MEFCC 2026: Everything You Need to Know About Tickets, Guests, Parking and Shuttles.
Dubai: Middle East Film & Comic Con returns to ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from September 11 to 13, and if you’ve been waiting to decide, time is running out. VIP tickets are already sold out, while standard tickets remain available. Organisers are encouraging fans to book in advance, with discounted prices that won’t be available if you buy your ticket at the venue.
This year’s edition is arriving later than originally planned. The event was initially scheduled for April 24 to 26 but was postponed due to the regional conflict. If you purchased a ticket for the April dates, it should have been transferred automatically. Check your provider account or email for the updated details, and contact MEFCC ticket support if you haven’t received confirmation.
Here’s everything you need to know, from dates and ticket prices to the confirmed guest lineup, parking, transport and what to expect once you’re inside.
Dates and timings
When: Friday, September 11 to Sunday, September 13, 2026
Where: ADNEC Centre, Abu Dhabi
Opening hours:
- Friday: 3pm to 11pm
- Saturday: 12pm to 11pm
- Sunday: 12pm to 11pm
Friday kicks off later than the weekend, while VIP ticket holders can get an extra hour of early access on the opening day.
Ticket prices
Standard passes are currently the only ticket tier available. Prices vary depending on the day, with Saturday costing the most as it is expected to be the busiest day.
- Friday one-day pass: Dh160
- Saturday one-day pass: Dh190
- Sunday one-day pass: Dh160
- Three-day pass: Dh390
All standard tickets include entry to the event, access to the Meet the Stars area, plus all zones and competitions.
There is one thing to note about Meet the Stars: your ticket gets you into the area, but autograph and photo vouchers are sold separately at the venue during the event.
Booking in advance can save you around 20 per cent compared with buying at the door. There’s also a buy-three-get-one-free offer available on both one-day and three-day passes, making it a useful option if you’re heading to MEFCC with friends or family.
The cheaper ways to get in
There are several discounted and free-entry options available, depending on your age or eligibility:
- Children aged 6 and under: Free entry. A wristband can be collected onsite, and ID verification may be required.
- Children aged 7 to 11: Dh50, available at the venue only.
- School students: Dh80 for a one-day pass. Register in advance to receive a discount code.
- University students: Dh100 for a one-day pass, with the same advance registration process.
- Friends and family: Buy three tickets and get one free on both one-day and three-day passes. The offer is available for a limited time.
- People of Determination: Free entry for the ticket holder plus one chaperone. Present your POD card at the ticketing hall desk.
Student tickets require valid ID and cannot be purchased at the door, so make sure you complete the registration form in advance.
What VIP would have got you
All three VIP tiers have now sold out, but the packages are worth knowing about for anyone planning ahead for next year. The differences between the tiers were significant.
- VIP – Dh1,300: Three-day VIP access, two Meet the Stars vouchers, a VIP queue for autographs and additional voucher purchases, a VIP swag bag, dedicated ticket collection point, one-hour early access on day one and front-row seating at the Main Stage.
- Super VIP – Dh2,730: Everything included with VIP, plus five Meet the Stars vouchers, Super VIP queues and free parking.
- Ultimate VIP – Dh5,880: Ten Meet the Stars vouchers, top-priority queues, free parking and an Ultimate swag bag. This was also the only tier to include a 30-minute private group meet-and-greet with celebrities.
The two features that really set the VIP tiers apart were the number of Meet the Stars vouchers and the private meet-and-greet. Free parking was included with Super VIP and Ultimate VIP, but not the entry-level VIP package.
If you’re hoping to secure one of these packages in 2027, it’s worth acting early. Last time around, Super Early Bird tickets sold out within just three days.
Who’s coming
The headline guest is John Cena, the WWE veteran and Hollywood star known for Peacemaker and the Fast & Furious franchise. Simu Liu is also confirmed, bringing the star of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Barbie to Abu Dhabi.
One Piece fans are particularly well served, with Mackenyu, who plays Roronoa Zoro, Jacob Romero Gibson, who plays Usopp, and Charithra Chandran, who plays Nefertari Vivi.
Chandran will also be familiar to Bridgerton fans as Edwina Sharma, giving the lineup plenty of crossover appeal.
The two features that really separated the VIP tiers were the number of Meet the Stars vouchers and the private meet-and-greet. Free parking was included with Super VIP and Ultimate VIP, but not the entry-level VIP package.
If you’re hoping to secure a VIP ticket in 2027, it’s worth planning ahead. The Super Early Bird tickets sold out within just three days last time, so waiting could mean missing out.
The TCG Arena will host three tournaments across the three-day event, with space for 300 players, and registration is already close to full.
There’s also a Tabletop Zone featuring RPG campaigns and learn-to-play sessions, while the Main Stage will host panels and screenings of shortlisted entries from the Short Film Competition.
Outside, the Festival Plaza will offer live entertainment, the Cosplay Competition and a selection of food trucks, giving visitors plenty to explore beyond the main exhibition floor.
Cosplay rules worth reading
The cosplay guidelines are clear: costumes, props, language and behaviour must comply with UAE laws and respect local cultural norms.
Weapons and any items considered offensive or culturally inappropriate are prohibited. If you’re taking photos of other attendees, you’ll also need to get their consent first.
Getting there from Dubai and Sharjah
The shuttle is the easiest option for many visitors — and it’s the one with a deadline. MEFCC is running buses from both Dubai and Sharjah to ADNEC and back on all three event days.
Shuttle registration: Registration through the MEFCC website closes on September 2, or earlier if all seats are taken. You’ll also need to have purchased your MEFCC event ticket before you can reserve a shuttle seat.
Driving: If you’re coming by car, the closest parking is Car Park B, accessible via Al Multaqa Street. MEFCC attendees can get a discounted rate of Dh40 per day, with parking passes available to purchase online in advance through the MEFCC website.
Public transport, taxis and the airport
- Bus: ADNEC is served by route 040.
- Careem: Get 15 per cent off rides to and from ADNEC with the promo code ADNEC.
- Abu Dhabi Taxi: Book by calling 600 53 53 53. A taxi rank is available at the entrance of the adjacent Aloft hotel.
- Airport: Abu Dhabi International Airport is approximately 15 minutes from the venue.
