Exhibits

Artist Alley

Beyond being just entertainment, anime and manga stirs many to follow their inspiration. From illustrated prints to doujinshi to costume accessories, you’ll find the brilliant work of hundreds of artists from here and from around the world! 

FanimeCon’s 2024 Artist Alley will be accepting Artist Applications starting from January 27th, 8:00 am (PST) through January 28th 8:00 pm (PST) OR until we receive 1,000 applications. 

For the latest information on FanimeCon Artist Alley, stay up to date with the FanimeCon Facebook and Twitter, and if you have any questions, you can check out the Artist Alley FAQ or email us at artistalley@fanime.com.

You can see the list of artists here!

Location and Hours

San Jose Convention Center – Room 220
Friday: 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Monday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Cosplay Repair Lounge

This is your one stop shop for making your cosplay experience a BLAST at FanimeCon! Not only do we host official Cosplay Gatherings with professional photographers, but we also have a Cosplay Lounge! We’ve got you covered with our stock of materials like sewing kits and hot glue just in case you have a cosplay emergency. Our lounge is also a no-press zone, so come by to rest after posing and walking around all day!

Location and Hours

San Jose Convention Center – Room 210A & 210E
Friday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

Dealer’s Hall

Our dealers have a little bit of everything for everyone from every fandom! From your favorite manga and anime, to the latest figures and toys! Fashion companies! Gunpla! Cosplay wigs! Swords! So much more!

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Get ahead of the game and explore our Dealer’s Hall Listing to see who’s coming and start building that otaku wish list!

For information about being a Dealer for FanimeCon 2025 and beyond, please view the FAQ and email dealers@fanime.com.

Location and Hours

San Jose Convention Center – Hall 1 & 2
Friday: 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Monday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Fanimaid Café

Okaerinasaimase, Goshujinsama! Welcome to FanimeCon’s very own Fanimaid Cafe with the most amazing themed dining experience we have to offer! Join us at the best maid cafe on the west coast ˭̡̞(◞⁎˃ᆺ˂)◞*✰!! Enjoy delicious food enchanted with moé charms, play tabletop games with your maid, and watch our spectacular stage performances!

Follow us on Facebook (Fanimaid Café) and Twitter (@fanimaidcafe) for live updates and more information.

Come visit us and see what the magic of FanimeCon’s maid cafe is all about ♥

Location and Hours

Westin – Atrium
Saturday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Gaming Hall

Welcome back to the Gaming Hall, attendees! 

We are back with an updated gaming experience for 2024 in the Gaming Hall! The Gaming Hall will be open Friday through Monday, offering hours of gaming experiences to be had with friends, both new and old!

The Gaming Hall offers arcade, console, and tabletop games for players of all ages and skill levels. Events and tournaments are free of charge! Sign-ups are located at the eGaming or Tabletop desks. For listings, information, and the latest updates, please consult the posted signs at the Gaming Hall!

See our Gaming Hall page for more details for rules and events.

Follow us on social media – Facebook and Twitter for the latest Gaming announcements!

Locations and Times

San Jose Convention Center – Hall 3
Friday: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Monday: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Idris’ Closet/Donation Station

Want to go to the Black & White Ball, but don’t have anything to wear? Is your formal wear gathering dust in your closet? Are you having difficulty decoding the dress code? Our helpful staff at Idris’ Closet can give you a hand! Idris’ Closet is FanimeCon’s formal wear thrift store. Our clothing has been donated from friends and family in our community, and all of our proceeds go to the Make-a-Wish® Foundation. Our staff will go above and beyond to help you adhere to the dress code for the ball, including offering clothing alterations and heel caps. Everyone who donates or purchases formal wear will be given an “I donated!” button. Thanks to the Creative team, we have new buttons to offer every year! This year, Idris’ Closet will also be hosting Fan Storage during the Black & White Ball! You can rest easy knowing that your belongings are safe until you’re ready to leave the ball.

Idris’ Closet is happy to announce our very own giveaway: Hop to the Top, an origami frog jumping game! The object of the game is to use origami frogs to jump from the edge to as close as you can to the center of our lily pond target board. Players are welcome to ten hops per day and can try their luck every day! You’re welcome to make your own frog (that you can take home with you!) or borrow one of our staff-made frogs to participate in Hop to the Top. Everyone is welcome to drop by and partake in our game, but only attendees are eligible for prizes. We are offering the first three places an anime-themed “gift basket”. Donating or purchasing items does not increase your odds of winning.

