It was at HoYoFEST Singapore this year when I realized the event peaked last year in 2025, and I have truly no idea what to expect in 2027.
Let me begin by reminding you: I am the girl with two Zhongli tattoos, with a third that depicts Xiao’s and Childe’s masks. My left side limbs are Genshin Impact. When I step into HoYoFEST, I am first and foremost coming in as a fan who loves the titles that HoYoverse makes—which includes Honkai Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero—and journalist second.
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Last year, we walked into a hall greeted by soft, fluffy Saurians of Natlan whom we could interact with by throwing balls at them to win prizes. (Don’t worry, no real Saurians were harmed in the process.)
Last year, we were awed by majestic Doric Greek pillars adorned with creeping vines and blooming purple flowers, framing Phainon in not just one, but two forms, as he towered over us in all his glory.
Last year, we could stand in one spot and admire 10 Zenless Zone Zero characters dominating us from above as they posed energetically on both sides of a three-panel showcase.
But on Friday, July 31, 2026 when doors opened to HoYoFEST Singapore 2026, we were greeted by white walls, cold, grey concrete floors, and saw nothing but bobbing heads before we saw anything HoYo.
Before doors opened at HoYoFEST 2026
HoYoFEST is HoYoverse’s annual community event that invites fans to come together and celebrate all their titles.
Tickets prices and non-existing media passes
The convention-style format of HoYoFEST in Singapore saw its first run at Suntec City Mall’s public atrium with free entry. In 2025, it became a ticketed event held in a hall at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre with one-day passes priced at $14, $32 for all days, and a single-day Fast Pass at $48.
This year, ticket prices increased to $16 for one-day passes, $35 for all days, and $50 for Fast Pass. Despite the increase in price, HoYoFEST was still held at the same single convention hall with even barer exhibits. Instead of highlighting HoYoverse titles as its centerpieces, the crowd spent most of their time queuing, visibly occupying 60 to 70% of the space.
“Previous years, the exhibitions were built up and looked very nice. They look like they are from the game itself. But then now that it’s in the hall, it’s just a rectangle wall. There’s not enough effort to justify the price,” HoYoFEST 2026 Fast Pass attendee Sya, told Fanstanza.
As a media outlet, we were invited to attend HoYoFEST just like the past two years. The biggest difference is that instead of giving us a media pass, we were issued a free one-day ticket. On top of that, the third-party organizer conveyed that they were told to treat us like any other normal attendee without any media access, which I detail in my LinkedIn post here.
Absent branding outside the hall
While other local media left as they had other events to attend to, I chose to stand in line for one hour and 10 minutes for the delayed entry after Fast Pass holders because I am first and foremost a fan. During that slow hour, I couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast to an adjoining convention that was taking place over the same weekend.
Held over the weekend at Halls 404, 405, and 406, TableCon Quest 2026 had clear signs plastered on the outer walls for media and ticket holders, as well as a large step-and-repeat backdrop adjacent to the front door.
In comparison, HoYoFEST had a total of two A4 sized posters and one standing banner, two for ticketing and one to welcome fans at the door.
And for the same ticket prices, everyone was squashed into a single Hall 403.
Real concerns about the HoYoFEST 2026 Singapore experience
While queuing is Singaporeans’ favorite past-time, the intention for HoYoFEST has always been for the community to enjoy the festivities together.
HoYoFEST attendees pay for a ticket only to spend most of their time queuing. Everything from entry, to the merch booth, to check-in redemption, and to individual game title showcases required hours of queuing.
While queuing was also present in 2025, it seems like instead of choosing to host HoYoFEST in a larger venue, the solution was to downsize the displays and increase the amount of space for queue management.
“This is a bunch of nothing. Last year, I was so amazed with Phainon. Even for the Natlan showcase, they had full-sized plushie Saurians. Even Zenless had so many life-sized standees. There’s only four standees at HoYoFEST 2026 and the rest are behind the stage,” a participating artist, who wished to remain anonymous, shared with Fanstanza.
Naazneen, a HoYoFEST 2026 Fast Pass attendee based in Melbourne who flew back for a short trip to Singapore, shared a similar view: “I expected a bit more decorations. As we know, Snezhnaya is coming out, Tear of Themis has an anniversary, but they’re not really represented. I think it would be nicer if HoYoFEST is more themed and more immersive.”
