Anime Expo launches 4-day fest in Downtown LA

Anime Expo, North America’s largest celebration of Japanese pop culture, opened Friday for a four-day event expected to draw tens of thousands of fans to downtown Los Angeles for anime, manga, music, fashion, video games and cosplay.

Now in its 35th year, the event runs through Sunday at the Los Angeles Convention Center while expanding into surrounding venues including Crypto.com Arena, The Novo, Peacock Place and L.A. LIVE. Organizers also have transformed portions of Figueroa Street into a festival corridor connecting the venues.

Hosted by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation, the expo features more than 400 exhibitors, industry panels, exclusive screenings, premieres, concerts, cosplay events and appearances by creators, voice actors and other guests from Japan and around the world, organizers said.

Among the attractions are a Maid Cafe inspired by Tokyo’s Akihabara district, the Anime Expo Fashion Show, J-Pop performances, academic symposiums, gaming panels and previews of upcoming anime series and films.

“This year’s Anime Expo is our largest and most expansive event to date,” SPJA CEO Ray Chiang said in a statement. “With such a diverse lineup of exhibitors, panelists and guests, AX 2026 reflects both the continued growth of the event and its increasing impact on Los Angeles.”

Anime Expo began in 1991 as “Anime Con,” organized by members of the University of California, Berkeley’s anime club. It has since grown into North America’s largest annual gathering devoted to Japanese animation, comics, music, gaming and popular culture.