John Cena is heading to Abu Dhabi this September, with Middle East Film & Comic Con confirming the WWE veteran and Hollywood actor as the latest major guest for its 2026 event.
Cena will appear at MEFCC 2026 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi on September 12 and 13, adding one of the convention’s most recognisable names to a guest list that already crosses several major entertainment franchises. His appearance will give fans opportunities to see him as part of the convention’s Meet the Stars programme, which typically includes autograph sessions, photographs and celebrity conversations.
For wrestling fans, Cena needs little introduction. His WWE career has spanned more than two decades, during which he became a 17-time world champion and one of the company’s defining performers. His profile eventually expanded well beyond professional wrestling, following a route into mainstream entertainment previously taken by stars including Dwayne Johnson and Dave Bautista.
Cena’s Hollywood career has since covered action movies, comedy and superhero projects. His credits include The Suicide Squad, entries in the Fast & Furious franchise, Bumblebee and Barbie, while his portrayal of Peacemaker turned what could have been a relatively minor comic-book character into one of his most prominent screen roles.
Away from entertainment, Cena also holds the Guinness World Record for granting the most wishes through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He has written children’s books, worked on television productions and previously released the 2005 rap album You Can’t See Me, giving MEFCC plenty of material to draw from beyond his wrestling career.
Cena joins a growing celebrity lineup for Middle East Film & Comic Con 2026. Mackenyu, known internationally for playing Roronoa Zoro in Netflix’s live-action One Piece adaptation, is also scheduled to attend. Joonas Suotamo, who succeeded Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca across several modern Star Wars productions and later appeared as Lurch in Netflix’s Wednesday, has also been announced.
The combination reflects how MEFCC has evolved into a broader entertainment convention rather than an event focused narrowly on comics. Celebrity appearances remain a major attraction, but the Abu Dhabi show also incorporates gaming, cosplay, artist showcases, panels and other areas built around film, television and fandom culture. Its position on the Abu Dhabi Calendar has also made the convention an increasingly visible part of the UAE’s annual entertainment schedule.
Demand appears strong ahead of this year’s event, with organisers saying VIP tickets have already sold out. Standard one-day passes are priced at AED 160 for Friday and Sunday and AED 190 for Saturday, while a three-day weekend pass costs AED 390. Children aged six and under can enter free, while tickets for children aged seven to 11 are AED 50 at the door.
More guests are expected to be announced ahead of the convention. Cena’s addition, however, gives MEFCC 2026 a headline name capable of pulling together wrestling, superhero, movie and television audiences under the same roof.
