Submit A Fan Event

Interested in submitting a Fan Event for FanimeCon 2026? Congratulations, you’ve come to the right place!

Before submitting a Fan Event, please note that we have a few guidelines and policies for running a Fan Event. Be sure to read ALL of the information provided here before sending us your Fan Event idea through our submission form below. Since our policies can change each year, we encourage returning Event Coordinators to review the information provided.

Fan Events VS Panels

As you review your submission for Fan Events, please remember that there are important distinctions between a Fan Event and a FanimeCon Panel. Ask yourself:

  1. Is my submission in a fixed layout? For example, will I need a stage and an audience? Or will I need a stage, an audience, and a screen?
  2. Could my submission fit into a FanimeCon Panel room?
  3. Has my submission previously been considered a FanimeCon Panel?

If you answered “YES” to all of the above, chances are likely that you have a FanimeCon Panel. Don’t despair; you can submit it here. If you have a submission that we believe would fit better as a FanimeCon Panel, we will also recommend you submit your event to the Panels Department.

If you answered “NO” to the questions above, keep reading. Fan Events are different in that they require a more versatile space and do not fit the FanimeCon Panels layout. Chances are they wouldn’t work well in a FanimeCon Panel format anyway. Past Fan Events have included makeup demonstrations, costume workshops, audience interactive games, and dance workshops. The key is that your submission requires something different, and we want to help.

Becoming an Event Coordinator

Once you send us your submission, the person whose name is associated with the request will become the official Event Coordinator, making that person the official owner of the event. No matter how many people will be hosting the event, Fan Events staff will look to the Event Coordinator as the sole representative for the discussion, planning, and scheduling of the Fan Event. We are not trying to discourage or lessen the role of others helping with the Fan Event. Having an official Event Coordinator helps us set up the Fan Event and prevents conflicting information from multiple sources. As the assistants will still be considered Co-Creators, it is important that ALL Co-Creators have familiarized themselves with the information here.

Submission Requests

Facilities and Layout

When submitting your Fan Event, please provide as much detail about the layout of your event as you can. Also, flexibility is a must. We want to provide the best space, but sometimes what you want may not be exactly what we have available. However, we might have something similar and are willing to make it work.

Tech

Include detailed tech requests in your submission. What is available within a FanimeCon Panel room does not apply to every space that is available for a Fan Event. If an Event Coordinator or Co-Creator is planning to bring their own equipment, please specify this on the form as well. We will accommodate your tech requests to the best of our ability.

NOTE: We cannot guarantee internet access for your Fan Event. We advise you to have prepared content that is available offline prior to your event.

Prizes

You may have prizes at your event, but we cannot provide you with prizes to distribute for games, quizzes, or participation. 

NOTE: Food prizes are not allowed at Fan Events.

Event Staff

FanimeCon cannot provide staff to run your events. While we will have staff who will watch the door, check badges, and handle the line for the event, they will not be able to participate or assist.

NOTE: Requests for changes near the start of the convention may result in your event being canceled if we cannot accommodate them. The clearer you are on your idea, the better.

What You Will Find on the Submission Form

Titles and Descriptions

All descriptions and titles may be edited for spelling, grammar, or punctuation by FanimeCon staff. If your description needs to be edited beyond this, we will notify you by email. In order to ensure all Fan Events will fit into the printed program and pocket guides, the listed character limits will be enforced:

  • Fan Event Title: Will appear in the Pocket Guide, Program Guide, and FanimeCon website – 30-character limit, including spaces.
  • Fan Event Description: Will appear in the Program Guide – 150-character limit, including spaces.
  • Website Description: Will appear on the FanimeCon website – 500-character limit, including spaces.

NOTE: The “Fan Event Overview” field on the submission form is not a description that will be published or publicly shared. This field is for detailing and outlining the content of your event and is used exclusively by Fan Events staff for selection and scheduling. There is no character limit, and details are encouraged.

Age Ratings for Fan Events

If a Fan Event contains content that may be classified as adult material, you must inform Fan Events staff on the submission form. The rating cannot be changed at the convention. Please make sure you enter the correct age rating on the Fan Event Submission Form. The ratings are as follows:

  • All Ages: These events are suitable for all FanimeCon members of any age. Unless otherwise designated by the following ratings, Fan Events are rated “All Ages” by default.
  • 16+: These events may contain more swearing and/or slightly more mature content and may not be recommended for younger audiences. These events do not require a photo ID for admittance.
  • 18+: These events contain mature content unsuitable for younger audiences. Event Coordinators, Co-Creators, assistants, and attendees are required to prove they are at least 18 years of age using a valid government-issued photo ID in order to enter the event room.

Company/Presenter Listing and Website

By default, the Event Coordinators of the Fan Events are not published in any FanimeCon media. As an option, Event Coordinators may provide their professional handle, cosplay group, or company name, as well as an accompanying website URL, if desired. The information will be listed with the link alongside the entry in the online Fan Event listing, but will not be included in the printed Program Guide.

Fan Event Length

Fan Events are scheduled in hourly blocks, starting at the top of the hour, and are generally bookended by allocated time for room preparation and teardown. The content of an event should end at the time of your assigned block. For example, a two-hour event scheduled to start at 12:00 pm should end at 2:00 pm. In order to keep our schedule on time, Event Coordinators, Co-Creators, and assistants must adhere to these time limits. Fan Events staff stationed at the door will issue reminders to the Event Coordinators at the conclusion of their allotted time. If the event is followed by an hour of scheduled teardown, the event must still end on time as Fan Events staff will need time to reset the room.

