Made in Asia 2027 – Asian Pop Culture Festival Belgium

What to expect in 2027

Made in Asia is Belgium’s major Asian pop culture festival, bringing together fans of manga, anime, video games, YouTubers, cosplay, K-pop and Japanese popular culture at Brussels Expo. The autumn edition is now integrated into Heroes World, creating a broader pop culture experience alongside the Made in Asia programme.

The official 2027 edition has not yet been announced with confirmed dates or a complete programme. The latest confirmed autumn edition takes place on October 17–18, 2026, and provides the clearest indication of the activities visitors can expect in a future edition.

Visitors can expect a combination of gaming activities, arcade machines, retro consoles, gaming tournaments, manga and anime attractions, cosplay contests, fan meet-ups, Asian food, Korean culture, exhibitions, workshops, creator appearances and a large geek market.

Venue & exhibition site

Made in Asia takes place at Brussels Expo, one of Belgium’s major exhibition complexes in Brussels.

Venue: Brussels Expo
Address: Place de Belgique 1, 1020 Brussels, Belgium

The site is divided into multiple exhibition halls and event spaces, allowing different parts of the festival to operate as themed areas. The 2026 edition is presented as part of Heroes World, with Made in Asia forming one of the integrated zones.

Full gaming programme

The gaming programme combines modern and classic gaming experiences. The official activity information highlights arcade machines, retro consoles, gaming tournaments and opportunities to discover video games that may not yet be widely available locally.

Expected gaming activities include:

• Arcade gaming and classic machines
• Retro consoles
• Competitive gaming and tournaments
• Japanese video games
• Fan-organised gaming activities
• Board and tabletop gaming
• Virtual reality experiences
• Interactive gaming attractions
• Gaming-related creator appearances

The detailed 2027 gaming timetable has not yet been released. Visitors should check the official programme once the 2027 schedule is published.

Featured games & developers

Made in Asia has historically combined well-known video game franchises with new gaming discoveries. Previous and current festival programming has featured Japanese and international games, retro titles and competitive games.

The festival’s gaming environment has included titles such as Tekken, Street Fighter, OutRun, Dance Dance Revolution and Initial D through its arcade programme. Previous editions have also featured major gaming brands and developers, including Nintendo and Capcom-related activities.

The 2026 programme also includes gaming creators and personalities, while the official activity listing promotes Japanese video games and titles not yet released locally.

Esports tournaments & competitions

Gaming tournaments are an established part of Made in Asia. The festival has previously hosted competitive gaming and esports activities, including League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournaments, while earlier editions also featured Pokémon competitions.

Current festival information confirms that gaming tournaments remain part of the Made in Asia programme. The exact games, tournament formats, registration procedures and competition times for the 2027 edition have not yet been announced.

Tournament & event schedule

The official 2027 tournament schedule is not yet available.

For the confirmed 2026 edition, the official programme is organised through a digital floorplan and schedule covering gaming, manga, anime and cosplay activities. The programme is expected to be updated with individual activity times as the event approaches.

Visitors should check the official schedule before travelling because tournament times, gaming activities, guest appearances and special sessions may differ between Saturday and Sunday.

Ticket types

The confirmed 2026 ticket structure includes several admission options. These prices provide a reference for the type of ticketing visitors may encounter, although 2027 prices have not yet been announced.

• Saturday ticket: approximately $40.02 standard price; $31.32 lowest presale price.
• Saturday Cosplay ticket: approximately $34.22 standard price; $29.00 lowest presale price.
• Saturday FastPass: approximately $63.22.
• Sunday ticket: approximately $37.70 standard price; $30.16 lowest presale price.
• Sunday Cosplay ticket: approximately $31.90 standard price; $27.84 lowest presale price.
• Weekend ticket: approximately $51.62.
• Weekend FastPass: approximately $109.62.
• Children under 11: free admission in the confirmed 2026 ticket policy, with no ticket or registration required.

VIP & premium access

The confirmed 2026 VIP Weekend ticket costs approximately $218.66 and includes weekend access, FastPass benefits, VIP Lounge access, priority lines for selected activities in the Films & Series Garden, front-row seating for selected actor Q&A sessions, and a VIP lanyard.

FastPass Weekend access is approximately $109.62 and provides earlier entry, queue-reduction benefits at selected catering points and activities, a collector bracelet and an original festival print. FastPass does not provide priority access to Made in Asia guests or signing sessions.

The 2027 VIP and premium ticket structure remains subject to official announcement.

Exhibitors & gaming companies

Made in Asia has a substantial geek market featuring companies and independent exhibitors selling figurines, posters, manga, clothing, cosplay materials, collectibles, trading cards, toys and gaming-related merchandise.

The current 2026 exhibitor directory includes hundreds of exhibitors and categories such as videogaming, board gaming, anime, action figures, trading cards, comics, cosplay and art. The directory lists 428 results in the current version, with exhibitors from Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Germany and several other countries.

Previous editions have also welcomed major gaming companies and brands. Nintendo, for example, has previously used Made in Asia to showcase games, while earlier editions included Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft among major gaming participants.

Exhibition halls & gaming zones

The festival uses multiple Brussels Expo halls and dedicated themed areas rather than operating as a single exhibition room.

