Anime Expo Chibi, the smaller fall show from the organizers of Anime Expo, is coming back Friday, October 22 through Sunday, October 24, 2027, after sitting out 2026. The venue has not been announced. Every earlier edition was held in Ontario.
“We’ll be taking a planned pause in 2026 as we focus on creating our most ambitious event yet,” the organizers wrote on the official site, promising more attractions, more guests, bigger immersive experiences, and new programming for the return. Here is what is known as of September 28, 2026, plus a look at how the last edition worked.
The quick version
| When | Friday, October 22 through Sunday, October 24, 2027 |
| Where | To be announced. Past editions were in Ontario. |
| Organizer | The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA), which also runs Anime Expo |
| Badges | Not yet on sale |
| Official site | axchibi.org |
What the last edition looked like
The 2027 program has not been announced, but the 2025 show, the fourth AX Chibi, gives a sense of scale. It ran November 7 to 9, 2025, at the Ontario Convention Center and the Delta Hotels Ontario Airport, with:
- More than 60 industry guests and voice actors
- An outdoor SPYAIR concert, plus a panel and autograph session
- A Godzilla Experience with themed drinks, vehicles, props, and photo ops
- Idol showcases, sumo exhibitions, and cosplay runways
- A Friday kickoff rave and a Saturday after party
- An exhibit hall, an outdoor trading post, and an 18-and-over vendor zone
- A Japanese food festival with 19 local restaurants and two cosplay-themed cafes
- Family and all-ages programming, with kids 13 and under free with a paid adult
Treat that list as a preview of the format, not a promise for 2027.
Chibi versus the big one
| Anime Expo Chibi 2027 | Anime Expo 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | October 22 to 24 | July 2 to 5 |
| Where | To be announced | Los Angeles Convention Center |
| Feel | Described by SPJA as an intimate, community-driven celebration | SPJA’s flagship, which drew 422,000 turnstile attendees in 2026 |
For more on the summer show, see our story on Anime Expo’s 2027 dates.
A little history
AX Chibi launched in 2022 in Ontario, pitched as a nod to the feel of early fandom conventions. It ran four straight years before the 2026 pause. Our 2027 Southern California convention calendar has the rest of next year’s shows.
Still to come
The venue, badge prices and on-sale date, hours, guests, programming, hotels, and policies had not been announced as of this writing. The 824 Journal will update this guide when they are.
Sources
- Anime Expo Chibi, official site (2027 dates, 2026 pause, history)
- Anime News Network, Anime Expo Chibi Returns for Its Fourth Year to Ontario, California This November 7 to 9, 2025 (SPJA press release)
- Anime Expo, Anime Expo 2026 Wraps Its 35th Edition (2027 dates, 2026 attendance)
Featured photo: RealTDragon via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