Location and Hours

San Jose Marriott – Willow Glen 2 & 3
Friday: 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday: 9:30 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday 9:30 am – Monday 12:00 am

J-Fashion

J-Fashion describes the alternative fashion subculture movement popularized in Harajuku in the 1990s. Nowadays, it is a worldwide phenomenon enjoyed by kawaii enthusiasts everywhere. Please check back closer to FanimeCon 2024 for more information on J-Fashion events!

Make-A-Wish®

FanimeCon is proud to announce that we will be working with our long-time charity partner Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area again this year!  Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area has been a part of FanimeCon since 2013 and will be supported by funds generated by our Silent Auction, and our Putt Putt Golf Challenge (located in the Dealer’s Hall). We are also working on other ways to help FanimeCon give more back to the community. Thanks to all of the attendees for your support of our continued partnership with Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area!!

Location and Hours

Dealer's Hall, Booth 016: San Jose Convention Center – Hall 1 & 2
Friday: 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Monday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Manga Lounge

When the crowds are too much, when there’s three hours until your next panel, or when you’ve shopped so much you want to drop, come relax in the Manga Lounge! The perfect little getaway from the wonderful chaos of the con, the Manga Lounge is here for you with a plethora of titles for everyone. Whether you try something new, get locked in that perfect feeling of nostalgia, or just browse that series you’ve been thinking of buying, Manga Lounge offers the perfect retreat.

We also take donations of gently used manga and have several titles to trade in our exchange section.

Come visit our hideaway’s new location for 2024 in the San Jose Convention Center near Autographs and Karaoke!

Location and Hours

San Jose Convention Center – Room 211
Friday: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sunday: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm

Panels

Have a topic to discuss with other anime fans? Want to show your love for your favorite anime? Create a panel! See the Panels page for more details.

The Oasis (18+)

The Oasis is dedicated to providing diverse and entertaining content. During the daytime, the main focus is on family-friendly programming that is suitable for all ages, ensuring wholesome entertainment for viewers of every generation. The daytime lineup will feature a wide array of shows, panels, and educational content designed to engage and inspire.

As the sun sets, the nighttime programming takes a more mature turn, catering to audiences aged 18 and over. During these later hours, attendees can expect edgier content withmore adult-oriented themes. During the later hours, the Oasis becomes a place where you can enjoy all the exclusive mature, age-restricted programming you desire.

During nighttime programming, you must be 18 years or older, and have a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID in order to be admitted to any of the programming at The Oasis.

  Valid Government issued IDs (Must not be expired.)

  • Driver’s License
  • State ID
  • Military ID
  • Passport 

School IDs, library cards, insurance cards, and other forms of IDs are not acceptable. No exceptions.

Locations and Times

DoubleTree
Friday: 6:00 pm – 1:00 am
Saturday: 6:00 pm – 1:00 am
Sunday: 6:00 pm – 1:00 am

Stage Zero

In a land clogged with attendees, artists, dealers, and cosplayers, where does one turn for comfort, relief, and entertainment? Stage Zero, of course!

Stage Zero is located smack dab in the middle of the Concourse for your temporary entertainment needs. Watch AMVs, performances, or listen to fantastic music while you plan out which panel to attend. Have a seat, watch the wackiness, or participate in games for prizes while you wait for friends to come back from the bathroom.

Stage Zero will be your information nerve center to the rest of the convention by way of its talented staff. So don’t be afraid to take a load off your feet for a while and absorb the amazing that is Stage Zero!

Looking to sign up for the next Stage Zero? Find more information on the Stage Zero page!

Stage Zero Listing

Locations and Times

San Jose Convention Center – Vista Point
Friday: 12:00 pm – 2:00 am
Saturday: 9:00 am – 2:00 am
Sunday: 9:00 am – 2:00 am
Monday: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Video Programming

FanimeCon has anime, movies, live-action, and other video programming to entertain you throughout the weekend! See the main Video Programming page for more details.

Locations and Times

DoubleTree – Cedar/Pine/Fir/Oak Rooms
Friday: 4:00 pm – 1:00 am
Saturday: 10:00 am – 1:00 am
Sunday: 10:00 am – 1:00 am