Established in 1998, the event takes place each spring and is one of the largest and most influential comics and pop culture festivals in Europe.

The festival is hosted at the Mostra d'Oltremare exhibition and convention center (previously held at Castel Sant'Elmo until 2009,[6] except for the 2000 edition, which took place at Villa Pignatelli).

After the success of the 2009 edition, which attracted far more visitors than expected, the event was moved to the larger and more spacious Mostra d'Oltremare convention center.

The traditional festival venue, Castel Sant'Elmo, hosted publishers (except Panini and J-Pop Manga), screenings, talks, awards, the Imago contest, and comics-related exhibitions.

[10][11] In 2014, the same company launched VideoGameShow, an "innovative" convention focused on gaming, creators, and digital entertainment, co-organized with ESL Italia.

In 2023, Comicon expanded with a second edition in Bergamo, held from June 23 to 25 as part of the Bergamo–Brescia Italian Capitals of Culture 2023 initiative.

[18] The festival offers panels, workshops with authors and professionals, screenings, previews of upcoming feature films and TV series, meet-and-greet opportunities with creators and actors, portfolio review sessions with top comics publishers, and the COMICON/Micheluzzi Awards ceremony.

Additionally, other exhibitions and events, part of the "COMIC(ON)OFF" program, were held at various urban locations outside the main venue, such as cultural institutes, museums, stores, and galleries.

[citation needed] Other regular activities at the event include the Imago competition, a drawing contest with a social theme (changing each year), reserved for elementary and junior high school students.