Hashtag Festival

The flagship geek and pop culture festival

Created in 2021 by the Ainterexpo team, the Hashtag Festival quickly established itself as the must-attend geek and pop culture event in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Every October, the Bourg-en-Bresse exhibition centre opens its doors to thousands of fans eager to dive into seven complementary worlds: manga, anime, comics, cosplay, fantasy, web culture and gaming.

Seven worlds to explore

The Hashtag Festival stands out for the richness of its programming, built around seven themed zones covering the full spectrum of contemporary pop culture:

• Manga and anime: meet-and-greets with mangakas, screenings, manga drawing workshops and Japanese animation showcases.
• Comics and graphic novels: signing sessions with authors, original artwork exhibitions and panels on the superhero universe.
• Cosplay: contests with regional selection for the Coupe de France de Cosplay, catwalks and parades, over 3,000 euros in prizes and vouchers to be won.
• Gaming and esports: video game tournaments, retro gaming area, indie game showcases and esports competitions.
• Fantasy and steampunk: creators, artisans and immersive worlds for sci-fi and fantasy enthusiasts.
• Web culture: meet-and-greets with YouTube creators, streamers and influencers from the geek sphere.
• K-pop and Asian cultures: dance demonstrations, karaoke and Korean and Japanese culture discovery.

Over 60 exceptional guests

Each edition welcomes over 60 national and international guests, including web creators, manga and comics authors, renowned cosplayers, artists and enthusiasts who come to share their expertise with the public. The festival also shines a spotlight on local talent from the Ain department and the wider region.

A shopping village and workshops

A large shopping village lets visitors hunt for figurines, manga, cosplay accessories, collectibles and artisan creations. Themed workshops run throughout the weekend: origami, lightsaber combat, balloon sculpting, martial arts tasters and many more fun activities for young and old alike.

A family-friendly and accessible event

The Hashtag Festival is designed to welcome all audiences, from hardcore fans to curious families. Dedicated activities are offered for younger visitors, and awareness panels tackle important topics such as internet safety and discovering Japanese animation. The venue's accessibility (Ainterexpo has free parking and full disabled access) helps make this event a welcoming and inclusive celebration for everyone.