2026 is officially here, and Animé Los Angeles will kick off the New Year. Originally established in 2005 to build a stronger, more supportive geek community in Southern California, Animé Los Angeles is an annual, fan-friendly, community-focused convention. Designed to bring together fans and celebrate their shared interests, and set to take place at the Long Beach Convention Center from January 8-11, 2026, Animé Los Angeles 21 is bound to bring in thousands of new and returning attendees.
If Animé Los Angeles is brand new to you, you may be wondering what there is to do. As in previous years, Animé Los Angeles will offer its attendees a diverse array of interactive activities, including panel discussions, karaoke contests, cosplay gatherings, gaming tournaments, and much more. For starters, attendees who enjoy lectures, group discussions, and debates may be interested in the panels offered this year, including analyses of Super Mario media and Millennial Magical Girls. Attendees with an interest in gaming can participate in tournaments featuring games such as Mario Party, Phantom Breaker, Street Fighter 6, and Super Smash Bros. Meanwhile, cosplayers can look forward to daily cosplay gatherings and photo opportunities, celebrating creative works such as Gravity Falls, One Piece, Teen Titans, KPop Demon Hunters, Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss, Smiling Friends, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, and The Apothecary Diaries.
On a larger scale, ALA 21 attendees can anticipate key components such as Cosplay Chess set for January 9, 2026, starting at 11:30 AM, The Animé Los Angeles Fashion Show scheduled for January 9, 2026, from 4:30-6 PM, ALA’s Next Top Star talent show scheduled for January 10, 2026, from 12-2 PM, and The Animé Los Angeles Masquerade cosplay craftsmanship contest set for January 10, 2026, from 7-11 PM. As well-loved, staple showstoppers of Animé Los Angeles, these events do require tickets, which can be obtained for free at the Attendee Services Station, and often draw large crowds with loads of excited energy. With such bustling crowds bound to be in attendance, these events also offer great opportunities to make new friends and embrace the chaos of conventions. But for those who are done “peopling” and may require some peace away from the crowds, ALA 21 offers its Manga Lounge as a quiet and calm space for attendees to recharge and read quality graphic novels and manga.
New and returning attendees may also find it fun to note that Animé Los Angeles 21 will be themed after Isekai, which translates as “different world” in Japanese. What’s Isekai, you might ask? Commonly seen across examples of anime, manga, light novels, and webcomics, Isekai refers to the subgenre where a protagonist is transported or reincarnated into a different world. Popular examples of the Isekai subgenre among anime include Sword Art Online, The Familiar of Zero, and Uncle From Another World. Although coined as a Japanese term, the concept of an Isekai, or journey to another world, has been widely used in stories worldwide. For instance, The Chronicles of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, and The Wizard of Oz are often regarded as Western examples of the Isekai genre. But if you want to learn more about what qualifies as an Isekai, you should consider attending the “What is Isekai?!” gameshow and guest panel that is scheduled for January 8, 2026, at 11 AM PST.
To make the most of their ALA experiences, ALA 21 attendees are highly encouraged to download the Guidebook app and upload the latest Animé Los Angeles guide. Using the free-to-download Guidebook app, attendees can utilize different features to navigate the convention center, locate celebrity guests and their assigned signing areas, plan for panels, and find their favorite artists and independent creators in the enormous Exhibit Hall and Artist Alley. For a complete list of the dealers and vendors who will be tabling in the ALA 21 Exhibit Hall, click here, and click here for a list of the artists and illustrators who will also be tabling in the Exhibit Hall. Attendees can also visit the official Animé Los Angeles website and social media channels for additional information and updates.
Last but not least, let’s talk ribbons. With exchanging ribbons being one of Animé Los Angeles’ most beloved traditions, ALA attendees are also encouraged to create and bring their own ribbons to trade with other attendees. Throughout the weekend, ribbons can be earned through answering trivia, participating in activities and scavenger hunts, purchasing from vendors and artists, or simply by sharing interests in the same tropes, characters, and fandoms. Animé Los Angeles also offers its Ribbon Station as a central hub for new and returning ribbon hunters, providing support and a directory to help attendees track down ribbons found all across the convention center.
Overall, Animé Los Angeles has plenty to offer its attendees this year, and I am very excited to attend, explore, and make new potential friends. Like last year, I’ll be utilizing the Guidebook app to navigate the convention center, map out my weekend, and enjoy the energy that comes with ALA. Will you be attending Animé Los Angeles 21? Tell us in the comments. You may spy me running around the Long Beach Convention Center for ribbons!
Tickets for ALA 21 will be available for pre-purchase here on the official Animé Los Angeles website until January 6, 2026.
