(opinion article)

Kyiv will not rest this weekend and not because of the work to do and unbearable heatwaves. On June 7–8, the capital is taken over by a colorful army of cosplayers, gamers, anime fans, comic book nerds, and K-pop enthusiasts at the long-awaited FanCon 2025, held at the sprawling International Exhibition Center.

From the moment you walked in, it felt like reality had called in sick. Darth Vader posed for selfies with Sailor Moon, Spider-Man was spotted chatting with Geralt of Rivia near the ramen stand, and a suspicious number of people were walking around in Pokémon onesies and somehow, it all made sense.

FanCon has always promised a place where fandoms collide, and this year it delivered big time. There were high-stakes gaming tournaments happening on giant screens, anime screenings where fans recited lines word-for-word, comic book artists sketching live, and K-pop cover dance groups setting the main stage on fire with choreography that had the crowd screaming like it was Seoul.

And the cosplay? Next level. Whether it was handcrafted armor from ‘The Elden Ring,’ meticulously sewn Attack on Titan jackets, or full-blown Star Wars stormtrooper suits, it was clear people had been working on their looks for months.

It was the vibe. Everyone was there for the same reason: to geek out, make friends, and celebrate the weird, wonderful corners of pop culture.

If you missed it, don’t worry, the hashtags are still trending, the TikToks are wild, and there’s always next year. But fair warning: start working on your costume now. You’re going to need it.