The current programme includes:

• Gaming Activities – arcade machines, retro consoles, tournaments and game discoveries.
• Fan Clubs – board games, role-playing games, gaming, escape rooms and virtual reality.
• Korean Alley – K-pop, Korean food, K-beauty and Korean cultural activities.
• Little Asia – Asian cultural workshops and traditional activities.
• Belgian Valley – Belgian artists and creators.
• Cosplay Area – contests, catwalks and cosplay activities.
• Asian Flavors – Asian culinary experiences.
• One Piece – Netflix – a dedicated themed attraction in Hall 5 in the confirmed 2026 programme.

The exact 2027 hall allocation and floorplan have not yet been released.

Game demos & new releases

Gaming visitors can expect opportunities to play arcade classics, retro games and newer video game experiences. The official festival description specifically promotes Japanese video games and discoveries of games that may not yet have been released locally.

Previous programming has included new releases and developer-related activities. An earlier edition featured Capcom’s Monster Hunter Rise around its Nintendo Switch launch, demonstrating the festival’s role in connecting fans with new Japanese gaming releases.

Any confirmed 2027 game demos, developer appearances or launch activities will depend on the official programme announced for that edition.

Event dates

The 2027 dates have not yet been officially announced.

The latest confirmed autumn edition is October 17–18, 2026, at Brussels Expo. The official opening hours for the confirmed 2026 edition are Saturday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with FastPass holders receiving earlier entry.

Made in Asia is an established recurring festival, and the official press information identifies October 17–18, 2026 as the next autumn edition.

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Event rules

Visitors must follow the festival’s admission conditions and Brussels Expo regulations. Made in Asia provides specific rules covering tickets, access conditions, lockers, cosplay replica weapons and general festival conduct.

Cosplay tickets require the visitor to actually attend in cosplay; a simple themed T-shirt or hat does not qualify. Children under 11 can enter free under the confirmed 2026 ticket policy.

Visitors should also check the latest official rules before attending because restrictions concerning costumes, props, replica weapons, bags and activities can change between editions.

How to get there

Brussels Expo is located at Place de Belgique 1, 1020 Brussels, close to the Atomium and the Heysel district.

By car: Follow the Brussels Ring and take exit 7A for the Expo. The venue is accessible from the E40, E19, E411 and A12 road networks.

By train: Brussels-Midi is the principal international railway station. From Brussels-Midi, visitors can continue by metro to Heysel. Brussels Expo states that the metro journey from Brussels-Midi to Heysel takes around 15 minutes.

By air: Visitors arriving through Brussels Airport or Brussels South Charleroi Airport can use airport transfer services connecting with Brussels and the Expo area.

Public transport & parking

Brussels Expo is well connected to Brussels public transport.

Metro: Line 6 provides direct access from central Brussels, with Heysel and King Baudouin among the relevant stops depending on the destination hall.

Tram and bus: Services include tram lines 7 and 9 and several bus routes serving the Heysel, King Baudouin and Stadium areas.

Parking: Brussels Expo has more than 12,000 parking spaces. Parking C provides around 10,000 spaces and is connected to the exhibition complex by a pedestrian footbridge. Other parking areas include B, T, M and E, depending on event availability.

Accommodation areas

Visitors staying overnight can choose accommodation throughout Brussels, with the most convenient areas generally being around Heysel, Laeken, central Brussels and Brussels-Midi.

Heysel and Laeken: These areas are closest to Brussels Expo and are convenient for visitors who want a short journey to the festival.

Brussels city centre: Central Brussels offers a wider selection of hotels, restaurants, shops and evening activities while remaining accessible to Brussels Expo by metro.

Brussels-Midi area: Useful for visitors arriving by international train because Brussels-Midi provides connections to the wider Belgian and European rail network.

Accessibility

Brussels Expo provides accessibility facilities for visitors with reduced mobility. The venue has adapted entrances and elevators designed to support easier movement around the exhibition complex.

Accessible parking spaces are available around the Brussels Expo site, and the venue’s site plan identifies dedicated disabled parking areas. Visitors who require specific assistance should check the latest venue and festival accessibility information before arrival.

Previous year’s highlights

Recent Made in Asia editions have combined gaming with a broad Asian pop culture programme. Highlights have included gaming tournaments, arcade gaming, manga and anime exhibitions, cosplay competitions, K-pop activities, concerts, creator appearances and a large geek market.

The 2025 autumn edition featured attractions including POP MART, Korean dance activities, traditional Chinese and Asian board games, Japanese drifting demonstrations, lightsaber activities and free-to-play arcade machines featuring titles such as Tekken, Street Fighter, OutRun, Dance Dance Revolution and Initial D.

The 2026 programme expanded the wider Heroes World concept, including areas such as Gaming Activities, Korean Alley, Belgian Valley, Little Asia, One Piece – Netflix and fan activities.

Official tickets

Official tickets for the confirmed 2026 edition are sold through the Made in Asia website. The autumn edition is integrated into Heroes World, meaning a Heroes World admission ticket provides access to Made in Asia as one of the event’s integrated zones.

For the 2027 edition, ticket prices, ticket categories and the official sales date have not yet been announced. Visitors should use the official Made in Asia ticket page when the 2027 ticket sale opens rather than relying on unofficial ticket sellers.

Official website: https://www.madeinasia.be/

Contact: info@madeinasia.be