Anime Expo 2026 Concludes 35th Anniversary With Over 422,000 Attendees From 65+ Countries

Anime Expo 2026 has officially concluded its landmark 35th anniversary, marking one of the biggest editions in the convention’s history. Organized by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA), the four-day event welcomed a turnstile attendance of more than 422,000 fans representing over 65 countries, further cementing its reputation as North America’s premier celebration of Japanese pop culture.

Held in Downtown Los Angeles, this year’s sold-out convention expanded beyond the Los Angeles Convention Center to include Crypto.com Arena, The Novo, Peacock Place, L.A. LIVE, and portions of Figueroa Street. According to SPJA, the event generated an estimated $115 million economic impact, benefiting local hotels, restaurants, and surrounding businesses. Anime Expo also confirmed that it will return to Los Angeles from July 2–5, 2027, with badge sales scheduled to begin in early 2027.

Anime Expo 2026 Delivered Record Programming and Industry Participation

Anime Expo’s milestone edition featured more than 1,400 hours of programming, offering attendees an extensive schedule of world premieres, exclusive screenings, industry panels, concerts, cosplay events, and interactive experiences celebrating anime, manga, gaming, fashion, music, and Japanese pop culture.

Reflecting on the event’s success, SPJA CEO Ray Chiang said,

“It’s been a privilege to see Anime Expo continue to inspire and bring together a wonderful community of talented artists, creatives and fans in Los Angeles.”

He added that the organization remains

“very honored to spotlight and uplift the talent behind Japanese animation and pop culture for the past 35 years”

and looks forward to continuing that mission in the future.

This year’s exhibitor lineup included many of the industry’s biggest names, such as Aniplex of America, Crunchyroll, Bandai Namco, ATLUS/SEGA, CD PROJEKT RED, HoYoverse, Hulu, KADOKAWA, MAPPA, Square Enix, VIZ Media, Lucasfilm, NEXON Korea, Secretlab, and Takaratomy, among many others.

Founded in 1992, Anime Expo has grown into the largest annual Japanese pop culture convention in North America, bringing together fans, creators, publishers, and developers from around the world. The record attendance and expanded venue footprint achieved during its 35th anniversary highlight the event’s continued growth and global appeal as anticipation now shifts toward Anime Expo 2027.