Salon Fantastique

Salon Fantastique: An Odyssey into the Worlds of the Imaginary

Founded in 2012 by Guillaume Besançon, Salon Fantastique was born on the Champs-Élysées before moving to the Espace Champerret in 2014, where it remained until 2019. After a pandemic-related interruption, the salon made a spectacular comeback in 2023 by merging with Japan Party under the banner of the non-profit association Imagin'Con, finding a new home of 10,000 m² at the Parc Floral de Paris.

This merger gave birth to a uniquely rich, two-headed event in France: on one hand, Salon Fantastique celebrates Western imaginary cultures — fantasy, fairy tales, horror, steampunk, medieval-fantasy, science fiction —; on the other, Japan Party explores Asian pop culture — manga, anime, video games, cosplay, traditional Japanese culture, K-pop. This complementarity offers visitors a complete panorama of imaginary cultures in all their forms.

Parc Floral de Paris: A Unique Setting for Pop Culture

Since 2023, Salon Fantastique and Japan Party have taken over the Hall de la Pinède at the Parc Floral de Paris, in the Bois de Vincennes (12th arrondissement). This green and spacious setting, both covered and open to the gardens, allows the event to spread over more than 10,000 m², hosting over 400 exhibitors: artisan creators, costume makers, authors for signings, illustrators, publishers, specialized shops, gaming associations, and video game areas.

Spectacular Activities

Salon Fantastique stands out for the richness and variety of its activities:

• Cosplay Contest: A highlight of the event, notably featuring the Île-de-France selection for the Coupe de France de Cosplay on Saturday, attracting the best cosplayers from the region.
• Fantasy and Cosplay Fashion Shows: Costumed parades throughout the day.
• Concerts: Diverse musical programming (J-music, symphonic metal, Celtic music).
• Creative Workshops: Prop making, cosplay initiation, manga drawing workshops.
• Conferences and Round Tables: Meetings with science fiction, fantasy, and manga authors.
• Martial Arts and K-pop Demonstrations: Dynamic performances.
• Gaming Areas: Retro and current video games, role-playing games, board games.

A Growing Popular Success

The attendance at Salon Fantastique reflects the public's enthusiasm for imaginary cultures. The 10th edition in 2023 welcomed 12,150 visitors, a figure that jumped to 21,512 visitors for the 11th edition in 2024, an increase of over 75% in one year. The salon has now established itself on the calendar for the Easter weekend (or spring), becoming an unmissable annual event for the geek community and families.