Puerto del Rosario hosted 154 activities, 287 hours of programming and 25 guests over three days of culture and entertainment
The Canarias Manga Festival has brought to a close another edition marked by strong public turnout, a packed programme and a significant boost to the island’s economy. Between 10,000 and 11,000 people enjoyed the event from 23 to 25 October, which transformed the centre of Puerto del Rosario into a major meeting point for fans of manga, anime, video games and Asian culture.
Over the three days, Plaza de La Paz, Plaza Nuestra Señora del Rosario and the Pabellón Oasis became the stage for a programme featuring 154 activities and 287 hours of content spread across eight venues, with 25 guests and events for all ages, all of it completely free to attend.
The strong turnout was matched by a notable economic impact. According to the organisers’ estimates, the festival generated close to €800,000 for Fuerteventura, reflecting its ability to attract visitors, boost local trade and showcase the island as a venue for major cultural and entertainment events.
Big-name guests, shows and activities for all ages
One of the main draws of this edition was the presence of well-known figures from film, comedy, dubbing and content creation. Santiago Segura, Florentino
Fernández, Claudio Serrano and Los Compas headed a line-up of 25 guests, giving the public the chance to enjoy meet-and-greets, talks, signings and special activities.
They were joined by other names such as Luis Posada, Laura Pastor, Guinxu, Masterchenf and majorero filmmaker Adrián Tejero, making up a varied programme that combined well-known national figures with local talent and creators from the digital world.
The festival also featured cosplay competitions, video game tournaments, wrestling and martial arts displays, musical performances, activities centred on Japanese culture and food demonstrations, among many other offerings.
The wide variety of content, together with the chance to interact directly with guests, kept the different areas of the venue buzzing with activity throughout the weekend.
A boost for local trade and creative talent
The commercial and artistic zone also played a prominent role. A total of 48 exhibitors, mostly from other islands in the archipelago, took part in this edition, broadening the festival’s offering and encouraging exchange between professionals, creators and the public.
The venue specifically hosted 15 shops specialising in merchandise, 30 artists in the Artist Alley area and three food trucks, bringing together manga, anime and video game products alongside illustration, independent art and food.
The participation of exhibitors from various parts of the Canary Islands also helped strengthen the event’s regional dimension and create opportunities for entrepreneurs and professionals in the creative industries.
Technological innovation, another key feature
This edition also took a step forward in its commitment to technology and visitor experience with the launch of the official Canarias Manga Festival app.
The new tool allowed visitors to check the programme, find the different venues using an interactive map and receive alerts about activities, making it easier for the public to plan their visit.
Among its new features, the “Caza de Pollitos” (Chick Hunt) stood out in particular — an augmented reality game that invited attendees to explore the festival’s squares in search of virtual characters to exchange for prizes. The initiative recorded almost 2,000 chicks caught, making it one of the most popular interactive features of this edition.
The interest generated by the event was also reflected online. Over the course of the weekend, the official website recorded more than 21,900 page views, a figure that shows just how closely the programme was followed and how far the event’s reach extended beyond the venues themselves.
A festival that continues to grow in Fuerteventura
With these figures, the Canarias Manga Festival closes an especially successful edition, both in terms of public response and the breadth of its programme, as well as its ability to generate economic activity in Puerto del Rosario.
The combination of entertainment, culture, creativity, technology and audience participation has allowed the festival to move beyond the format of a niche gathering and become a leisure event open to different generations, capable of attracting fans, families and new audiences alike.
Canarias Manga Festival Fuerteventura is produced by Zukoabega Producciones, sponsored by the Cabildo de Fuerteventura through its Department of New Technologies (Consejería de Nuevas Tecnologías) and Puerto del Rosario Town Council, with FDCAN funding from the Government of the Canary Islands. The event is also supported by Excalibur Factory, Coca-Cola, Fuze Tea, Royal Bliss, Hyundai and Las Rotondas Shopping Centre.
