Anime Central 2026, one of the Midwest’s largest celebrations of anime and Japanese pop culture, returns May 15–17 to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, bringing together anime fans, gamers, artists, and creators for a massive weekend celebration just outside Chicago.
This year’s event will feature more than 180 retailers, over 200 artists in Artist Alley, and one of the largest gaming halls at any anime convention, where fans can explore over 100,000 square feet of gaming, including Japanese arcade machines, rhythm games, retro and modern consoles, and tabletop gaming at the nearby Hyatt Regency O’Hare. Additional highlights include cosplay photography studios, indie gaming publishers, a revived Itasha car show, and programming inspired by this year’s artistic theme, “ACen in the Musical.”
“Anime Central has always been about bringing fans together to celebrate the creativity and community that anime inspires,” said Jesica Ward-Schmidt, Director of Anime Central. “Each year, we look for new ways to connect the Midwest with the incredible artists, creators, and performers shaping anime today. From major concerts to initiatives like the Global Anime Challenge, we’re proud to create opportunities where fans can experience anime culture and where creators from Japan and around the world can share their work directly with our community.”
Special Premiere Programming
There’s even more to look forward to this year as Anime Central hosts two special premieres. Anime Central will present the U.S. premiere of Goodbye, Lara, the upcoming fantasy romance anime produced by Kadokawa and Kinema Citrus and directed by Takushi Koide. The red carpet event will feature a behind-the-scenes discussion with Koide, producer Sayaka Ueda, and Momoko Hatooka of Newtype.
We’re also thrilled to announce that we will also host an exclusive preview of the upcoming Disney animated series Dragon Striker, as creator and executive producer Sylvain Dos Santos and co-creator/director Charles Lefebvre present a sneak peek of the premiere episode and discuss the series’ blend of European fantasy and Japanese animation influences during a panel moderated by Ravi Baichwal of ABC 7 Chicago.
Return of the Global Anime Challenge
Another major highlight is the return of the Global Anime Challenge (GAC), an international initiative designed to foster cross-cultural collaboration and support emerging creators shaping the future of anime. This year’s program welcomes four directors whose work reflects the evolving landscape of Japanese animation:
- Keisuke Shinohara (My Dress-Up Darling, Bocchi the Rock!)
- Yusuke Yamamoto (Oshi no Ko)
- Ayumi Moriyama (Pokémon Horizons)
- Takushi Koide (Goodbye, Lara, Made in Abyss)
During the convention, the directors will participate in the panel “Global Anime Challenge: Globe-Trotting Anime Creators” on Saturday, May 16. The session will feature live drawings, behind-the-scenes insights into the Anime Central 2026 Global Anime Challenge illustration, and special giveaways for attendees.
Concerts, Music, and the “ACen the Musical” Theme
This year’s convention theme, “ACen the Musical,” celebrates the powerful role music plays in anime storytelling.
Major programming highlights include concerts from FictionJunction and a special showcase celebrating THE IDOLM@STER and THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS, bringing beloved anime music to the convention stage. Fans can also look forward to a special musical performance featuring our esteemed voice actor guests inspired by the event’s theme during the convention’s opening ceremony. Anime Central’s mascots, the Aoi Sisters, Jaye and Elle, will appear throughout the event.
Inspired by The Blues Brothers, the characters celebrate the convention’s playful Chicago roots and will appear in special animations created by Global Anime Challenge participants. A limited-edition key artwork T-shirt featuring the mascots will also be available at the convention merchandise booth.
Fans interested in attending Anime Central 2026 can find event schedules, updates, and badge registration at https://www.acen.org/. Additional announcements and convention updates are regularly posted on the Anime Central blog at https://www.acen.org/blog/, and attendees can register for badges at https://www.acen.org/registration/ to join thousands of fans gathering in Rosemont this May.
Source: Press Release
