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! Head over to the Grand Ballroom of the San Jose Convention Center during the following hours  to engage with creative minds.

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 FAQ or email us at artistalley@fanime.com.

See the Artist Alley map and list of artists at the Artist Alley Listing page!

FanimeCon Creative Team

Curious about the art that appears on the website, badges, or in the program guide that you’re holding right now? Wondering who all these cool characters are? Visit the official FanimeCon illustration and design team in the Artist Alley. We’d love to hear from you!

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 Hangout

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 – 8:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am – 8:00 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!

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 2024, 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

San Jose Convention Center – West Lobby
Saturday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Gaming Hall

Welcome to the information page for the Gaming Hall at FanimeCon 2023! We are located in Hall 3 in the San Jose Convention Center.

For event and tournament information for this year, please check out the Arcade, eGaming and Tabletop pages for the latest listings, schedules, and details!

For information about the “Gaming Stage”, please check the Gaming Stage page for the stage schedule and broadcast information.

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

Idris’ Closet/Donation Station

Want to go to Black & White Ball, but don’t have anything to wear? Have formal wear collecting dust in your closet? Having issues decoding the dress code? Our helpful staff at Idris’ Closet can give you a hand! Idris’ Closet is a formal wear thrift shop that will be open throughout FanimeCon to help with your Black & White Ball needs!

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. Join us in the Hyatt Place for all things J-Fashion, including special panels and events, two designer fashion shows, the Community Fashion Walk, and the Trunk Show shopping event!

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 2023 on the second floor of the Hilton hotel in the University room, past the Gaming Hall.

Location and Hours

Hilton – University
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.

Check out our Panel Listing page for a list of all the panels along with their times and locations.

Locations

San Jose Convention Center – Lower Level
Panels 1 – LL21A:E
Panels 2 – LL20AB
Panels 3 – LL20C
Panels 4 – LL20D

Silver Island (18+)

DoubleTree Hotel
Friday – Sunday: 6:00 pm – 2:00 am

A mature destination.

After the success of FanimeCon’s Silver Anniversary in 2019, we would like to announce the return of Silver Island, an area for older and mature audiences!  A place where you can enjoy all the exclusive mature, age-restricted programming you desire. To visit Silver Island, step aboard the shuttle service to the DoubleTree from the Convention Center area.

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 Silver Island.

  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.

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!

Stage Zero will be returning for FanimeCon 2023, and we hope that you’ll come and join us.

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

Stage Zero Listing

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

DoubleTree – Upper Level
Film Room 1 – Cedar and Pine
Film Room 2 – Fir and Oak