Anime Expo

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Arts & CultureLos Angeles
DatesDates TBA · Usually JulyCheck locally before booking
Duration4 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsAnime Expo grew from a 1, 750-attendee
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Anime Expo in Los Angeles

Anime Expo is a four-day anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture convention held each July at the Los Angeles Convention Center, organized by the nonprofit Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation since its 1992 founding in San Jose. It has grown into the largest anime convention in North America, drawing several hundred thousand attendees for panels, concerts, cosplay, and gaming.

It is one of North America's largest anime gatherings and has clear travel-worthy identity.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Anime Expo grew from a 1,750-attendee gathering at a San Jose hotel in 1992 into an event that in its 2026, thirty-fifth edition, drew more than four hundred twenty thousand turnstile attendees from over sixty-five countries, the largest anime convention in North America nearly every year since founding

02

The mystery stays covered

Its programming reaches well beyond a typical fan convention, including a full concert program featuring Japanese musical acts, a cosplay program built around the World Cosplay Summit U

03

The city starts moving

Finals, and an arcade and tabletop gaming hall, spanning music, cosplay craftsmanship, and gaming alongside panels

04

The water draws everyone in

Organized by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation, a nonprofit whose founding staff came largely from an earlier 1991 San Jose convention, the event has direct roots in the earliest organized American anime fandom

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The convention continues Japan's cosplay culture in a dedicated American context through its World Cosplay Summit U

Water and renewal

Living ritual

Finals program

The sacred route

Living ritual

and its concert lineup regularly showcases Japanese musical artists performing for an American fan audience

The local code

Living ritual

extending direct cultural exchange around anime and Japanese pop music rather than treating the culture as a secondhand reference point

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually July

Getting around

Convention-center congestion is significant.

What to wear

Comfortable clothing and supportive footwear for a packed convention center and long lines; early July Los Angeles weather is warm and dry, typically in the low-to-mid 80s Fahrenheit during...

Safety

Anime Expo is best approached as a guest: follow local crowd guidance and avoid blocking participants.

Where to stay

Downtown Los Angeles

Tickets/cost

Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map34.04 N, 118.27 WOpen in Google Maps

Los Angeles, CA

TransportConvention-center congestion is significant.
Stay areaDowntown Los Angeles

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Los Angeles via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Los Angeles, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for July.Compare faresFestival gearComfortable clothing and supportive footwear for a packed convention center and long lines; early July Los Angeles weather is warm and dry, typically in the low-to-mid 80s Fahrenheit during the day, cooling into the mid-60s at night. Elaborate cosplay is a central part of the convention's culture and widely worn throughout the venue.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Anime Expo?

Anime Expo is listed for Past edition: 2–5 July 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Anime Expo take place?

The festival is listed in Los Angeles, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

4 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Los Angeles, CA

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLanime-expo.org
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually July
Source statusOfficial source linked
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