Every October, Bogotá's Convention Centre turns into the city's biggest clubhouse for anyone who has ever loved a hobby. The Salón de Ocio y FAntasía — SOFA for short — runs over the Día de la Raza long weekend, and the 2026 edition takes place from Thursday 8th to Monday 12th October at Corferías (Carrera 37 #24-67), with tens of thousands of attendees expected across five days.
What exactly is it? Think of it as an everything-for-everyone event: video gaming and board gaming, comics and art, roleplay sessions, model car racing, unicycling, Rubik's Cube communities, clowning, medieval reenactment, and stands ranging from Lego cities to East Asian calligraphy where you can get your name written in katakana. Much of it is run by passionate amateurs rather than big brands — the medieval village by Pendragon Medieval in pabellón 22, for instance, offers mead quaffing and archery — which gives the fair a refreshingly sincere feel despite its size.
The commercial halls are enormous. Hundreds of stalls in pabellones 3, 6 and 8 sell merchandise you'll struggle to find in ordinary Colombian shops: katana umbrellas, drinking horns, Potter wands, Akatsuki cloaks. It's repetitive in places, but genuine gems are hidden among the mass-market stuff. There's also a strong local comics section where independent artists and small retailers showcase work that often engages with Colombian issues — a good chance to meet creators and buy something you won't see anywhere else.
Practical notes matter here. Tickets cost COP$27,000-34,000 depending on the day, or COP$128,000 for a five-day pass, and buying online in advance is strongly advised — turning up without one can cost you an hour at the door. Crowds peak between midday and sundown Saturday to Monday, queues for food are long, and Bogotá's October weather is famously changeable, so bring water and a waterproof. The event is pet-friendly, though the dense crowds are worth considering before bringing your dog. Cosplayers are everywhere and mostly happy to pose for photos, but ask first.
Beyond the fun, there's a serious side: Colombia has built a solid reputation in robotics education, and events like SOFA play a real role in feeding that pipeline. For travellers, though, the appeal is simpler — it's an unusually welcoming window into the city's hobby communities. Board game and roleplay groups at the top of pabellón 1 actively invite newcomers in and explain the rules, so you don't need to be an insider to enjoy it. If your trip happens to overlap with the long weekend, it's an easy, affordable half-day outing with a distinctly local flavour.
Story reported by The Bogotá Post.
