5 Reasons Why Every Pop-Culture Fan Needs To Experience C.O.R.E. At Least Once

I walked into C.O.R.E. expecting a typical fan convention. A few themed booths, some merchandise, maybe a cosplay competition if we were lucky. Instead, I spent the evening hopping between anime universes, watching a sumo performance, spotting celebrities on the red carpet, and wondering whether Mumbai has quietly become the capital of niche internet interests.

Ahead of its official opening, I attended the preview night of C.O.R.E. (Culture of Real Experiences) at Jio World Convention Centre. Here are five things that genuinely caught me off guard.

1. The Scale Is Slightly Ridiculous

The first thing you notice isn’t a particular franchise or activation—it’s the sheer size of the event.

Every corner seems to open into another themed zone, another installation, another fandom gathering. Just when you think you’ve seen everything, you stumble upon something completely different. It’s the kind of place where ‘I’ll do one quick lap’ quickly turns into two hours of accidental wandering.

2. Your Inner Child Will Be Having A Very Busy Day

One of the most unexpected things about C.O.R.E. is how often you’ll find yourself saying, ‘Wait, I used to love that.’

Whether it’s animated franchises you grew up watching, superhero universes you’ve followed for years, or collectibles that instantly transport you back to childhood, the festival has a way of making nostalgia feel surprisingly current.

3. You Get To Meet Your Internet People IRL

For years, fandoms have largely existed through group chats, Reddit threads, comment sections, and Discord servers. C.O.R.E. transforms those digital communities into real-life experiences.

Creators, artists, collectors, gamers, and fans all share the same space, creating the kind of interactions that simply can’t happen through a screen. It’s refreshing to be reminded that fandom is ultimately about people.

4. The Energy Is Constantly Unexpected

The preview night alone featured everything from character appearances and immersive experiences to a high-energy hip-hop performance by YoHighness, a surprise Sumo showcase, and an electrifying AminJaz set that turned the evening into a full-fledged party.

That’s the magic of C.O.R.E.—you never really know what’s around the corner, but you know it’ll probably end up on your Instagram Story.

5. It Doesn’t Feel Like An Event Mumbai Usually Gets

Perhaps that’s what stayed with me most. We’ve had concerts. We’ve had exhibitions. We’ve had comic conventions. But C.O.R.E. feels like it’s trying to build an entire ecosystem around fandom rather than a single attraction.

Whether you’re there for anime, gaming, collectibles, creators, or simply curiosity, there’s a sense that you’re witnessing the beginning of something bigger than a weekend event.

And if the preview night was any indication, Mumbai’s fandom crowd has been waiting for exactly this.

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