Lines for admission to an event will be formed one hour before the start time. Lines will be let into the room upon the readiness of the Event Coordinator, which should ideally be prior to or at the hour of the start time. A line may be let in earlier if the Event Coordinator is ready, but remember: attendees may still be arriving with the posted starting time in mind.

NOTE: Fan Events are usually more spread out on the schedule, so you will have time to set up for your event and clean up. If the area is to be used by another FanimeCon department, we will let you know beforehand and schedule your time accordingly.

I’ve Submitted My Fan Event, Now What?

Correspondence

Most, if not all, contact will be via email. If time is a major factor (i.e., a scheduling deadline quickly approaching), the Fan Events Department may try to reach you by the phone number provided. If there are any limitations or restrictions regarding this, please indicate so in the “Other Notes” field.

Verification

Please be sure to verify your email. When an event is submitted, you will receive an email requesting verification of the email address you included on the form. Until you complete this step, the Fan Events Department will not actually receive your submission. The email should arrive shortly after submission, so please be sure to watch for this email (check the spam folder if necessary) and click the verification link.

Once the email is verified, a confirmation email will be generated, listing all the submitted event information.

NOTE: Please email events@fanime.com if you do not receive either of these emails.

Follow-Up

The Fan Events Team will follow up by email to confirm your event submission was received and review any immediate questions regarding the content. Due to the rush of submissions after the form first goes live, we ask for your understanding and patience if there are delays in this initial contact.

Selection

If your event is selected, you will receive an email offering you a time slot on the FanimeCon 2026 Fan Events schedule. You will have a limited amount of time to reply to this email and officially accept the offered time slot. The time slot will not be held beyond the listed deadline.

Fan Event approvals and room assignments are based on all of the information submitted on the Fan Event Submission Form. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • The more scheduling flexibility a Fan Event has, the higher the chances are that it will be able to fit into the FanimeCon schedule.
  • The earlier a Fan Event is submitted, the earlier the Fan Event Department can begin considering it. Fan Events are reviewed as they arrive.
  • The expected audience size submitted heavily affects which room or area a selected Fan Event is assigned. If your event has been held at FanimeCon before, please let us know. The previous headcounts collected by Fan Events staff can be reviewed during scheduling.

Time slots that are rejected by the Event Coordinator may be offered to another Fan Event. If available, an alternative time slot may be offered. Time slots that are accepted by the Event Coordinator will be officially added to the FanimeCon 2026 Fan Events schedule. A later request to change the time may result in the event being canceled.

Rejection

If your Fan Event is slated for rejection, you will receive an email letting you know that the Fan Events Team has determined that your event is not eligible for our schedule. If time permits, the Event Coordinator will be given the opportunity to revise their submission, but we cannot guarantee this option will be offered.

What to Expect at Con

Fan Event Locations

The location of your Fan Event is determined by the details you provide. The event can take place at any site at FanimeCon 2026 that Fan Events can arrange.

Check In

All Event Coordinators are required to check in at a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the start of their event. Where you will check in will be determined by the location of your Fan Event. You will be notified of how you will check in via email around two weeks before the start of FanimeCon.

It is highly recommended that Event Coordinators arrive at the Fan Event location during the time allotted for setup. Unless otherwise requested by the Event Coordinator, setup time is defaulted to be at least 15 minutes prior to the event’s starting time. Prepping for the event is expected to be done by the Event Coordinators and their assistants. While Fan Events staff can have the room arranged according to the Fan Event request, arriving during the allotted setup time enables Event Coordinators to verify that the room is correct, and it provides time to arrange equipment, performers, and other event needs.

If no one checks in for your event 30 minutes prior to the event start time, Fan Events staff will attempt to contact the Event Coordinator using the at-con phone number provided on the Fan Event Submission Form. If we are unable to contact you and no one has shown up at the Fant Event check-in location 15 minutes prior to the event start time, your event will be canceled. Once an event cancellation has been communicated to the rest of the convention by social media, Info Desk, and Stage Zero, this cancellation cannot be rescinded.

During Your Event

Breathe. Have fun. If you have any issues during your event, please speak with one of the Fan Events staff who will be stationed at the event location. They will be able to assist you or will alert those capable of assisting you as soon as possible.

What to Expect After Con

Badge Refund Policy

Fan panels are an essential part of FanimeCon’s “By Fans, For Fans” philosophy.

Attendees who host a fan panel are eligible for partial to full refunds toward their purchased badges. The refund scale is based on the collective hours of panels hosted, with each hour earning one fully refunded badge.

Please note that an individual badge may only be refunded up to the full amount paid for that badge. Any accumulated refund percentage above 100% will not be issued in excess of the purchase amount, but may be applied to additional badges.

For further explanation of the refund scale, see the Badges and Refund FAQ on the Panelist Information Page.

We know it’s a lot to take in, but don’t let these rules get you down or prevent you from submitting your Fan Event. While it’s true our powers are finite and we can’t guarantee the facilities or equipment, if we are provided enough time, we may be able to put something together that works. Even a microwave can be a time machine if you just hook it up to the right device!

Are you ready to submit your Fan Event?

2026 Fan Event Submission Form

SUBMIT HERE