Global ACG Records
BilibiliWorld 2026 Sells Tickets Internationally for First Time, Boasts Record Exhibitors and Pre-registrations
BilibiliWorld 2026 has made history by opening ticket sales in more than 190 countries and regions, becoming the first comprehensive ACG (anime, comic, and game) exhibition in China to sell tickets to international visitors worldwide. PR Newswire reports that as of midnight on June 18, pre-registrations for the event had already surpassed last year's total record — a milestone reached before the event even begins.
The event will also host 172 confirmed exhibitors, a 15% jump from the 2025 record of 150. That makes this the largest exhibitor lineup in BilibiliWorld's history, which dates back to its founding in 2017.
China's Biggest Fan Convention Goes Global for the First Time
Until now, buying a ticket to BilibiliWorld was nearly impossible if you lived outside China. The system required a Chinese national ID and local payment apps like Alipay or WeChat Pay. International fans were largely shut out. That changes with the 2026 edition, which launched a fully automated global sales system on June 17 at 10:00 AM China Standard Time.
The new ticketing portal supports 12 languages and accepts international payment methods including Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal. Tickets were successfully processed in 192 countries and regions as of June 18, according to Bilibili Ticketing Global data. Bilibili CEO Chen Rui called it a turning point, saying BW 2026 represents "the transition of Chinese ACG culture from a domestic phenomenon to a global crossroads."
172 Exhibitors Signal Global Brands Now Take Shanghai Seriously
The record 172 exhibitors include some of the biggest names in gaming and entertainment. HoYoverse, maker of Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, is taking the largest floor space at roughly 3,000 square meters. Nintendo's China division is back with an expanded booth. Sony Interactive Entertainment is using the event to spotlight its China Hero Project titles to international scouts.
ACG industry researcher Dr. Kenji Watanabe says the exhibitor count tells a bigger story. "The record-breaking 170+ exhibitors show that Japanese and Western IP holders now view Shanghai as a mandatory stop for global product launches," he told Nikkei Asia. The event now competes directly with Anime Expo in the US and Comiket in Japan for global relevance.
Visa Policy and Shanghai's 'Gateway' Push Made This Possible
The global ticket launch did not happen in isolation. China's 144-hour visa-free transit policy and new bilateral visa-exemption deals with more than 30 nations — including several EU members and Southeast Asian countries — gave international visitors a practical path to attend. Shanghai's municipal government also backed the push through its "Shanghai Gateway" initiative, designed to restore the city as a top global exhibition hub.
Local hospitality data shows a 45% spike in Shanghai hotel bookings for mid-July, specifically from IP addresses outside Mainland China. Morgan Stanley's Asia Pacific team projects that the 190-country reach could boost Bilibili's "Other Services" revenue by 22% year-over-year, framing BW 2026 as a shift toward "experience-based IP monetization" away from pure gaming revenue.
Fan Concerns and Data Privacy Questions Shadow the Milestone
Not everyone is celebrating. Long-time fans on Reddit and Chinese forum Tieba argue that record exhibitor counts and global marketing are turning BilibiliWorld into a trade fair rather than a fan community event. They say the "community spirit" of early BW editions is fading fast as corporate interests take over.
Western tech media have raised a separate concern: international attendees must submit passport data to the Bilibili platform. Critics question how that data is stored and whether it can be accessed under China's Data Security Law. Bilibili has not yet issued a public statement addressing those concerns. The event itself is set for mid-July at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, where 14 themed zones will span categories from e-sports to retro gaming.
Sentiment
NeutralPublishers
4
Articles
3
Reach
4
