The Ultimate Anime Convention Checklist: Everything You Need for an Epic Con Experience
Anime conventions are like stepping into another universe, a place where fandoms unite, cosplays rule the halls, and your favorite voice actors are just a panel away. But if you're not prepared, your dream weekend can quickly turn into a chaotic blur of forgotten items and missed opportunities.
Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned con-goer, this ultimate anime convention checklist has got you covered. From cosplay emergencies to merch madness, here’s everything you need to survive and thrive at your next anime con.
The Absolute Essentials
Before you even step foot in the convention center, make sure you’ve packed these:
• Tickets & ID
: Don’t be the person who shows up without their badge. Print or screenshot your pass and pack a valid ID, you’ll need it at check-in.
• Cash & Card
: Some vendors are cash-only or might have spotty card readers. Bring both so you’re not stuck during a big purchase.
• Phone & Chargers (Including Portable Ones)
Your phone will be your lifeline for photos, schedules, and updates. Keep it alive with a backup power bank.
• Con Schedule & Map
: Download or screenshot the event schedule and maps beforehand. Wi-Fi and cell reception can be hit-or-miss.
Cosplay Survival Kit
If you're cosplaying (and even if you're not), these items are game-changers:
• Costume & All Accessories
: Double-check your checklist: wig, contacts, makeup, props, etc. Forget one item and your whole look could fall apart.
• Emergency Repair Kit
: Include safety pins, glue, thread, scissors, fashion tape, anything that could save you from a cosplay crisis.
• Comfy Backup Outfit
: After hours in armor or stilettos, trust me, your feet and back will beg for a hoodie and sneakers.
• Deodorant & Body Spray:
You’ll be walking and sweating a lot. Stay fresh and kind to your fellow con-goers.
Health & Comfort Must-Haves
Conventions are exciting but also physically demanding. Here’s how to take care of yourself:
• Reusable Water Bottle
: Hydration is non-negotiable. Bring a bottle and refill it throughout the day.
• Snacks
: Keep granola bars, nuts, or your favorite Pocky in your bag to avoid overpriced food or long lines.
• Painkillers & Band-Aids
: A long day = sore feet and potential blisters. Be prepared with a mini first-aid kit.
• Hand Sanitizer & Face Mask:
Stay safe and help prevent the infamous "con flu."
What to Pack in Your Day Bag
A small, efficient bag can make or break your con experience. Here’s what to carry daily:
• Small Backpack or Crossbody Bag
: Large enough for essentials, small enough to navigate crowds comfortably.
• Autograph Book & Sharpie
: Perfect for meeting guests or artists. Some guests only sign physical items.
• Badge Holder
: Protect your pass, it’s your access to everything.
• Art Print Sleeves
: Bought some awesome prints? Don’t let them get crushed on your way out.
Shopping Like a Pro
Merchandise is a huge part of any anime con. Prepare wisely:
• Set a Budget:
It’s easy to overspend. Decide what you're willing to shell out before walking into the vendor hall.
• Merch Wishlist:
Prioritize what you’re looking for—limited-edition items go fast!
• Extra Tote Bag or Poster Tube
: Perfect for carrying your purchases without damaging them.
Bonus Tips for Maximum Enjoyment
• Follow the Con's Social Media
: Stay updated on schedule changes, flash mobs, and giveaways.
• Respect Cosplayers
: Always ask before taking a photo. Don't touch costumes or props without permission.
• Plan Breaks:
Even the most passionate anime fan needs time to eat, rest, and recharge.
• Meet New People:
You’re among fellow fans! Strike up a conversation, attend a meetup, or join a panel Q&A.
Final Thoughts
Conventions are magical; an immersive dive into the worlds you love. But the key to an unforgettable experience is preparation. With this checklist in hand, you’ll be ready for anything the con throws at you, from spontaneous photoshoots to all-night anime screenings.
Got your own con hacks or packing tips? Drop them in the comments below.
