Wonder Festival US
About
All About Wonder Festival
Overview
Wonder Festival began in 1985 as a gathering for figure makers and model enthusiasts and has since grown into Japan’s most influential figure and hobby showcase.
Organized by Kaiyodo Co., Ltd. since 1992, Wonder Festival highlights the artistry behind collectible design and production, celebrating both professional studios and independent creators who bring characters, creatures, and worlds to life through craftsmanship.
Every year, tens of thousands of fans come together to discover new sculpts, meet artists, and celebrate the creative process behind figures, models, and garage kits that inspire collectors worldwide.
The idea behind bringing Wonder Festival to the United States started with a shared belief: creativity has no borders.
For decades, Wonder Festival has stood as Japan’s most respected celebration of figure craftsmanship and model art and as a place where collectors, artists, and dreamers come together to share their passion for making. MomoCon saw an opportunity to build a bridge between two global fan communities.
By combining WonderFest’s legendary artistry with MomoCon’s scale and energy, the goal was to create something never before seen in North America: a space where Japanese creators, U.S. artists, and fans could connect face-to-face through a shared love of craftsmanship and imagination.
Bringing Wonder Festival to MomoCon began as a conversation between two creative worlds. One rooted in Japan’s maker culture, the other in America’s thriving fan scene. With the support of Kaiyodo Co., Ltd., the organizers of Wonder Festival since 1992, and MomoCon’s established platform in Atlanta, the collaboration quickly took shape.
Set to debut in 2026, WonderFest at MomoCon will feature a dedicated exhibit area showcasing figure studios, garage kit artisans, and collectible designers from around the world. It’s a celebration of talent, technique, and storytelling. The kind of event that reminds everyone why we fell in love with this culture in the first place.
What Is Garage Kit Culture?
In Japan, garage kits are more than collectibles, they’re expressions of creativity. The term originated in the 1980s when hobbyists began sculpting and casting small production runs of their own figures, often from home workshops (literally, “garages”).
Each kit is handcrafted, limited, and deeply personal, a blend of fine art, fan passion, and technical mastery. At Wonder Festival, these creators share their work side-by-side with major studios, giving fans a rare chance to see the full spectrum of artistry, from hobby makers to industry legends.
For American audiences, think of it as a hybrid of Comic-Con artist alley meets a sculptor’s studio. A space where imagination takes physical form.
Wonder Festival Comes to the U.S.
In 2026, Wonder Festival makes its North American debut at MomoCon, one of the largest fan conventions in the United States.
For the first time, American fans will get to experience the heart of Japan’s creative figure culture up close and in person.
The Wonder Festival Zone at MomoCon will feature up to 100,000 square feet of exhibits, including:
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Japanese and international figure studios
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Independent garage kit creators and artisan toy designers
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Limited-edition collectibles and cultural showcases
This collaboration bridges Japan’s world-renowned craftsmanship with the energy and creativity of American fandom.
About MomoCon
Founded in 2005 in Atlanta, Georgia, MomoCon has grown from a small college gathering into a global celebration of animation, gaming, comics, and pop culture.
With over 60,000 unique attendees and 150,000 total visits, MomoCon is known for its welcoming community and wide range of programming from panels and cosplay to gaming, concerts, and major brand showcases.
Hosting Wonder Festival’s first U.S. edition is part of MomoCon’s mission to bring international creativity and connection to fans in the Southeast and beyond. Together, Wonder Festival and MomoCon unite creators and collectors from across the world for something truly special.
Our Shared Mission
Wonder Festival U.S. exists to celebrate craftsmanship, creativity, and community giving artists a platform, giving fans a closer connection to the art they love, and giving the global figure world a new home in America.
