Anime Expo 2025

Anime Expo has been the largest anime convention in North America for many years, but Anime NYC is catching up to it. Will Anime Expo be able to hold onto it's title?

Anime Expo is one of the oldest and most established anime conventions in the world. Having started in 1992, it predates the modern internet and social media. Companies such as Amazon, Netflix, and ebay didn't even exist. It was a time when viewing anime was a challenge. DVDs weren't created until 1995 and VHS copies of anime were hard to find and expensive. A typical anime fan relied on friends or clubs like those found at universities to watch anime. The existence of anime conventions offered a rare opportunity to indulge in anime media and merchandise.

Fast forward to 2025 and anime has essentially become mainstream. No longer is it relegated to degraded VHS copies and obscure anime clubs. Dedicated video streaming services such as RetroCrush and Crunchyroll have brought anime to the forefront of entertainment and created millions of new fans. Anime today is a multi billion dollar industry and Anime Expo is the preeminent anime fan event in North America. If you're a North American fan of anime, as I'm guessing you might be, you have a lot of options when it comes to anime conventions. For the 2025 calendar year, AnimeCons.com lists 552 anime conventions being held in North America. That's between one and twenty anime-related convention every week of the year! They range from the small, single day events to four full-day behemoths like Anime Expo. The list also includes events like Dragon Con which aren't anime-specific, so take that into consideration. Given the choice of so many anime conventions, how do you decide which one to attend? The best suggestion is to attend the one that is easiest to attend, which is typically the closest. If you've never been to an anime convention before, it makes sense to dip your toes in the water of a smaller convention to test it out. Jumping in head first by attending a convention like Anime Expo is diving into the deep end. You might not make it out alive 😵. I joke, but it is a little intense for first-time attendees.

Imagine being immersed in a sea of people in a facility that encompasses multiple city blocks. Anime Expo has grown so big it now takes over the outdoor areas surrounding the LA Convention Center, which are typically open public spaces. It even takes over some of the roads. A reported 400,000 attendees (turnstile) fill the space. It may not be shoulder-to-shoulder crowded at every moment, but it certainly can be overwhelming. Once you clear security, which thankfully was well-managed for the 2025 event, you are free to roam around. You'll definitely want to check out the vendor hall and artist alley. They are on two separate floors, one above the other, next to the South Hall Lobby. This lobby is where you'll find many cosplayers and photographers doing their thing. Cosplay is, of course, a big part of the event. People come from around the world to share their love of cosplay.

Anime Expo is host to a number of special concert events which are held in the adjacent Crypto.com arena, home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kings. These events come with an separate cost, but offer a unique experience not often found in North America. Live and Digital Entertainers from around the world perform on stage. There's so much that could be said about attending Anime Expo. There are so many niche interests that it's impossible for me to cover them all in this article. You'll simply have to experience it for yourself. Plan ahead, though, because transportation and lodging can be tricky. If you haven't already planned to attend, you'll likely be staying far away from the convention center. The best hotels in the room block sell out within minutes of opening. Tickets to attend are expensive! At their cheapest they cost around $175 with fees and shipping and they go up in price the closer to the event. They can also sell out. With its long history, vicinity to a large population area, and landmark presence in the Anime industry, it seems like Anime Expo will hold its position as the number one anime convention in North America. At least, for now.

My Anime Expo 2025 video is sponsored by Fansly! Thanks to them for highlighting their cosplay creators.

Fansly cosplay creators have the Fansly logo next to their handle.