Cosplayers, gamers, artists, and pop culture enthusiasts of all ages are set to gather as HobbyCon PH ‘LEVEL UP!’ returns to Festival Mall Alabang from October 12–18, 2026. The week-long convention features thrilling cosplay contests, live stage performances, competitive TCG tournaments, an immersive AR digital art workshop, various anime and pop culture-related merchandise, and many more elevated experiences to explore.
Marking its most electrifying return in 2026, HobbyCon PH offers an expanded exhibitor area packed with exclusive merchandise, an inclusive local artists’ alley showcasing their creations, commercial sponsor merchants such as Tomodachi, a locally developed social networking app, and DITO Telecom, along with endless pop culture surprises around every corner throughout the week.
Cosplay Contest, Live Guest Performances, Featured Cosplayers
Elevating the weekend’s live program, guest performers such as !CON, celebrating their second anniversary, Enzo & Joe, Shadow Blush, Wildkatt, Sofine, Dofine, and C/C are set to deliver unforgettable stage performances.
In addition, the much-awaited cosplay contest for both armored and tailored categories will be evaluated by an elite panel of judges, including Jele Beam, a renowned cosplay prop artisan, multi-convention champion, and Diablo Immortal brand ambassador; newly crowned GICOF 2026 world champion Ken Cangas, who boasts over 130 cosplay competition victories; and Jonathan Facun, known as Kadiwa Gaming, who shares the GICOF 2026 world champion title and has won 26 cosplay competitions in just two years of experience in the cosplay community.
The festival’s main stage will come alive with dynamic programming anchored by an exceptional hosting roster. Day 1 will be hosted by Rai, an ABS-CBN Music artist, theater actress in JEPROKS: The Musical, and Young Faces of Success 2026 honoree, alongside Rye, co-leader of !CON, who went viral for her portrayals of Froppy and Zoey from KPop Demon Hunters.
The Day 2 finale will be hosted by veteran all-rounder content creator, streamer, cosplayer, and host Megara, a CosFam PH admin known for her Riot Games-featured Viper cosplay, as well as her portrayals of Bayonetta, Nico Robin, and many others.
Attendees can also look forward to meeting and interacting with an elite roster of featured guest cosplayers, including Dani Evans, the viral Lady Tamayo from Demon Slayer and Osaragi from Sakamoto Days; veteran cosplay talent Kach Phrase, an official cosplayer for Honor of Kings and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE; and artist-streamer Eiya, an official cosplayer for Honor of Kings, NIKKE, and various major titles.
Community Cosplay and Gaming Partners
In partnership with Hobby Kaikan and MADCAP, HobbyCon PH will host the South Tabletop And Games Expo (STAGE) for its fourth and final quarterly tournament of 2026.
Serving as the grand season finale for competitive card gaming in the South, players will battle it out across Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon TCG, Riftbound, and many more games for the ultimate year-end championship.
HobbyCon PH is also supported by official cosplay community partners CosFam PH and 1South Cosplay, helping connect, inform, and unite cosplayers across Luzon and the South.
