More than 100,000 anime fans descended upon downtown Los Angeles this Fourth of July weekend for the 35th annual Anime Expo. Anime Expo 2026 once again transformed the Los Angeles Convention Center into the largest celebration of Japanese anime culture in North America.
This year’s convention also coincided with the FIFA Club World Cup, bringing another wave of visitors to downtown Los Angeles during an already busy holiday weekend. While Anime Expo attendees filled the Los Angeles Convention Center and L.A. Live, soccer fans filled local sports bars and breweries. The convergence of two major international events contributed to heavier-than-usual traffic, crowded hotels, and packed Metro trains.
Anime Expo has grown dramatically since the original “Anime Con” in 1991. Organized by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA), the convention relocated to Southern California in 1994 and has since become the largest anime convention in North America.
Popular industry panels routinely reached capacity well before their scheduled start times, with attendees lining up hours in advance for a chance to see exclusive trailers, announcements and guest appearances. Long queues stretched throughout the convention center for exclusive merchandise, autograph sessions, and food vendors, while the Exhibit Hall and Artist Alley remained packed from opening until closing each day.
The convention’s popularity also presented logistical challenges. Heavy foot traffic created bottlenecks, and staff temporarily restricted access to the West Hall to safely manage crowd flow as thousands of attendees moved between major events. Despite the congestion, attendees remained in high spirits.
That popularity has been fueled by the rise of streaming platforms, which have introduced anime to audiences worldwide. Series such as Demon Slayer, Solo Leveling, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Delicious in Dungeon, and The Apothecary Diaries have become international hits, while manga sales continue to climb across North America. Anime, once considered a niche interest, has firmly established itself as a mainstream form of entertainment.
This year’s Anime Expo served as the industry’s biggest stage for new announcements. Among the highlights were the reveal of a new Solo Leveling theatrical film, the first major showcase for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, updates on Ghost in the Shell and Black Clover, and the surprise announcement of a The Apothecary Diaries feature-film. Publishers and studios also unveiled new manga licenses, upcoming anime adaptations and exclusive previews throughout the weekend.
Beyond the headlines, Anime Expo remained a celebration of fandom and creativity. Thousands of cosplayers brought beloved characters to life, independent artists filled Artist Alley with original artwork and handmade goods, and fans from every corner of the globe gathered to share their passion for Japanese pop culture.
More than 30 years after its debut, Anime Expo continues to reflect the growth of anime beyond Japan. As publishers, studios, and fans return to Los Angeles each summer, the convention remains one of the industry’s largest annual gatherings.
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