Toyota adds new Comic Con Africa competition category

Toyota has introduced a new competition category to Comic Con Africa 2026, taking place from 24 to 27 September 2026 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre.

Toyota’s gaming platform, The Toyota Gaming Engine (TTGE) returns as the official partner and headline sponsor to CCA and introduces the TTGE Cosplay Competition with a twist – cosplay but for cars. It’s the first of its kind vehicle-specific cosplay for the annual event that brings together creators, gamers, cosplayers, tabletop players and the general geek community.

HOW TO ENTER

Toyota is inviting entrants to design and build original cosplay inspired by any Toyota vehicle, interpreted in any style, and says it could be from “literal vehicle creations, to humanoid, futuristic or stylised designs”.

Entries are open on the ttge.co.za/comic-con-africa-2026 and closes on 25 September. It is open to any individual 18 years or older with a valid Comic Con Africa ticket who wishes to enter as an individual or in teams of up to four.

Toyota says all entrants will get access to a downloadable TTGE Cosplay Starter Pack containing official brand assets, colour references and build guidance.

JUDGING

Judging will take place at the CCA main stage from 3PM-3:30PM on Saturday, 26 September, and contestants have to be at the stand by 2:30PM. The judges include reps from TTGE, CCA and a professional cosplayer. Entrants will be judged across five criteria: creativity and originality, Toyota interpretation, craftsmanship, innovation and resourcefulness, and stage presence.

The company adds that the competition has been structured to reward imagination and craft rather than budget, with entrants encouraged to use DIY, recycled and accessible materials.

PRIZES

• Main winner: R10 000 cash, a Gazoo Racing driving experience for two at Zwartkops and a Comic Con Africa 2027 weekend pass for three
• Second prize: R3000 eGift24 voucher and Comic Con Africa 2027 weekend passes
• Third prize: R1000 eGift24 voucher and Comic Con Africa 2027 weekend passes

Additional daily prizes will be awarded across the TTGE stand throughout the four days.

TOYOTA STAND EXPERIENCE

1. TTGE will also hold a 30-minute slot on the Comic Con Africa main stage each day, running its Load The Hilux game on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and the Cosplay Competition on Saturday.

2. The TTGE stand will again host free-to-play gaming across sim racing, console and mobile titles, including Gran Turismo 7 on full-motion racing rigs, Street Fighter, EA FC and Brawlhalla on console, and Clash Royale and Subway Surfers on mobile. Daily tournaments, leaderboards, Beat The Pro challenges and prize handovers will run from the stand’s mini stage.

3. Toyota will also bring a physical version of “Load The Hilux”, a free daily mini-game on TTGE’s Brake Time platform, to the event’s food court area. Attendees will compete against the clock to load oversized cargo into a full-size Toyota Hilux, with daily prizes for the fastest recorded times.

4. A custom-built Hilux transformer will move through the show across the four days, serving as both a fan experience and a navigation point to the TTGE stand. Attendees who photograph the character and share the content tagging The Toyota Gaming Engine, or submit names for the character, will stand to win a share in R15 000 in eGift vouchers.

5. To bring the Toyota brand even closer to the Comic Con Africa audiences, a Drift X activation will be on display for all attendees to engage with. This features a precision drift driving experience with the Toyota GR vehicles around a gymkhana style course, demonstrating the agility of the GR models.

“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,” says Glenn Crompton, Vice President of Marketing at Toyota South Africa Motors.

“Comic Con Africa is one of the few places in South Africa where gaming, creativity and fandom meet at scale and our role there has always been to open the door wider. A brand cosplay category has not been done here before. It is a genuine creative challenge, and we are looking forward to seeing what South Africans build.”