Besides aesthetics, there were also stock issues. Despite knowing the number of tickets sold and how many participants are expected, the organizer had no more stock for the Honkai Star Rail booth freebies.
I returned to Day 1 of HoYoFEST on Friday in the late afternoon and was told that they’ve run out, which is why there was no queue at the showcase. A friend who went on Saturday and Sunday confirmed that the no-stock situation persisted over the weekend as well.
What was most concerning was the exposed concrete ground and utility covers that had holes in them. I’ve been to so many cons at Suntec Convention Center and this is the first time I’ve noticed them because there wasn’t a single carpeted area at HoYoFEST 2026.
Having holes in the ground is a real safety concern, especially since fans were dressing up in cosplay, some of whom were wearing heels. The risk of tripping, falling, and injuring themselves and others in a densely crowded area was high.
Aside from exposed flooring, I noticed storage boxes and a trolley placed behind the photo booth, which also pose a danger. When it’s crowded and all you can see is the person in front of you, it is easy to walk into things that are out of place.
Public safety should be prioritized, no matter the con.
HoYoFEST 2026 Artist Alley working conditions
Beyond public safety, Artist safety was another key concern during HoYoFEST Singapore.
Walking into Artist Alley, the physical strain on local creators was visible. Booths were crammed so tightly back-to-back that chairs were practically locked together, leaving artists with virtually no room to shift or stretch throughout the day.
Yet, physical squeezing was only half the story because the organizational boundaries were just as rigid. Despite being officially featured artists whose work anchors the event’s grassroots charm, multiple artists shared with Fanstanza that they were barred from participating in any official HoYoFEST activities unless they secured a separate general admission ticket.
These are the very creators who are helping to draw in thousands of fans through the venue doors, and are naturally big fans of HoYoverse titles. Yet, they are not seen as equal partners, but rather, isolated vendors.
This organizational rule has been long-standing since last year when Artist Alley debuted at HoYoFEST 2025, which is why some artists told Fanstanza that they went out of their way to buy tickets beforehand just so that they can partake in the activities on the ground.
Despite these persistent friction points, there were noticeable improvements this time around. According to one returning artist who wished to remain anonymous, the organizers adjusted the layout to minimize incidents of people bumping into artist booths.
That said, the artist still had hoped that “the hall could be larger” with wider walkways that make it easier for attendees to browse. However, they are aware that unlike other conventions, HoYoFEST is one where there’s “co-sharing of activities” and is understanding of the organizer’s decisions.
The future of HoYoFEST in Southeast Asia
While the global servers may receive the same in-game content as China, the offline activations have not delivered the same quality, apparent in this year’s HoYoFEST.
Instead of combining titles into one festival, miHoYo celebrates each game title individually on the mainland. Genshin FES was held at Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center over the span of four days from January 1 to 4 this year with larger-than-life installations, showcases, and statues.
Likewise, Zenless Zone Zero FES took place at Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou from December 26 to 28 last year that practically recreated the city New Eridu itself.
“I knew I shouldn’t expect too much because for HoYoFEST they usually pour in more on the China side of things. They do a lot of big things there. And Singapore is a very small market,” Naazneen reflected.
“For next year, I wouldn’t pay for the Fast Pass. I’m just here to hang out with my friends and collect stamps together. The normal ticket is $16 and Fast Pass is $50, which is quite a jump,” Sya added.
When casual fans start rethinking their ticket tiers, the strain flows directly to the creators whose booths depend on foot traffic and attendee goodwill.
“I come here just for HoYo, so I think it’s still very pertinent to what I draw. A lot of my art is HoYo. But the thing is, after this year’s HoYoFEST, I’m not sure if people want to come for next year’s,” a participating artist, who wished to remain anonymous, told Fanstanza.
That warning gets to the heart of HoYoFEST’s trajectory in Southeast Asia. Fan passion in this region is deep and resilient. Even as entry costs rise and floor layouts feel cramped, fans will still show up for shiny laser tickets, exclusive merch, and a chance to celebrate the games they love.
But brand loyalty shouldn’t be mistaken for infinite patience. If HoYoFEST wants to sustain the community that powers its offline culture, future iterations will need to offer more. Heading into 2027, the question isn’t whether fans will show up—it’s whether the event will finally give them a reason to stay.
