08/09/2026
"TOYOTA GOES FULL GEEK MODE: CARS, COSPLAY AND GAMING TAKE OVER COMIC CON AFRICA 2026
By MABEL MOSIAMEDI
JOHANNESBURG — Toyota puts a new spin on cosplay as cars,gaming and pop culture collide at Comic Con Africa 2026.
Forget dressing up as your favourite superhero — Toyota wants South Africa’s cosplay community to turn its cars into characters.
Toyota South Africa Motors is bringing a fresh dose of horsepower, gaming and creativity to Comic Con Africa 2026, launching what it says is the country’s first vehicle-specific cosplay competition.
Through The Toyota Gaming Engine (TTGE), Toyota will return as an official partner of the continent’s biggest pop culture and gaming festival, taking place from 24 to 27 September 2026 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec.
And this year, the brand is not simply bringing games to the party — it is challenging fans to build, create and transform.
The new TTGE Cosplay Competition puts a motoring spin on the art of cosplay, inviting participants to create original costumes inspired by any Toyota vehicle.
The brief is wide open.
Fans can take inspiration from Toyota vehicles and interpret them through futuristic, humanoid, stylised or literal designs. The focus is on imagination and craftsmanship rather than who has the biggest budget.
DIY, recycled and easily accessible materials are encouraged.
Entries close on 25 September, with contestants able to enter individually or in teams of up to four. Participants must be 18 years or older and hold a valid Comic Con Africa ticket.
The competition will reach its climax on the Comic Con Africa Main Stage on Saturday, 26 September, when finalists face the judges from 15h00 to 15h30.
Judging will focus equally on creativity and originality, Toyota interpretation, craftsmanship, innovation and resourcefulness, and stage presence.
R10 000 AND A GAZOO RACING EXPERIENCE
For aspiring creators, there is more than bragging rights on the line.
The winner will pocket R10,000, score a Toyota GAZOO Racing driving experience for two at Zwartkops Raceway, and receive Comic Con Africa 2027 weekend passes for themselves and two guests.
Second place comes with a R3,000 eGift24 voucher, while third place receives R1,500, with both also receiving 2027 weekend passes.
And for fans who don't make the cosplay podium, there will still be daily prizes up for grabs at the TTGE stand throughout the festival.
GAMERS, START YOUR ENGINES
Toyota is also turning its Comic Con Africa stand into a gaming playground.
Visitors can expect free-to-play gaming across sim racing, console and mobile titles, including Gran Turismo 7 on full-motion racing rigs.
Console players can get into Street Fighter, EA FC and Brawlhalla, while mobile gamers can battle it out on Clash Royale and Subway Surfers.
Daily tournaments, leaderboards and Beat The Pro challenges will keep the competition going, with prizes handed out from the stand's mini stage.
The action will also spill onto the main stage, with TTGE securing a 30-minute slot every day.
LOAD THE HILUX — BUT THIS TIME, FOR REAL
One of Toyota's most eye-catching attractions will be its physical Load The Hilux experience.
The game, which normally features on TTGE's Brake Time platform, will come to life in the Comic Con Africa food court.
Players will race against the clock to load oversized cargo into a full-size Toyota Hilux, with the fastest competitors battling for daily prizes.
Then there's the transformer.
A custom-built Hilux transformer will roam the festival, giving fans a chance to snap pictures and share their content online while tagging The Toyota Gaming Engine.
Fans can also submit names for the character, with a share of R15,000 in eGift vouchers up for grabs.
For petrolheads and performance fans, Toyota is adding another attraction with its Drift X activation.
The experience will showcase Toyota GR vehicles tackling a gymkhana-style course through precision drifting, giving Comic Con Africa visitors a taste of the performance and agility behind the GR badge.
Glenn Crompton, Vice President of Marketing at Toyota South Africa Motors, says the brand's latest activation is about expanding its connection with the creative side of gaming culture.
“Through The Toyota Gaming Engine we have spent years investing in South Africa’s gaming community, and this year we are extending that to its makers and builders,” said Crompton.
He believes Comic Con Africa provides the perfect meeting point for gaming, creativity and fandom.
And judging by Toyota's plans, Comic Con Africa 2026 is set to be about much more than costumes and controllers.
From gamers and cosplayers to car enthusiasts and creators, Toyota is putting its own spin on the festival — proving that when cars, gaming and pop culture collide, the result can be seriously entertaining.
Comic Con Africa 2026 runs from 24 to 27 September, 09h00 to 18h00 daily, at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec.
Soweto-LifeNews.com
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