The Convention That Started It All
Anime Expo is not just a convention. It is a cultural institution. Founded in 1992 by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation, AX has grown from a modest gathering of devoted fans into the largest celebration of Japanese pop culture in North America, drawing over 100,000 attendees to Downtown Los Angeles every July 4th weekend.
For over three decades, Anime Expo has been the place where the anime industry and its fans collide at the highest level. World premieres. Exclusive announcements. Legendary music performances. Guest panels with the creators and voice actors behind the shows that define generations. If you are serious about anime, there is no stage bigger than this one.
This year marks another chapter in that legacy. AX 2026 returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 2 through July 5, and the lineup is already stacking up to be one for the history books.
What To Expect This Year
AX 2026 is bringing the full experience. Four days of panels, world premieres, industry announcements, exhibitions, artist alley, and the kind of electric atmosphere that only 100,000 fans in one place can generate. Here is what is already confirmed and what has the community buzzing.
On the screen side, Anime Expo will host the U.S. premiere of the first two episodes of Sparks of Tomorrow, the new television anime adaptation of Hiro Yuki's celebrated manga, screening on July 3. Fans of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End will want to clear their July 4th schedule for the dedicated panel featuring Season 2 director Tomoya Kitagawa, supporting director Keiichiro Saito, animation producer Yuichiro Fukushi, and character designer Keisuke Kojima.
On the music side, the J-POP Sound Capsule concert is stacking an incredible bill including ALI, the incomparable composer Yoko Kanno, rock group Roselia, SPYAIR, and Yoko Takahashi. The JAPAN MUSIC VOCALOID stage on July 4 brings Hachioji-P, kz (Livetune), picco, SatapanP, and TeddyLoid.
And that is just what has been announced. If the pattern holds, the biggest reveals are still coming.
Names You Need To Know
The guest roster for AX 2026 is already deep. Here is a look at who is confirmed so far.
Yoshitaka Amano
World-renowned artist and creator behind the iconic Final Fantasy character designs and a body of work spanning five decades.
Kamome Shirahama
Creator of Witch Hat Atelier, the critically acclaimed manga that inspired the breakout 2026 anime adaptation.
Max Mittelman
The voice of Saitama in ONE-PUNCH MAN, Ryuji in Persona 5, and Arataki Itto in Genshin Impact.
AmaLee
Fan-favorite English dub performer and singer known for her work across dozens of beloved anime titles.
Wendee Lee
Legendary voice actress with credits spanning 30 years across anime, games, and animation.
Alexis Tipton
Acclaimed English dub performer known for standout roles across multiple Funimation productions.
Yoko Kanno
Composer behind some of anime's most iconic soundtracks including Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell: SAC, and Carole and Tuesday.
Roselia
The beloved BanG Dream! rock unit performing live at J-POP Sound Capsule at AX 2026.
We Will Be On the Ground
Anime3000 will be at Anime Expo 2026. The A3K team is making the trip to Los Angeles to get on the ground, capture content, make connections, and represent the community at the biggest anime event in North America.
If you are going to be at AX this July, keep an eye out for us. Follow A3K to stay in the loop on what we are doing at the convention and everything we bring back from the floor.