Date: October 12, 2025
By: Jossan
Autumn 2025 is shaping up to be an intense and creative season for everyone who loves cosplay, LARP, reenactment, manga, and anime. From record-breaking festivals to new releases, international collaborations, and growing discussions about safety and inclusion – here’s a broad look at what’s happening in geek culture right now.
Cosplay 2025 – Safety, Creativity and Growth
Safer environments at Swedish and Nordic conventions
Throughout 2025, several organizers have introduced new measures to make cosplay events safer. These include trained safety hosts, clearer photo rules, and improved communication around consent.
This development is part of a wider movement within the community to strengthen mutual respect and create events where everyone feels welcome.
Record-breaking Swedish cosplay festivals
NärCon Summer 2025 in Linköping reached over 20,000 visitors – the highest attendance in the festival’s history.
The event continues to grow as a meeting place for cosplay, gaming, dance, role-playing and craftsmanship. Smaller regional events such as Confusion, Nordsken, and Comic Con Gothenburg have also seen increasing interest.
Comic Con Stockholm Winter 2025
Comic Con Stockholm will host its winter edition at the end of October, focusing on cosplay competitions, workshops, and new exhibitors.
This year, an especially large number of participants from other Nordic countries are expected. A new feature is a dedicated crafting zone where visitors can follow the entire creative process – from pattern design to finished costume.
Sweden represents at the World Cosplay Summit
The Swedish team for the 2025 World Cosplay Summit is officially confirmed. The team will compete in Nagoya, Japan, with its own interpretation of a Japanese fantasy theme.
In recent years, Swedish cosplayers have gained increasing international recognition, and several creators now collaborate with global brands and productions.
LARP 2025 – Nordic Live Action Role-Playing in a New Era
Large-scale LARP projects in Sweden and Norway
Nordic LARP culture continues to grow. In 2025, several large projects are being organized – including fantasy adventures in forest settings, historical campaigns, and science fiction scenarios.
Many organizers are now collaborating across borders to create more accessible and sustainable events.
Focus on sustainability and reuse
The LARP community has become a role model in sustainability. Reusing costumes, choosing eco-friendly materials, and sharing resources have become standard practice at many events.
Discussions about inclusion are also increasing – with an emphasis on creating characters and stories that open up participation for more people, regardless of background or experience.
Digital LARP and hybrid formats
A new trend is digital LARP experiences where participants meet online in interactive worlds.
This format combines classic role-playing with technology and streaming, making it possible for players from different countries to join the same story.
Reenactment 2025 – When History Meets the Present
Living history attracts new audiences
The reenactment scene in Sweden continues to grow. In 2025, numerous historical camps, battle re-creations, and craft fairs are being arranged, drawing both newcomers and experienced participants.
Interest in recreating the Middle Ages, the Viking Age, and the 19th century is increasing, and many new groups are forming across the country.
Research and craftsmanship in focus
Many reenactment groups now collaborate with museums and universities. The goal is to merge historical craftsmanship with academic research – for example, in textiles, blacksmithing, and historical cooking.
These efforts contribute to a broader understanding of how history can be experienced, not just studied.
New festivals celebrating living culture
Several new reenactment festivals have launched this year, blending history, craftsmanship, and stage performances.
These events attract families, schools, and tourists, showing how cultural heritage can be made accessible through participation rather than observation.
Manga and Anime 2025 – New Trends and Releases
Rising interest in manga in Sweden
The Swedish manga market continues to expand. Several publishers are now releasing Swedish translations of both classic and new series.
Themes such as romance, everyday life, and psychology have become particularly popular among young readers.
At the same time, digital reading is growing quickly. Many Swedish fans are now using legal apps to read Japanese original series directly on their phones.
The anime year 2025 – major premieres and awaited sequels
Anime in 2025 is marked by several big releases. Long-running series return with new seasons, while streaming platforms invest in original productions inspired by both Japanese and Western storytelling.
The trend of live-action adaptations continues, though with greater respect for the source material than in previous years.
New European and Swedish anime productions
Interest in producing original anime in Europe is increasing. A Swedish animation collective is currently developing an original series inspired by Norse mythology, set to premiere in 2026.
The project reflects how anime aesthetics are merging with European storytelling traditions.
The Common Theme of 2025 – Creativity and Community
Whether it’s cosplay, LARP, reenactment, manga, or anime, one theme ties everything together: creativity, collaboration, and community.
It’s no longer just about crafting costumes, playing roles, or reading stories – it’s about building culture together.
Sweden holds a strong and growing place in the international pop culture scene. The developments of 2025 clearly show that the future of these art forms is inclusive, sustainable, and filled with creative joy.