FanimeCon anime convention at McEnery

FanimeCon opens Friday at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, bringing four days of anime programming, cosplay, gaming, panels and concerts to downtown San Jose. The convention runs May 22 through May 25, according to FanimeCon’s official site. Organizers bill it as a fan-run event, and the convention footprint extends beyond the main hall to nearby hotels and the San Jose Civic. ### When does FanimeCon run, and where is it centered? May 22-25, 2026, are the official dates listed by FanimeCon for this year’s event in San Jose. The convention is centered at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, with related events and logistics spread across downtown properties and partner venues. The official schedule page said Friday morning that schedule data had been updated as of May 22, underscoring that programming can shift during the weekend. (fanime.com) FanimeCon tells attendees the online schedule is the most up to date version. ### What does a badge cost, and how does pickup work? FanimeCon lists a full weekend badge at $105 for both late preregistration and at-con weekend sales. Single-day badges are listed at $70 for Friday, $75 for Saturday, $75 for Sunday and $65 for Monday, while a Sunday-Monday half-weekend badge is $90. (fanime.com) Children 10 and under are free with a paid badge, according to the registration FAQ. (apps.fanime.com) The Hub at the San Jose Convention Center, 150 W. San Carlos St., is the badge pickup and registration location listed by organizers. Friday, Saturday and Sunday registration hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Monday hours are 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., FanimeCon says. ### What is actually on the schedule this weekend? Opening Ceremonies, Stage Zero programming, console gaming, arcade gaming, tabletop gaming and panels were all listed on the official grid for Friday. (fanime.com) The same schedule page also showed late changes, including a new Saturday “Speed Dating (18+)” session and several cancellations. The panels listing shows a mix of guest sessions, industry appearances and fan-made programming. (fanime.com) Listed events include Q&A and spotlight panels for guests such as Ai Nonaka and Yuriko Yamaguchi, along with fan panels ranging from cosplay workshops to anime history and trivia. Saturday’s MusicFest concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the San Jose Civic, with doors at 6 p.m., according to FanimeCon. The convention says the concert is included with a FanimeCon badge. (apps.fanime.com) ### Which guests are attached to this year’s convention? FanimeCon’s guest pages list Japanese voice actors Yuriko Yamaguchi and Ai Nonaka among this year’s featured guests. Yamaguchi’s FanimeCon biography cites roles including Ritsuko Akagi in “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” Nurse Joy in “Pokemon” and Nico Robin in “ONE PIECE.” (fanime.com) Ai Nonaka is listed by FanimeCon as a returning guest, with credits including Kyoko Sakura in “Puella Magi Madoka Magica,” Kafuka Fuura in “Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei” and Konoka Konoe in the “Negima!” series. (fanime.com) The convention homepage also lists ALI, the music project centered around vocalist LEO, among announced guests. ### What should cosplay attendees know before showing up? FanimeCon’s rules page says attendees must follow both the attendee code of conduct and the cosplay rules and weapons policy. (fanime.com) The convention’s props policy says designated staff can inspect costumes, prop weapons and other items brought to the event. Masquerade participants face separate deadlines. FanimeCon’s masquerade rules say contestants who do not check in by noon on Sunday will be dropped from the contest and cosplay competition. (fanime.com) May 25 is the final day of FanimeCon 2026, and the convention says registration closes at 11 a.m. Monday for online preregistration pricing. Organizers are directing attendees to the official schedule, registration FAQ and rules pages for updates through the weekend. (fanime.com) (fanime.com) (fanime.com)