Anime Expo 2026 Breaks Records: Reaches All-Time High with 422,000 Attendees
Anime Expo 2026 has achieved the largest attendance in its history. Officials organizing the event announced that 422,000 turnstile visitors attended this year's convention. This figure surpasses the previous record of 392,000 set in 2024, marking it as the highest attendance in Anime Expo history.
Organized by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) since 1992, Anime Expo remains the largest anime and manga convention in North America. Held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the event brings together thousands of cosplayers, industry professionals, publishers, and producers every year. This 2026 record is seen as an indicator of how much anime culture has grown in the mainstream.
The 7.6% increase compared to the previous record of 392,000 visitors in 2024 reveals that the industry has rapidly moved past its post-pandemic recovery. Furthermore, this increase demonstrates that investments in anime by platforms such as Crunchyroll and Netflix, along with the global popularity of new-generation series (e.g., Demon Slayer, Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen), are directly reflected in convention attendance.
Plans for next year have also been clarified. Anime Expo 2027 will be held again in Los Angeles from July 2-5. Organizers aim to expand venue capacity and attract more international participants to surpass this new record. This growth momentum signals that Anime Expo, the meeting point for anime and manga fans, will continue to keep its finger on the pulse of the industry in the coming years.
