Anime NYC hosted its biggest event yet for its 9th year, with nearly 1,000 exhibitors, artists, and creators filling the Javits Center in New York City from August 20-23, 2026. Over 150,000 fans filed in to immerse themselves in larger-than-life booth activations, a gaming hall in conjunction with PLAY.nyc, and special panels, reveals, and meet & greets with anime & manga guests of honor, VTubers, voice actors, notable cosplayers, and more!
Among this year’s special guests were Mackenyu (One Piece: Live Action), Yuki Kaji (Attack On Titan), Junko Takeuchi (Naruto), Johnny Yong Bosch (Bleach), and Damien Haas (Delicious In Dungeon). Whether you’re a fan of original Japanese voice performances, English dubs, or live-action adaptations, there was representation across the board. From exclusive signings to in-booth appearances (Sarah Natochenny, below), you could get some of your favorite anime & manga memorabilia autographed, with even JSA on-site to authenticate or witness signatures.
But just in case you couldn’t find the right collectible beforehand, the Expo Floor has got you covered as always, with hundreds of top-tier booths offering a wide variety of collectibles: figures & statues (sealed & loose), assorted TCG & trading cards, posters, physical & digital media, acrylics, original art, and so much more. We’re talking about industry giants like Crunchyroll, Bandai Namco, VIZ Media, and Hololive, as well as independent homegrown favorites like holoSQ from Brooklyn and Fragmented Nostalgia from Minneapolis. Grab exclusive freebies daily and don’t miss exciting photo ops all over the Javits Center, from life-size dioramas to epic backdrops like Shueisha’s Manga Million booth featuring fan favorites like Boruto, One Piece, and Spy x Family:
Other projects that were teased & promoted throughout the weekend included Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, Blue Eye Samurai, LEGO One Piece Netflix Special, Daemons of the Shadow Realm, and Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. Plus there were Gundam giveaways courtesy of Bandai, the debut of Takara Tomy’s Haikyu!! trading card game in English, and commemorative posters for VIZ’s 40th anniversary. Between the Expo Floor and Artist Alley, fans could walk away with tons of one-of-a-kind art & collectibles, no matter the fandom… a Witch Hat Atelier foil print by Celtis Art, glowing Yu-Gi-Oh! canvas art by Zachery Johnson, or even a Knicks x Pokemon crossover by Matsumoto Art. If you can dream it, you can find it at Anime NYC!
Meanwhile, PLAY.nyc returned for its third year in the Gaming & Community Hall presented by Misty Mountain Games. Try out Japanese arcade cabs, build plastic model kits, learn to play Mahjong, rip booster packs, and mingle with fellow gamers while discovering up & coming developers, as well as additional artists & exhibitors showcasing indie video games, arcades, tabletop games, TCGs, and other hobbies. And because it remains open late each day, it’s a fun & low-stress way to unwind after a jam-packed day of panels, screenings, meetups, and shopping.
And as if all of that weren’t already enough, there’s also a Japanese Food Court, stamp rallies, free prize wheels, and even more to make Anime NYC the biggest 4-day celebration of all things anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture for new fans & longtime enthusiasts alike. But get ready for Anime NYC 2027 as they gear up for a massive 10th Anniversary event! And in the meantime, check out our full photo gallery and recap video below:
lesdudis.com 