The Polaris Convention from October 13th to 15th in the exhibition halls of Hamburg exceeded all expectations with its overwhelming success. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday sold out before the gates opened at lunchtime on Friday. More than 27,000 enthusiastic gaming and cosplay fans – no longer allowed due to security reasons – experienced a variety of exciting activities, well-known exhibitors and a world record over three days. That was almost three times more viewers than last year’s premiere.
Content creator Jasmine Seibel aka Jasmine Gnu was enthusiastic about the show and said: “This year was the first Polaris for me. I really like the atmosphere and the varied program. It was the size of a very pleasant trade fair. I was able to take time and relax for my community and exchange ideas with other creators and colleagues. I also love the large cosplay area, I think it’s great to compliment all the elaborate costumes in the hall.”
An undisputed highlight of the convention was the official world record on Sunday, supported by sponsor TikTok, which was mastered with flying colours. 492 enthusiastic cosplayers gathered for video game cosplay, surpassing the previous record of 491 set in Tampere, Finland in 2013. It was an impressive sight that showcased the Polaris community’s passion and dedication to cosplay and gaming. In addition, a top-class jury selected the event’s most fabulous costumes in a cosplay competition in front of nearly 2,000 enthusiastic spectators on the massive PLITCH main stage. Among the many impressive cosplays, LazerLiz managed to assert herself with her Junker Queen cosplay and won first place.
The Polaris Convention was more than just an event: it was a journey into different worlds, each with its own interesting aspects. From cosplay to gaming, cooking shows to retro corners, there was a lot on offer. Twitch had a packed streaming program over three days with more than 200,000 viewers on the Polaris convention channel – spread across the streaming creators’ channels – and thus offered exciting entertainment even for those not on site.
“The Polaris Convention has shown impressive growth and brought visitors to Hamburg from all over Germany and beyond. As a community conference the organization is appreciated by exhibitors and participants alike. GameCity Hamburg congratulates Hamburg Messe and SuperCrowd Entertainment on this great success,” congratulated GameCity Hamburg head Dennis Schubi.
Organizers are already planning the next edition of the convention, which will take place again in 2024 in Hamburg from 11 to 13 October – with even more exhibitors, artists and a bigger exhibition space. Registration for Polaris 2024 is already underway here And Ticket sales 3-day tickets with early bird discounts have started.
