Bilibili World, the subculture festival hosted by China's leading platform Bilibili, will be held for three days from July 10 to 12 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.

Held annually since 2017, Bilibili World has become a globally recognized event. Beyond prominent Chinese subculture titles like Genshin Impact, the Honkai series, and Wuthering Waves, domestic Korean titles such as Blue Archive and Nikke have been actively participating since 2023. The event has expanded its scope from Japanese animation and subculture roots to include global AAA titles, following CD Projekt Red's 2024 showcase of Cyberpunk 2077 and the 2025 appearances of Death Stranding 2 and Crimson Desert.

Having evolved beyond a mere subculture event into a comprehensive game show and multi-entertainment festival, we take a detailed look at what lineup awaits at Bilibili World this year.

A Feast of Subculture: Expanding to 7 Halls with Popular Hits, New Releases, and Fan-Made Content

The National Exhibition and Convention Center, home to Bilibili World, spans 470k square meters across 15 halls. The venue features eight exhibition buildings arranged in a four-leaf clover pattern, with most halls—excluding Hall 3—designed as two-story structures.

While Bilibili World previously utilized five of the first-floor halls, this year the scale has expanded to occupy all halls except Hall 7. The game exhibition area, which previously spanned Halls 3 and 4.1, now includes Hall 5.1. Additionally, Hall 8.1 has been repurposed as a dedicated stage event hall, while event booths have been relocated to Hall 6.1.

Halls 3, 4.1, and 5.1 are the must-visit areas for gamers, featuring established hits like 'Wuthering Waves,' 'Honkai: Star Rail,' and 'Arknights,' alongside new titles such as 'Silver Palace,' 'Azur Promilia,' and 'Wangyue.' While the event previously leaned more toward festival-style gatherings like AGF, the increasing focus on hands-on demos—such as last year's 'Azur Promilia' showcase—suggests that attendees can look forward to playing the latest builds of new subculture titles at Bilibili World 2026.

Beyond known titles, new games like 'Bringer' and 'Green Dream: Echoes of Time' are also making their debut at Bilibili World. 'Bringer' is an open-world action RPG based on the 3D animation of the same name by Chinese studio YHKT Entertainment, set in a unique sci-fi world where giant beasts and humans coexist. 'Green Dream: Echoes of Time' distinguishes itself as a side-scrolling action RPG set in a post-apocalyptic world; the developers have announced a closed beta test following the event to gather user feedback.

Package game participation has also become more active. Sega, which has been a regular at Bilibili World with titles like 'Metaphor: ReFantazio,' will participate this year with 'Persona 4 Revival.' Other Japanese package games, including 'Super Danganronpa 2X2' and 'Steins;Gate Reboot,' have also announced their attendance.

In addition to the game lineup, the main event stage at Bilibili World has become even more spectacular. Notably, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige will appear on the main stage on July 11 to interact with fans. Beyond the main stage, Hall 2.1—dedicated to stage performances and events by subculture artists—will host popular VTuber agency Hololive, as well as appearances by beloved voice actors and artists.

Hall 2.1 will also house booths for AmiAmi, Good Smile Company, Animate, and F:NEX, with Hall 1.1 nearby dedicated to fan-made content creators, creating a natural flow for attendees to enjoy events and purchase merchandise.

Hall 6.1, dedicated to animation, has been slightly scaled down due to recent geopolitical tensions, but the Toei Animation booth, centered on 'One Piece,' remains a anchor alongside Sanrio and Kadokawa. With Kevin Feige visiting, Marvel Studios and Disney booths are also highly anticipated. Since the game exhibition halls will also feature upcoming screenings like 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht Rising,' attendees should check booth information in advance to plan their route.