Convention Calendar 2025:
January
AniMC
Anime Convention, Cosplay
01/11 - 01/12 - DE - Chemnitz, Kraftwerk e.V.
February
German Stranger Con
Stranger Things convention, guest stars
02/01 - DE - Oberhausen, Turbinenhalle
Mag-C
Manga, Anime, Games & Cosplay
02/08 - 02/09 - DE - Erfurt, Messe Erfurt
Anime Focal
Anime, Manga, Games & more
02/08 - 02/09 - LU - Kirchberg, Luxexpo The Box
NovaCon
Anime, Manga, Japanese pop culture
02/15 - DE - Leuna, Günthersdorf, NOVA Shoppingcenter
DeDeCo
Anime, Manga, Japanese pop culture
02/21 - 02/23 - DE - Dresden, MESSE DRESDEN GmbH
March
FrankenMEXX
Anime, Manga, Japanese culture
03/01 - DE - Nürnberg, Meistersingerhalle (Großer Saal)
11/15 - DE - Nürnberg, Meistersingerhalle (Großer Saal)
Rednerdcon
Drawing, photography, cosplay & more
03/08 - 03/09 - DE - Völklingen, Kulturhalle Völklingen-Wehrden
Comic Film & Manga Fest
Comics, manga, cosplay, special guests
03/15 - 03/16 - NL - Rotterdam, Ahoy Rotterdam
Anime Japan / Tokyo International Anime Fair (Japan)
Anime, anime industry
03/22 - 03/23 - JP - Tokyo, Tokyo Big Sight East, Exhibition Hall 1-8
Manga-Comic-Con at Leipziger Buchmesse
Anime, manga, Japanese & Korean pop culture, comics, cosplay
03/27 - 03/30 - DE - Leipzig, Leipziger Messe
Spiel Doch! Messe
Fair for board and card games
03/28 - 03/30 - DE - Dortmund, Messe Dortmund
05/24 - 05/25 - DE - Friedrichshafen, Neue Messe, Foyer West + Halle A2
April
RetroCon Saar (Childhood Heroes Special)
Retro gaming, childhood heroes
04/05 - 04/06 - DE - Völklingen, Hermann Neuberger Halle Völklingen
Cherry Blossom Day
Japanese culture, cosplay, song contest, manga, fashion, language & more
04/05 - DE - Offenbach am Main, KOMM Center
Japanfestival & Kreativmarkt Dresden
Japanese festival at the flea market
04/05 - 04/06 - DE - Dresden, Haus der Presse
08/02 - 08/03 - DE - Dresden, Haus der Presse
11/01 - 11/02 - DE - Dresden, Haus der Presse
Caggtus Leipzig
Gaming festival
04/11 - 04/13 - DE - Leipzig, Leipziger Messe
MMC-Berlin
Mega Manga Convention, anime, comics, pop culture
04/11 - 04/13 - DE - Berlin, Fontane-Haus Kulturzentrum
HanaCon
Anime, manga, Japanese & Korean pop culture
04/12 - 04/13 - DE - Hannover, CongressCentrum
Sakura Con (USA)
Anime, Japanese pop culture, gaming
04/18 - 04/20 - USA - Seattle, WA, Seattle Convention Center
HorrorCon Germany
Horror convention, special guests, cosplay
04/19 - 04/20 - DE - Europa-Park
German Potter Con
Harry Potter convention, special guests, cosplay & more
04/19 - 04/21 - DE - Bad Hönningen, Schloss Arenfels
AniMUC
Anime convention, Japanese pop culture
04/25 - 04/27 - DE - Fürstenfeld, Veranstaltungsforum
May
SAMT CON
Anime, manga & Japan convention
05/03 - 05/04 - DE - Siegen, Siegerlandhalle
Anime Marathon
Anime convention, manga, games
05/09 - 05/11 - DE - Königslutter, Avalon Hotelpark
AniMinneapolis (USA)
Anime, gaming, cosplay, special guests
05/09 - 05/11 - USA - Minneapolis, MN, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
Lange Nacht der Computerspiele (LNC)
Gaming night, gaming exhibition, retro & board games
05/10 - DE - Leipzig, HTWK Leipzig
Roleplay Verse
Board games, roleplay, video games, fantasy, medieval market, cosplay & LARP
