Manga Barcelona 2025: Exciting Guest Lineup and Special Performances

Manga Barcelona has announced its guest lineup for this year's event, promising an exciting celebration of manga, anime, and music. The festival will take place at Fira Barcelona Gran Via from December 5 to 8.

Featured Guests

This year’s guests include some of the most talented figures in the manga and anime world:

Gou Tanabe – Renowned manga artist, recently awarded for his adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu.
Satoru Nii – Creator of Wind Breaker, a popular manga series.
Mao Momiji – An acclaimed anime food designer known for his work on Delicious in Dungeon.
Shinichirō Watanabe – Legendary director of Cowboy Bebop, who will also participate in a panel discussion.

Musical Performances

The festival will feature remarkable musical acts:

SEATBELTS – The band behind the iconic Cowboy Bebop theme song, will perform outside Japan for the first time on December 5.
Aina The End – Will make her debut in the West with performances on December 6 and 7. She’s known for singing the ending themes of The Apothecary Diaries, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, and more.

Special Highlights

The event poster was illustrated by Witch Hat Atelier creator Kamome Shirahama. You can view it below:

Manga Barcelona 2025 event poster

Credit: Manga Barcelona’s official website

SEATBELTS will perform their first concert outside Japan, with Yōko Kanno leading the band and featuring Mai Yamane, the original vocalist from Cowboy Bebop. They will also join Watanabe for a panel on music and anime.
Aina The End will also participate in a panel discussion, sharing insights into her work and upcoming projects.

Recent Achievements

Gou Tanabe recently won the Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel award at the Bram Stoker Awards for his manga adaptation of Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu.
Watanabe directed the new original anime Lazarus, which premiered on Adult Swim’s Toonami and is nominated for an Emmy for its opening theme, Vortex, performed by Kamasi Washington.

Past and Future Highlights

Last year, Manga Barcelona celebrated its 30th anniversary, hosting guests like Naoki Urasawa, Aka Akasaka, Mengo Yokoyari, and the creators of Witch Hat Atelier. This year promises to be equally memorable with a diverse lineup of talent and performances.

Sources: Email correspondences, Manga Barcelona official website