Imagine a place where Harry Potter meets K-pop stars, where knightly swords share space with the latest consoles, and scientists give lectures in front of thousands of young people. That is Rikon: the largest Croatian convention of fantasy, pop culture, and gaming, which this year, over three days, recorded over 6,000 visitors and transformed the Exportdrva space into a hive of creativity, knowledge, and entertainment.
“Rikon is getting bigger every year, but seeing this number of people this weekend was an extraordinary experience. We carefully listen to the audience's wishes and prepare the program months in advance, but this kind of response exceeded our expectations. We knew Rikon had potential, but now we can say that we stand shoulder to shoulder with world festivals of this type,” emphasizes Valentina Mišković Yoe from the event's management.
Three days of programming and over 80 content points
On as many as three stages and in numerous program zones, more than 80 program points took place. From cosplay competitions, gaming tournaments, and K-pop dance competitions to popular science lectures, comic and film programs, quizzes, and various creative workshops.
This year, Rikon also hosted a record number of exhibitors, more than 60, which further enriched the festival's offerings.
“The festival today encompasses more than 15 thematic categories, which shows how diverse the audience we gather is. Regardless of the impressive production level and the richness of content, what makes Rikon special is the atmosphere, the unique sense of community and positive energy that is hard to describe in words,” adds Marta Glažar, president of the Association 3. dragon.
Special guests and unforgettable moments
The honorary guest was Shaune Harrison, a legend of film makeup, known for his work on franchises such as Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Marvel films. His workshops and panels attracted great attention from the audience, and young creatives and cosplay artists had a unique opportunity to hear firsthand what it’s like to work on the biggest productions in the world.
In the scientific program, the honorary guest Ante Radonić stood out with his lecture on the return to the Moon, which filled the hall. For the scientific panel on new space research, in which Radonić was joined by Dijana Dominis Prester and Petar Jelača, the audience showed exceptional interest. Lectures on science, artificial intelligence, and mythology also attracted a younger audience, confirming the importance of informal education in the focus of Rikona.
The tense atmosphere was also present at numerous quizzes where visitors tested their knowledge of geek topics, and a record turnout was recorded at Saturday's Anime quiz, where more seats were needed.
Hits among the audience
Friday was traditionally marked by the international K-pop dance competition, which filled Exportdrvo and created an atmosphere of a true music and dance spectacle. The hearts of the audience were won by Karlo Pešava (10 years old) with his solo performance, the duo VI’olet from Slovenia, and the group Se7en from Bjelovar.
The Cosplay competition on Saturday showcased all the splendor of creativity and dedication of the participants. More than 20 contestants presented carefully crafted costumes and impressive stage performances. Imaginative interpretations of characters from popular series received ovations and demonstrated how cosplay is an impressive blend of art, craft, and performance. The international jury had the challenging task of selecting the best, while the audience contributed to the atmosphere of the spectacle with their votes. In the beginner league, the jury awarded Leona Cindrić (Lemix) as Tsukasa Tenma and Teu Bračun as Necromancer with the main prize, while the audience chose Eva Despinić (Sangre) as Subject Delta. In the advanced league, the jury awarded Maria Margalića (Groovy the Juju) as UF-84 Doubt Killer, and the main prize Best in Show as well as the hearts of the audience were won by Ian Remenar (Evian Cosplay) as Hiccup from the well-known animated film How to Train Your Dragon.
“What delights us the most is the energy and communication between the contestants and the audience: that infectious, positive atmosphere that sparkled this year at both the K-pop and the Cosplay competition. Those moments truly show why Rikon is so special,” adds Valentina Mišković Yoe.
Gaming zone offered valuable prizes in competitions for popular titles League of Legends, Rocket League, Tekken 8, and for the first time in FC26, while board game and TCG (trading card games) enthusiasts enjoyed large zones dedicated to social games.
Anniversary of the 3rd Dragon Association and Artefakt Award Ceremony
A special place in the program was also taken by the literary award Artefakt, which this year rewarded the best authors in the genres of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. This year, the winners were Danijel Bogdanović for the short story Šiškanomikon, Tanja Radman for Vezove sudbina, Dario Šarec for the novel Razdvajanje , and Morea Banićević for the children's novel Izgubljeni gospodin Kovač.
Rikon 2025 also had a special significance as the organizers from the 3rd Dragon Association celebrated its 20th birthday, while the event itself was held for the 28th time in a row in Rijeka. With a huge cake, 20 candles, and in the embrace of volunteers and members, the organizers bid farewell to this record-breaking Rikon and thanked the team, exhibitors, participants, and visitors - with a few tears of joy.
Rijeka as the Epicenter of Geek Culture
Over three days, Exportdrvo was filled with energy, creativity, and diversity. Visitors came from all over Croatia as well as from Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Austria, Germany, Poland, and even the USA, confirming the international appeal of the event.
“Our team is small but dedicated. During the preparation week, there were over 50 volunteers who dedicated their time, helped the exhibitors, and carried the festival with us, from setting up chairs to cleaning up the hall. This year was particularly challenging as we had only three months to prepare for an event that usually takes a year to plan, and that’s why this success is even sweeter,” added Marta Glažar at the end.
Thanks to the long-standing dedication of the association and community support, Rikon proves to be a cult event in Croatia, becoming one of the most important and most visited events on the themes of fantasy, popular culture, and science in Europe.