05/16 - 05/18 - DE - Oberhausen, Turbinenhalle
Anime Central (USA)
Anime, manga, gaming, Japanese pop culture
05/16 - 05/18 - USA - Chicago, IL, Hyatt Regency O’Hare & Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
ComicPark
Comic convention & exhibition
05/17 - 05/18 - DE - Erfurt, Egapark
FaRK
Fantasy & roleplay convention
05/17 - 05/18 - DE - Erlebnisort Reden
Anime Boston (USA)
Anime, manga, games, Japanese culture
05/23 - 05/25 - USA - Boston, MA, Hynes Convention Center
Japan-Tag
Cultural festival, Japanese culture: art, cuisine & more
05/24 - DE - Düsseldorf, Rheinufer
NonkiCon
Convention for Japanese culture, traditional arts, cosplay
05/24 - 05/25 - DE - Speyer, Stadthalle
JenaCo (Cos in the Castle)
Photo event for cosplayers & photographers at Leuchtenburg, exhibition
05/25 - DE - Jena, Leuchtenburg
10/12 - DE - Jena, Leuchtenburg
Nippon Connection Filmfestival
Japanese film festival
05/27 - 06/01 - DE - Frankfurt am Main
FedCon
Science fiction convention, special guests
05/30 - 06/01 - DE - Bonn, Maritim Hotel Bonn
Hirameki Garden
Outdoor event for cosplayers, artists & community, Japanese culture
05/31 - DE - Kaiserslautern, Japanischer Garten Kaiserslautern
YumeKai
Anime, manga, cosplay
05/31 - 06/01 - DE - Memmingen, Stadthalle & Maximilian Kolbe Haus
Franco
Anime & manga convention
05/31 - 06/01 - DE - Bamberg, Bamberg Congress + Event GmbH
German Walker Con
The Walking Dead convention, special guests
05/31 - 06/01 - DE - Oberhausen, Turbinenhalle
Twitch Con (Europe)
Twitch convention, special guests, streamers, gaming, cosplay & more
05/31 - 06/01 - NL - Rotterdam, Rotterdam Ahoy
June
DoKomi
Anime and Japan expo
06/06 - 06/08 - DE - Düsseldorf, Messe Düsseldorf
Exeter Anime & Gaming Con 2025
June 7-8, 2025 - Mercure Exeter Rougemont Hotel
Exeter, UK
AnimeCon UK 2025
June 13-15, 2025
National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, UK
Nisa-Con
Anime, manga, Japanese culture
06/14 - 06/15 - DE - Wolfenbüttel, Lindenhalle Wolfenbüttel
Wie.MAI.KAI
Anime, manga, cosplay, Japanese pop culture, gaming
06/21 - 06/22 - DE - Flörsheim (near Frankfurt am Main), Stadthalle Flörsheim
Leeds Anime & Gaming Con 2025
June 21-22, 2025 - Leeds Marriott Hotel Leeds, UK
SunnyCon Anime Expo 2025
June 27-29, 2025 - St. James Park, Newcastle United Football Ground
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
Animangapop Cardiff Summer 2025
June 28, 2025 - Future Inn Cardiff Bay Cardiff, UK
Norwich Anime & Gaming Con 2025
June 28-29, 2025 - University of East Anglia Students Union
Norwich, UK
JenaCo (Cosplay Arena)
Convention focused on cosplay
06/28 - 06/29 - DE - Jena, Sparkassen-Arena
July
Glasgow Anime & Gaming Con 2025
July 5-6, 2025 - DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central
Anime Expo (LA)
Japanese pop culture, anime, gaming, cosplay & more
07/03 - 07/06 - USA - Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles Convention Center
AniMesse: Anime Messe Babelsberg
Animeland, manga, gaming
07/04 - 07/06 - DE - Potsdam, Filmpark Babelsberg
CosDay²
Japanese pop culture, anime, manga, cosplay, J-music, comics, games
