Updated March 11th, 2026
One of the best parts of being an anime fan is that there’s almost always another event, convention, or adventure around the corner. From convention halls packed with cosplay to long-planned trips tied to fandom, these are the events currently on the horizon for The Casual Otaku.
Many of these will eventually turn into full posts here on the blog—recaps, cosplay photos, travel stories, and the occasional chaotic convention moment that probably seemed like a good idea at the time.
Zipangu Fest
📍 Brookside Park, Pasadena
🔗 https://zipangu-event.cloud/com/
Zipangu Fest celebrates Japanese music, pop culture, and creative arts, bringing together artists and fans for a festival that highlights the broader world of Japanese entertainment. While anime conventions tend to focus on animation and cosplay, events like this remind me how wide the umbrella of Japanese pop culture really is. This should be a fun event to kick off the year’s lineup, especially since I’ve been wanting to see Ado live for a while now.
FanimeCon
📍 San Jose, California
FanimeCon is one of the longest-running anime conventions on the West Coast and a yearly highlight for many California anime fans. With thousands of attendees, a huge Artist Alley, cosplay gatherings, and plenty of late-night convention energy, it’s always an event where something memorable happens. This year will be my fifth time attending, so expect cosplay photos (I’m planning to debut new costumes at con) and a full recap once the weekend chaos settles down and I’ve recovered from any hangovers.
Anime Expo
📍 Los Angeles, California
Anime Expo hardly needs an introduction. As the largest anime convention in North America, it’s a massive celebration of anime, manga, gaming, cosplay, and industry announcements. Having attended AX many times over the years (17 years in a row and counting), I can safely say the experience is always memorable, sometimes amazing, sometimes exhausting, and occasionally both at the same time.
Dragon Con
📍 Atlanta, Georgia
Dragon Con has built a legendary reputation as one of the most energetic and chaotic fandom conventions in the world. Unlike traditional convention center events, Dragon Con spreads across several downtown Atlanta hotels, creating a massive multi-day celebration of fandom. This will be my first time attending, so I’ll finally get to experience the famous cosplay culture, the massive parade, and the legendary late-night hotel lobby scenes that longtime attendees talk about with equal parts nostalgia and disbelief.
Japan Trip (October–November)
📍 Tokyo and surrounding areas
This long-planned trip blends travel, culture, fandom, and a few personal bucket-list experiences. The itinerary includes time in Tokyo along with visits to locations tied to anime culture and there will almost certainly be a few anime pilgrimage stops along the way—because when you’re in Japan, it would almost feel irresponsible not to. Expect multiple posts related to this trip because one post is not enough (and no one wants to read a novel)
Anime Los Angeles
📍 Long Beach, California
🔗 https://animelosangeles.org/
Anime Los Angeles has become one of my favorite conventions over the years, one I’ve been attending almost as long as AX and it will be my third year staffing. ALA is a great way to kick off the convention season. The event strikes a nice balance between large convention energy and a relaxed community vibe. Between cosplay gatherings, panels, ribbons and meeting up with friends, it’s always a fun way to start the year.
Katsucon
📍 National Harbor, Maryland
Katsucon is famous for hosting one of the most visually impressive cosplay scenes in the country, thanks largely to the stunning Gaylord National Harbor atrium where many photoshoots take place. If everything lines up as planned, this trip will also include some time exploring Washington, D.C. while I’m on the East Coast.
More Adventures Ahead
The events listed above are what’s currently on the calendar, but in fandom circles there’s always the chance of something unexpected popping up—another convention, a concert announcement, or a last-minute event that’s too interesting to pass up. If any of these events turn into memorable stories—or complete chaos—you’ll probably see them show up here on the blog.