(Yicai) July 13 -- Bilibili World 2026, the largest expos for animation, comic, game, and novel enthusiasts in Asia, attracted around 400,000 fans from more than 30 countries and regions worldwide to Shanghai, with around 18 percent of all attendees holding foreign passports.

A record 170 exhibitors opened over 700 booths during the three-day Bilibili World that ended yesterday, according to Chinese video-sharing and gaming platform Bilibili. This year's event occupied eight halls at the National Exhibition and Convention Center, covering an area of 240,000 square meters.

Bilibili World 2026 was the first to open tickets to overseas visitors. Among attendees were nearly 1,000 owners of itashas, or cars wrapped with fictional characters, and more than 60,000 cosplayers.

"The most notable change this year was the surge in foreign visitors," a representative from the booth of China's Yostar Games told Yicai. Various languages could be heard throughout the venue, creating a strong international atmosphere, the person pointed out.

The influx of hundreds of thousands of young visitors has positioned Bilibili World as a core engine driving Shanghai's summer consumption, Bilibili said. In addition, inbound flight bookings to the city rose 35 percent last week from a year earlier, while hotel reservations soared 126 percent week on week, with those within a five-kilometer radius of the expo skyrocketing 600 percent, it added, citing data from travel platforms.

The international film and entertainment industry has also recognized Bilibili World as a vital promotional platform, with Kevin Feige, president and chief creative officer of Marvel Studios, taking the stage to promote the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday on July 11. This was Feige's first visit to China in seven years and his first appearance at a Chinese anime convention.

Bilibili World's appeal extends far beyond its massive young audience, the Yostar Games' representative said, adding that the event fosters a robust community culture that brings creators, platforms, game developers, and fans together, rather than functioning merely as a commercial expo.

"Brands can receive direct, genuine feedback from fans regarding characters, storylines, and gameplay, which proves invaluable for game developers focused on content creation," the person stressed.

ACGN fans view their annual summer trips to Shanghai for Bilibili World and other animation and game events held this month and next month as a cultural voyage, Zhang Shule, a game industry analyst, said to Yicai. The city is evolving into a genuine global cultural hub for the animation and game industry, Zhang added.

Though this year's Bilibili World wrapped up, the lineup of summer animation and game events in Shanghai is far from over. A slate of national-level expos and world-class esports tournaments, including ChinaJoy later this month and flagship Dota 2 contest the International later next month, will continue to attract gamers and industry professionals from around the world.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev