FNDM 2026 in Dubai

FNDM returns to Dubai for its second season, filling The Concourse Convention Center at Dubai Outlet Mall with anime, comics, art, cosplay, TV, gaming, trading card games and K-pop across Saturday and Sunday. It bills itself as a fan-first celebration, and the programme is built around the things fans come for: panels, cosplay, live performances, K-pop showcases, TCG tournaments and exclusive collectibles.

The name is shorthand for “fandom”, and that is the point of the event. The organisers describe FNDM as a community first and an event second, a place to find your people whether you arrive alone, with your crew or with the family.

Where FNDM comes from

FNDM was born from the spirit of Middle East Film & Comic Con, better known as MEFCC, which many UAE fans will know as the region’s long-running pop culture convention. FNDM keeps that love of fan culture but packages it as a smaller, more focused weekend, with the emphasis on community rather than scale.

Season 2 follows a first edition and promises everything that worked the first time, plus more. The organisers have not yet named guests, artists or performers for this year, so the draw is the mix of fandoms under one roof rather than a single headline name.

What is on the programme

Panels

Panels run across the weekend, giving you the chance to listen, ask questions and go deeper into the worlds you follow. The full schedule has not been published on the ticket page, so check FNDM’s own channels nearer the date if there is a session you do not want to miss.

Cosplay

Cosplay is central to FNDM’s identity, and the organisers promise epic costumes. Whether you have spent months on a build or simply enjoy seeing what others have made, it is one of the main reasons to go. No cosplay competition has been announced, and the ticket page does not list prop or costume rules, so if you are bringing a large build or a replica weapon it is worth checking with the organisers first.

Live performances and K-pop showcases

Live performances sit alongside K-pop showcases on the programme, so K-pop fans get their own moments on stage in the same hall as the anime, comics and gaming crowds. The ticket page does not name the acts, so watch for announcements closer to the weekend.

TCG tournaments

Trading card game players get their own strand, with TCG tournaments on the line-up. Bring your deck, and look out for tournament formats and registration details from the organisers.

Exclusive collectibles

Collectors can browse exclusive collectibles across the hall, so set yourself a budget before you start wandering.

Passes and entry rules

There are three ways in: a one-day pass for Saturday, a one-day pass for Sunday, or a weekend pass covering both days. Doors open at 11am on both days and the event runs until 11pm, which gives you a full twelve hours if you want to make a day of it. If you want to catch panels, browse collectibles and play in a TCG tournament, the weekend pass lets you spread them across two days instead of cramming everything into one.

• Children aged 6 and under do not need a ticket.
• Children aged 7 to 11 must buy their ticket at the door on the day, rather than online.
• Everyone else needs one of the day passes or the weekend pass.

That door-only rule for 7 to 11 year olds is easy to miss, so families should allow a little extra time at the entrance.

Who it suits

• Anime and manga fans who want to meet others who follow the same series.
• Cosplayers looking for a crowd that appreciates the work, and photographers who want to capture it.
• K-pop fans, who get showcases in a mixed fandom setting.
• TCG players keen on a tournament day with a wider event around it.
• Families with younger children, since under-7s come in without a ticket.
• Newcomers: you do not need to be an expert, and curiosity is enough.

Our art and culture listings and kids’ events in Dubai cover more weekend ideas for fans and families.

Getting to The Concourse at Dubai Outlet Mall

The Concourse Convention Center is inside Dubai Outlet Mall on Route 66, the Dubai Al Ain Road, in Madinat Hind. By car, it is reached via Emirates Road (E611) and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), and shaded parking is available at the venue, a real advantage if you are carrying a costume or a haul of merchandise.

Without a car, bus routes 66 and 67 run from Al Ghubaiba Station to the Dubai Outlet Mall 01 stop. A taxi, Uber or Careem is the most direct option if you are not driving.

FNDM falls on Halloween weekend, so if you want to keep the costume going, browse things to do this weekend or things to do in October.