debut new content and actively participate in panels and signing sessions. These announcements underscore Lucca’s unique position at the vibrant intersection of Japanese and Western pop cultures.
On the Italian comics front, beloved legends such as Zerocalcare, Milo Manara, Leo Ortolani, and Fumettibrutti are returning with new releases and exhibitions. Zuzu, co-winner of the prestigious 2019 Gran Guinigi award, will present new work in collaboration with Coconino Press. Meanwhile, Guy Delisle, celebrated for his insightful autobiographical graphic novels, will also be attending with Rizzoli Lizard.
Fantasy literature: Kings and queens of imagination
Lucca 2025 is shaping up to be a veritable gathering of literary royalty within the fantasy genre. Rick Riordan, the acclaimed author of the Percy Jackson series, will be on hand to promote his latest book, From the World of Percy Jackson: The Court of the Dead. Cassandra Clare and Holly Black, the creative forces behind Shadowhunters and The Spiderwick Chronicles, respectively, will be celebrating a decade of their collaborative Magisterium Series. Adding to the star-studded line-up, Glenn Cooper is set to unveil The Cosmos Keys, his latest epic fantasy novel.
Experiences & Music: LEGO, Red Bull, and live concerts
LEGO Italia is doubling its footprint at the festival, offering a massive 300m² space that combines immersive play areas with a pop-up store, sure to delight fans of all ages. Red Bull Unforeseen will transform Ostello San Frediano into a surreal Tetris playground, culminating in the national final of Red Bull Tetris on November 1.
Musically, Lucca will become a vibrant open-air stage. DJ Étienne de Crécy is set to headline the French Choc party, with support from Venin Carmin and MC Andrea Rock. The symphonic metal sounds of Vision of Atlantis and the Nordic mythology-inspired music of Eihwar round out the diverse musical line-up.
Family & Youth: Lucca Junior, Geronimo Stilton, and Librogame
Lucca Junior celebrates its 20th anniversary with a packed programme of family-friendly exhibitions and workshops. The beloved character Geronimo Stilton marks 25 years, with creator Elisabetta Dami attending in person. Edizioni EL is reviving the classic Librogame® series with new sports-themed adventures crafted by Luca Tebaldi.
Cinema and docu-stories: Lucca on the big screen
There’s considerable anticipation surrounding “I Love Lucca Comics & Games“, the first film dedicated to the community, culture, and values of the festival. This documentary will launch in theatres on November 10, 11, and 12, and will subsequently be available on IWONDERFULL, the digital platform accessible via Amazon Prime. This collaborative project between Lucca Crea and I Wonder Pictures, an independent film distribution company, will produce the docu-films alongside production partner All At Once and handle distribution. Directed by Manlio Castagna and produced by Andrea Romeo, the series aims to encapsulate the spirit of the festival through the compelling stories of its community, artists, and creators.
Additionally, the third issue of The Decisive Moment, a graphic novel series commissioned by Italy’s Civil Protection Department, will be unveiled. This further reinforces Lucca’s important role in promoting social awareness through the powerful medium of storytelling.
Lucca Comics & Games 2025 is far more than just a festival; it’s a vibrant manifestation of its core values: community, inclusion, discovery, respect, and gratitude. With France serving as its cultural compass and pop culture acting as its universal language, Lucca 2025 is poised to reaffirm its position as a global epicentre for everyone who creates, imagines, and truly believes in the transformative power of stories.