Convention Safety Initiative

New for 2026: Due to safety requirements, the main entrance of the San Jose Convention Center will be for badged attendees only. Attendees looking to pick up their badge at Registration should enter via the side entrances by the Hilton San Jose or San Jose Marriott, or the set of doors directly to the left of the main entrance.

Each year FanimeCon strives to be a safe and healthy environment for everyone. To ensure the safety of our attendees and staff and adherence to the FanimeCon Code of Conduct and Props Policy, security screenings will be conducted when entering the San Jose Convention Center, South Hall, and the San Jose Civic. We will also continue to have our roaming security, weapon detection dogs, and recommended masking policies in place to keep everyone safe and healthy.

With the use of less intrusive E-Gate weapon detectors, here are a few suggestions to make your entry into FanimeCon as smooth and fast as possible:

  • Reduce the number of metal objects you might be carrying. 
  • Leave large bags at home or with Fan Storage in the Hilton Market room. 
  • If you need to have a bag, try to keep it small or bring a clear bag so it’s easy to check. 
  • Get your cosplay props checked at the peace-bonding tent in front of the main entrance before you get in line to enter the building. 
  • If your cosplay has metal in its construction, also go to peace-bonding. 
  • Always remember to have your badge ready to show to a FanimeCon or convention center staff member when asked.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding, as we know these last few years have come with a lot of adjustments. We strive to keep FanimeCon a safe and healthy environment for all attendees.

E-Gate and Weapon Detector FAQs

Why is FanimeCon using E-Gates and weapon detectors now?
San Jose Convention Center and City of San Jose policies require everyone in the facility to be screened for weapons.

Will there be a weapon detector at every door?
All FanimeCon events in the San Jose Convention Center, South Hall, and San Jose Civic will have E-Gates.

But what about my cosplay?
The cosplay community is a vital part of FanimeCon and we want to make sure that you have as smooth an experience as possible while entering FanimeCon. We have implemented two steps to help out cosplayers with the weapon detectors. The modern technology in the E-Gate weapon detectors does not require you to remove small pieces of metal, such as metal clips, buckles, or decorative elements, before walking through an E-Gate. The second step is peace bonding costumes for anyone who has metal elements inside their costumes and have had issues getting through a weapon detector. We have moved our peace bonding table to the right side of the main entrance – just look for the FanimeCon Air Dancer.

What can I expect when passing through an E-Gate type weapon detector?
E-Gates are not the typical standard doorway style units that you might have seen at other event venues. E-Gates are a newer system that have three vertical segments that are like the anti-theft alarms found at retail stores. The system detects larger metal objects and weapons and alerts a security team for further inspection. The E-Gate cameras are a live feed used to show the security team where the object was detected. It is not used for facial recognition and the footage is not stored.

What are prohibited items?
Please review our Code of Conduct and Props Policy for more details.

Has there been a threat made to FanimeCon?

The use of the weapon detectors is not in response to a threat. We are operating with everyone’s safety in mind, and weapon detectors are now a standard part of securing an event at the San Jose Convention Center.

Should we expect a long line getting into the convention center?
We know that it can be difficult learning the new processes for getting into FanimeCon and we have tried to lay out the weapon detectors to make this as smooth as possible. The new E-Gates can handle several times the number of people per minute than a standard metal detector to help expedite the process.

Are there any Bag Limits?
We have not put any bag limits in place for FanimeCon 2026. We would recommend that you bring smaller bags or clear bags to ensure the smooth flow of attendees through the E-Gate weapon detectors. We would also highly recommend that you leave your bags in your hotel or Fan Storage when going to events in the San Jose Civic or South Hall. Since those events will have a large number of people entering at one time, it will help the line move faster if attendees do not bring bags to those events.

How will the process work?
We are asking attendees to follow all instructions of the gate security personnel. Please proceed through the detectors at a normal pace. If additional screening is needed, security will ask the individual to proceed to a secondary screening area, where they will be asked to divest themselves of certain items from their person and pass through again until clear. Those who have prohibited items will have to dispose of them or return the item to their cars.

I am an artist or dealer and need to keep my merchandise into FanimeCon
Please check your email from Artist Alley or Dealers departments for instructions regarding load-in/load-out procedures.

Special procedure for Artist Alley load-in on Friday between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm: When bringing in merchandise via cart or suitcase (not by hand), please enter the Convention Center via the ramp to the lower level Artist load-in entrance designated on the convention map (by Panels). Artist Alley staff will assist you in transporting your merchandise via the freight elevator, hopefully reducing the number of escalator and elevator breakdowns during the con. If you arrive after this entrance has closed, please proceed through any of the normal entrances and publicly accessible elevators.

If you need to bring any tools into the Convention Center, you will need to have a valid FanimeCon 2026 Artist or Dealer badge. This means leaving these items in your car or hotel room until you get your badge.

Where can I find more information about the E-Gates?
If you would like to find out more information about what the E-Gates are and how they work, you can visit the manufacturer’s website.

Any remaining questions should be sent to accessibility@fanime.com and they will be added to this FAQ.