Domestic Subculture Titles Join the Fray: Blue Archive, Nikke, Trickcal, Brown Dust 2, and Eternal Return

Since its participation in 2023, 'Blue Archive' has gained significant recognition in Korea. Having kicked off that trend, Blue Archive returns this year for its fourth consecutive appearance. While booth concepts are typically revealed a week before the event, anticipation is high regarding whether the 'Pancake'—the giant creature from the 'Pandemic Hazard' event featuring the Supplying Club—will appear in a massive, oversized scale.

Following its debut at Bilibili World last year alongside its Chinese launch, 'Goddess of Victory: Nikke' returns this year. Thanks to the enduring popularity of the 'Dororong' derivative, Dorothy takes center stage again, joined by Cinderella, who has been a hit since her May pickup on the CN server. With the 'Romantic Valentine' event currently running on the CN server, fans can expect many Nikkes to greet Commanders in maid outfits.

EPIDGAMES' 'Trickcal Revive,' which launched globally and in China via Bilibili last year, is also returning. While last year's booth was a small event themed around the early favorite 'Komi,' the game's recent global success with the 'Spiky' meme and its half-anniversary—reaching 11st in Japanese Google Play and 13rd in App Store revenue—suggests a more substantial presence this year. Given EPIDGAMES' history of quirky event concepts, how they will showcase their unique 'Trickcalism' remains a key point of interest.

'Brown Dust 2,' which has seen a strong response in the Greater China region since last year, is also returning. Although it has yet to secure the 'ISBN' (game license) required for the Chinese market, the game drew massive crowds last year with its bold character designs and booth events, and is expected to see a similar reception this year.

Additionally, Nimble Neuron's 'Eternal Return' has announced its first-ever appearance at Bilibili World. The game has successfully engaged domestic fans through esports, character design, and offline events. With the CN server recently transitioning from Tencent's WeGame to a unified Steam version, the team is likely looking to reconnect with Chinese fans at the event.

Beyond Subculture: A Game Show-Level Lineup Featuring Dave the Diver, Assassin's Creed, and Black Myth

While Bilibili World began as an extension of a subculture video platform, its lineup has diversified to include online games, indie titles, and major console and PC package games.

Ubisoft's participation is a major highlight. Despite recent challenges, the company is regaining momentum with the announcement of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Remake. With a release date on the 9th—just before the event—and a strong presence from Ubisoft Shanghai, the company is expected to host various events to captivate attendees.

Creative Assembly's new title, 'Total War: Warhammer 40K,' will make its official debut at Bilibili World. Appearing at an offline event for the first time since its reveal at The Game Awards 2025, the game will utilize the new 'WarCore' engine to deliver a more immersive battlefield. While it is unclear if a demo will be available, JoyToy—which releases high-quality, officially licensed Warhammer 40K action figures—attends every year, making this a must-watch for Warhammer 40K fans.

Chinese console game developers are also participating actively. Game Science, the developer of 'Black Myth: Wukong,' will exhibit under the 'Black Myth' booth name, raising interest in whether they will reveal information about their next project, 'Black Myth: Zhong Kui.' Other new titles from emerging developers, such as 'Jinyiwei,' which covers the exploits of the Ming Dynasty imperial guard, and 'Sword Sage,' a unique martial arts action game focused on parrying rather than dodging, will also be on display.

Inspired by the success of 'Red Desert' last year, several domestic console and PC games are heading to Bilibili World. Examples include MINTROCKET's 'DAVE THE DIVER,' which has been well-received following its recent mobile launch in China, and NC's new title 'Mistbound.' 'Mistbound' is a CCG based on the 'Guild Wars' IP from NC's subsidiary ArenaNet; unlike typical card games, it features a 5x3 tile system for card placement. Developed through a unique collaboration where ArenaNet handles IP oversight, NC handles development, and Bilibili handles publishing, the game is expected to begin gathering user feedback at this event. Additionally, Hideo Kojima's 'Death Stranding 2' will return for another year, as more titles continue to emerge ahead of the event's opening.

Bilibili World 2026 will be held from July 10 to 12 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. Further information is available on the official website.