Anime Pasadena marks its eighth year Friday, November 6 through Sunday, November 8, 2026, at the Pasadena Convention Center. Organizers list more than 400 vendors and artists, more than 60 celebrity guests, cosplay contests, a free arcade zone, karaoke, a maid cafe, and an 18-and-over after party, and they say this year brings more space and more activities.
The best deal of the weekend costs nothing: Friday is Day Zero, with free entry all day. Kids 12 and under also get in free with a paying adult. Here is how the weekend works, from the convention’s site and ticket listing as of September 28, 2026.
The quick version
| When | Friday, November 6 (Day Zero, free); Saturday, November 7, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, November 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Where | Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena, CA 91101 |
| Highlights | 400-plus vendors and artists, 60-plus celebrity guests, cosplay contests, free arcade, maid cafe, Party Plus Ultra after party |
| Tickets | General admission, VIP, and Early Signature Pass on Tixr. No refunds or exchanges. |
| Ages | Kids 12 and under free, two per adult ticket. After party is 18 and over. |
| Official site | animepasadena.com |
Day Zero is free
Friday, November 6 is a warmup day with free entry. The vendor hall and artist alley stay closed, but there is plenty to do, and you can pick up your badge early to skip Saturday’s line.
| Time | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| Noon to 8 p.m. | Badge pre-registration; Okamoto Kitchen Japanese fusion food truck |
| 1 to 7 p.m. | Anime Karaoke Lounge |
| 2 to 6 p.m. | Thirsty Waters anime-themed boba and tea |
| 3 to 7 p.m. | Dreamland Maid Cafe |
| 4 p.m. | Cosplay meetup |
| 5 p.m. | Anime trivia |
| 6 p.m. | Who’s That Pokémon? |
| 8 p.m. to midnight | Launch party |
Guests and programming
The convention promises more than 60 celebrity guests. Names had not been posted on the pages we could read as of this writing. Voice actors have been the show’s backbone since the start, and the 2025 edition drew more than 70 industry guests. On the Saturday and Sunday floor, the ticket listing includes:
- More than 400 vendors and artists
- Industry and fan panels
- Cosplay contests, photo meetups, and cosplay shoots
- A free arcade zone and gaming tournaments
- An anime lounge with karaoke
- Live music, a maid cafe, and stage shows
- Free professional photo rooms
- Giveaways
Party Plus Ultra
The official after party runs Saturday, November 7, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., in Dragon Hall Z at the Pasadena Convention Center. It is 18 and over, and you do not need a convention pass to attend. Expect DJs, dancing, and live performances. Tickets are limited and sold separately.
Badges
Tickets are sold on Tixr. All sales are final: no refunds or exchanges. Prices were not shown on the pages we could read, so check Tixr for current numbers.
- General admission: Day and weekend options. Doors open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
- VIP (limited): Early registration from 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, first in line for celebrity signings at 9 a.m., early vendor hall access at 9:30 a.m., front row seats at select cast panels, an indoor VIP lounge, plus a holographic card, acrylic badge, 16 by 20 inch art print, and VIP ribbon.
- Early Signature Pass: An add-on that gets you into the celebrity signing areas at 9 a.m., an hour before general admission. You still need a day or weekend ticket for the same day. It only covers the signing areas, not the rest of the floor. Registration is day-of at the main entrance from 8 a.m. (the convention says people line up as early as 6 a.m.), and weekend holders register each day.
- Kids: Ages 12 and under are free, with up to two kid passes per adult ticket. The adult must be present at check-in. On the Early Signature Pass, kids under 12 can come along under supervision; anyone 12 and up needs their own pass.
If you only have one day
- Come Friday first if you can. Picking up your badge on Day Zero means you walk straight in on Saturday or Sunday.
- Autograph hunters should look at the Early Signature Pass or VIP, since both get you to the signing areas before the 10 a.m. crowd.
- Saturday is the long day, open until 7 p.m., with the after party that night.
- Cosplayers: The free photo rooms and photo meetups are your spots.
Cosplay and props
Props and prop weapons must pass a security check at the door. Real or functional weapons are not allowed.
Accessibility
Attendees with disabilities can ask any Anime Pasadena or Pasadena Convention Center staff member for help. Staff will direct you to the guest services table for expedited check-in so you can skip the main registration line. For venue details, the convention points to the Pasadena Convention Center accessibility guide. Questions go to support@animepasadena.com.
A little history
Anime Pasadena began as a one-day show on May 26, 2018, at the Pasadena Civic Center, organized by Nerdbot Media with eight voice actor and industry guests. It moved to the Pasadena Convention Center in 2019, lost 2020 to the pandemic, became a two-day event in 2021, and settled into November in 2022. In 2023 it filled the whole convention center for the first time. For the rest of the fall lineup, see our fall 2026 Southern California convention guide.
Still to come
The guest list, panel schedule, published ticket prices, after party ticket price, cosplay contest rules, and parking details had not been posted as of this writing. The 824 Journal will update this guide when they are.
Sources
- Anime Pasadena, official site
- Anime Pasadena, About Us (venue, highlights, kids policy)
- Anime Pasadena, Day Zero Activities
- Anime Pasadena, VIP
- Anime Pasadena, Early Signature Pass
- Anime Pasadena, Party Plus Ultra
- Anime Pasadena, ADA and Facility Information
- Anime Pasadena 2026 on Tixr (hours, features, kids and refund policy, props)
- Wikipedia, Anime Pasadena (history)
Featured photo: AgentUhOh7 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
