The Fan-Run Anime Convention Returns Memorial Day Weekend, May 22–25, 2026
SAN JOSE, CA — Every year, something remarkable happens to Downtown San Jose over Memorial Day Weekend. The streets fill with elaborate costumes, the convention center hums with energy at two in the morning, and tens of thousands of people who would otherwise never cross paths find themselves in the same room, bonded over the same shows, the same characters, the same love of something they’ve carried since childhood.
That’s FanimeCon. And it’s coming back May 22–25, 2026.
Now in its fourth decade, FanimeCon remains exactly what it was always meant to be — a convention run by fans, for fans. No corporate gloss. No manufactured hype. Just a genuinely massive celebration of anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture that somehow still feels like it belongs to the people who show up for it.
THE GUESTS
This year’s guest lineup delivers. Voice actress Ai Nonaka — a 25-year veteran of the industry and a fan favorite — is making her return to FanimeCon, and people are excited. Director and animator Hiroshi Nagahama, who cut his teeth at Madhouse Studio and has since built one of the more distinctive careers in anime, joins her as a Guest of Honor. Rounding out the roster are actor Khoi Dao, actor and director Emi Lo, Japanese-to-English translator and scholar Zack Davisson, anime historian Gilles Poitras, and cosplay legends Linda Le (Vampy) and Matthew “Maguma” Lewis — both of whom have been part of this community long enough to have inspired the people now attending their panels.
WHAT TO EXPECT
If you’ve never been to FanimeCon, the scale of it is genuinely hard to prepare for. Programming runs 24 hours a day. The Masquerade — the convention’s flagship cosplay competition — draws some of the most jaw-dropping craftsmanship you’ll see anywhere. The Black & White Ball gives attendees a chance to dress up in a completely different way and actually dance. The gaming hall hosts everything from vintage arcade cabinets to serious TCG tournaments. The Artist Alley and Dealer’s Hall can swallow an afternoon without warning.
There’s also the Swap Meet, J-Fashion events, panels, workshops, karaoke, AMV screenings, and Cosplay Gatherings for what feels like every fandom imaginable. It’s a lot — intentionally so.
GETTING IN
Weekend badges start at $85, and hotel reservation priority goes by registration order, so earlier is better. Everything you need is at fanime.com.
A LITTLE CONTEXT
FanimeCon has been running since 1994, when it started at a college campus in Hayward and could fit in a single building. It’s been at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center since 2004, and at this point it contributes an estimated $10 million-plus annually to the local economy. The city knows when FanimeCon weekend is. The fans definitely do.
FanimeCon 2026 | May 22–25, 2026 San Jose McEnery Convention Center | San Jose, California fanime.com | @FanimeCon