07/05 - 07/06 - DE - NordWestZentrum Frankfurt
Anime Matsuri (USA)
Anime, manga, games, pop culture, special guests
07/10 - 07/13 - USA - Houston, TX, George R. Brown Convention Center
Nexus Festival Leipzig
Nerd rock festival & convention, live shows from 25 bands, fantasy market, gaming
07/11 - 07/13 - DE - Leipzig, Agra Messepark Leipzig
ShiroCo
Anime & manga convention, gaming
07/12 - 07/13 - DE - Chemnitz, Stadthalle Chemnitz
Japan Fest Derby Quad 2025
July 12, 2025 - Derby Quad, Derby, UK
Japandult München
Japanese design event, art & culture
07/20 - DE - München, Alte Kongresshalle München
12/14 - DE - München, Alte Kongresshalle München
Hyper Japan 2025
July 18-20, 2025 - Olympia London, UK
German Salvatore Brothers Con
The Vampire Diaries convention, special guests
07/21 - 07/22 - DE - Oberhausen, Turbinenhalle
NärCon Sommar 2025
February 20th 2025 to February 23rd 2025
Gustav Adolfsgatan 25, Linköping, Sweden
Comic Con (USA)
World’s largest comic convention, cosplay, fantasy, science fiction, horror & more
07/24 - 07/27 - USA - San Diego, CA, Convention Center
METROCON (USA)
Anime, special guests, theme of the year: Yesterday’s Future
07/25 - 07/27 - USA - Tampa, FL, Tampa Convention Center
Anime: Up Close and Personal 2025
July 27, 2025 - Faradays Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
August
Tokonatsu 2025
August 7-11, 2025 - Boyd Memorial Camp Site and Activity Centre,
Henlow, Bedfordshire, UK
AnimagiC
Anime, manga, J-music & live performances, Japanese pop culture
08/01 - 08/03 - DE - Mannheim, Rosengarten
Krönchen Convention
Gaming culture convention: board games, video games, card games, role-playing games, tabletop games, anime
08/02 - 08/03 - DE - Siegen, Siegerlandhalle
Otakon (USA)
Anime, manga, games, music, Asian pop culture
08/08 - 08/10 - USA - Washington, D.C., Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Birmingham Anime & Gaming Con 2025
August 9-10, 2025 - Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham, UK
Natsukon
Anime, manga, Japanese culture
08/09 - DE - Coburg, Kongresshaus Coburg
Cosplay-Tag Kaiserslautern
Event focused on cosplay
08/09 - 08/10 - DE - Kaiserslautern, Japanischer Garten Kaiserslautern
Animangapop Plymouth Summer 2025
August 16, 2025 - Crowne Plaza Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
Main Matsuri Festival
Japanese culture & music, cosplay & art
08/15 - 08/17 - DE - Offenbach am Main, Büsing-Park
RakuCon 2025
August 16-17, 2025 - Pendulum Hotel, Manchester, UK
Nippon Con
Anime, manga, games, Japanese & Korean pop culture
08/15 - 08/17 - DE - Bremen, Gustav-Heinemann-Bürgerhaus
Contaku
Japanese pop culture, anime, manga
08/16 - 08/17 - DE - Magdeburg, AMO Kulturhaus Magdeburg
Comic Market / Comiket (Japan)
Comic market, anime, manga, doujinshi & more
08/16 - 08/17 - JP - Tokyo, Tokyo Big Sight
Gamescom
Gaming festival, cosplay, retro, indie
08/20 - 08/24 - DE - Köln, Koelnmesse
Anime NYC (USA)
Anime, Japanese pop culture, special guests
08/21 - 08/24 - USA - New York, NY, Javits Convention Center
Bristol Anime & Gaming Con 2025
August 23-24, 2025 - Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel, Bristol, UK
London Anime & Gaming Con 2025
