Anime Central 2026

Event Date: May 15-17, 2026

Anime Central?

Anime Central (ACen) is the largest anime, manga and Japanese popular culture convention in Chicago and the Midwest. ACen happens once a year in the Spring (around April or May) less than 30 minutes from downtown Chicago, in Rosemont, IL.  The convention is held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, IL.

As part of its mission, ACen brings fans together with guests from the Japanese and US sectors of the anime and manga industry, as well as gaming, cinema, and Asian culture personalities. The event includes a huge exhibit hall, a massive video game room, concerts, dances, educational panels and workshops, premiere screenings, autograph sessions, 24-hour video rooms, tabletop gaming and much, much more!

Chicago is currently the third largest city by population in the United States, with a population of over 9 million in the metropolitan area. 34 million tourists visit the city yearly, and it has many sister cities around the world, one of which is Osaka, Japan.

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