August 29-31, 2025 - Novotel London West, London, UK
AiKon Bonn
Anime, cosplay, shounen ai, shoujo ai & more
08/30 - 08/31 - DE - Bonn, Basecamp Bonn
September
Connichi
Anime, manga, Japanese culture
09/05 - 09/07 - DE - Wiesbaden, RheinMain CongressCenter (RMCC)
Animangapop Manchester 2025
September 13, 2025 - Sugden Sports Centre, Manchester, UK
Milton Keynes Anime & Gaming Con 2025
September 13-14, 2025 - Leonardo Hotel Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes, UK
Chisana
Anime, manga, Japanese pop culture
09/20 - 09/21 - DE - Schweinfurt, Jugendhaus Fränz
Belfast Anime & Gaming Con 2025
September 27-28, 2025 - Crowne Plaza Belfast, Belfast, UK
Tokyo Game Show (Japan)
Gaming industry
Business/Press: 09/25 - 09/26 - JP - Chiba (near Tokyo), Makuhari Messe
Public: 09/27 - 09/28 - JP - Chiba (near Tokyo), Makuhari Messe
MagicCon
Fantasy & mystery convention, special guests
09/26 - 09/28 - DE - Bonn, Maritim Hotel Bonn
HiroCon
Community & nerd convention
09/27 - 09/28 - DE - Saarbrücken, E-Werk
October
Northampton, UKAmeChibi 2025
October 3-5, 2025 - Mercure Northampton
Newcastle Anime & Gaming Con 2025
October 4-5, 2025 - Event Northumbria, Newcastle, UK
JenaCo (Anime Kultur Festival)
Main JenaCo convention, anime, gaming, fantasy & more
10/04 - 10/05 - DE - Jena, Volkshaus Jena
Polaris Con
Gaming, anime, manga, Asian pop culture
10/10 - 10/12 - DE - Hamburg, Hamburg Messe
Twitch Con (San Diego)
Twitch convention, special guests, streamers, gaming, cosplay & more
10/17 - 10/19 - USA - San Diego, CA, San Diego Convention Center
Heroes XP Cologne
Nerd & anime convention, gaming
10/18 - 10/19 - DE - Köln, Stadthalle Köln
SPIEL Essen
Trade fair for board games
10/23 - 10/26 - DE - Essen, Messe Essen
Mex Berlin
Manga & entertainment expo, games, cosplay
10/24 - 10/26 - DE - Berlin, Messegelände Berlin ExpoCenter City
Youmacon (USA)
Anime, gaming, pop culture, special guests
10/30 - 11/02 - USA - Detroit, MI, Huntington Place
November
Animangapop Brighton 2025 November 1, 2025
Holiday Inn Brighton - Seafront,Brighton, UK
Southampton Anime & Gaming Con 2025
November 1-2, 2025 - Novotel Southampton, Southampton, UK
HotaruCon 2025
November 7-9, 2025 - Leonardo Hotel Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes, UK
Sheffield Anime & Gaming Con 2025
November 8-9, 2025 - Mercure Sheffield St Paul's Hotel & Spa, Sheffield, UK
YaYuCo
Yaoi & Yuri convention, anime, manga, games & more - LGBTQ+
18+ entry
11/07 - 11/09 - DE - Dachau, Jugendgästehaus
Play! Con
Gaming, e-sports, board games, cosplay
11/08 - 11/09 - DE - Trier, Messepark Trier
Animangapop Cardiff Winter 2025
November 29, 2025 - Future Inn Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, UK
Comic Con Stuttgart (CCON)
Film & series stars, cosplay, comic artists & more
11/29 - 11/30 - DE - Stuttgart, Messegelände Stuttgart
December
Anime Festival Kassel
Anime, manga, stars, Japanese Christmas market
12/05 - 12/07 - DE - Kassel, Kongress Palais
German Film & Comic Con
TV & film, comics, special guests, cosplay
12/06 - 12/07 - DE - Dortmund, Messe Dortmund
Dates and details may change. Visit the event website for more information.