Anime Ottawa Brought Cosplay, Fan Energy and Plenty to Explore

Photos courtesy of Anime Ottawa.

Anime Ottawa brought a lively crowd to the EY Centre, with anime fans filling the venue from early in the day for a weekend of cosplay, merch, performances and fan culture.

While there were some families with younger kids, the event mostly drew teens and people in their 20s, many arriving with friends or partners. More than anything, it felt like a place for people with shared interests to spend time together and enjoy being surrounded by others who love the same things.

One of the biggest highlights was the cosplay. There was everything from casual looks to highly detailed costumes that clearly took a lot of time and effort to create. Styled wigs, carefully planned makeup and handmade outfits made the event fun to walk through and take in. Even for visitors who are not deeply into anime, the people-watching alone made the atmosphere worth experiencing.

The vendor area was another major draw. Booths throughout the venue offered anime merch, fan-made goods and cosplay-related items, giving attendees lots to browse. Whether someone came looking for a specific favourite character or was just curious to see what was there, the floor offered plenty to explore.

Anime Ottawa also felt approachable for more casual visitors. You did not need to be a dedicated anime fan to find something familiar. Popular titles like Pokemon and Super Mario gave the event some easy entry points, making it feel welcoming even for people who just wanted to stop by and look around.

Beyond the shopping floor, the event also included stage performances, voice actor signings and smaller meeting-room programming. Some activities focused on cosplay and anime culture, while others brought in a broader pop culture element. One of the more interesting details was that the event featured both a J-pop random play dance session and a separate K-pop random play dance session on different days, which gave it a slightly broader East Asian pop culture feel.

Overall, Anime Ottawa felt energetic, youthful and easy to enjoy. Between the cosplay, the merch and the enthusiasm from attendees, it offered plenty to look at and a strong sense of community. If this year's event was not on your radar, next year might be the time to check it out. Anime Ottawa has already announced its return to the EY Centre from March 26 to 28, 2027, giving anyone who missed this year's event something to look forward to.

Additional 2026 Event Details

The details below refer to the programming and guest lineup for the 2026 edition of Anime Ottawa.

Featured Guests

Each guest appeared on stage each day for a panel and autograph session.

• Risa Mei (Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail)
• Griffin Burns (Demon Slayer, Genshin Impact, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
• Paul Castro Jr. (The Summer Hikaru Died, Disney's Twisted Wonderland, Genshin Impact)
• Anne Yatco (Genshin Impact, Jujutsu Kaisen, Digimon)

Vtubers

• Beni Doki
• Euryale Drift
• Lazuli
• MapleChicken
• Perry Winkleton
• Podgekins
• Pomatomaster
• Rina Lunette
• Serena Starstruck
• Tokaku_ん
• Yui Usachi

2026 Concerts and Activities

Friday

• Zenbu Kimi no Sei da concert: Friday, April 3 at 7:00 p.m.
• Dance Showcase: Friday, April 3, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.
• The Comic-Strip Show by Nerdlesque: Friday, April 3 at 9:30 p.m. (18+)

Zenbu Kimi no Sei da made their debut in October 2015 with a sold-out one-man live show as their very first performance. They have since performed at major venues across Japan including Spotify O-EAST, Zepp TOKYO, Zepp DiverCity, Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall, Nakano Sunplaza, TOKYO DOME CITY HALL and Nippon Budokan.

Saturday

• The Sprinkles Idol Fest: Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.
• Masquerade and Cosplay-Eh!: Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. (Main Events)
• Special concert: KIHOW (of Myth & Roid): Saturday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m.

The Sprinkles Idol Fest highlighted singing and dancing artists inspired by Japanese pop icons, odorites and anime idols.

Masquerade and Cosplay-Eh! featured some of the finest cosplayers in the country showcasing their creations.

The KIHOW concert included a 90-minute performance plus an autograph session. MYTH & ROID is known for an international sound, sharp melodies and powerful vocal performances. Since debuting in 2015, the project has contributed theme songs to numerous hit anime titles, with music videos and related content surpassing 150 million views. Their live performances have reached more than 20 countries.

Sunday

• Vocaparty: Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

Vocaparty celebrated the world of Vocaloid through a virtual concert experience with visuals, choreography and specially arranged covers, using a holo-style 3D screen to highlight the connection between music, technology and fan culture.

2026 Attractions and Things to Do

• More than 275 exhibitors
• 404s Improv Comedy Troupe
• Yume Arcade
• Gunpla Ottawa Plamo Competition
• Just Push Play tournaments featuring Mario Kart World and Mario Tennis Fever
• Downtown Rumble fighting game setups and tournaments including Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8 and Guilty Gear Strive
• Panels, workshops, music, after-dark programming, autograph sessions, cosplay meetups and more

404s Improv Comedy Troupe gave attendees a funny break from exploring aisles filled with manga, anime, toys, collectibles and memorabilia.

Yume Arcade, a Toronto-based Japanese-import arcade run by rhythm game enthusiasts, brought a large collection of Japanese arcade and rhythm games for both casual players and dedicated fans.

Gunpla Ottawa once again hosted the Anime Ottawa Plamo Competition, a judged plastic model competition open to builders of all skill levels.

Downtown Rumble, which has been running fighting game events in downtown Ottawa since 2015, also brought multiple gaming stations and free-play setups across a range of titles.

About Anime Ottawa

Anime Ottawa launched in March 2024 and is powered by Ottawa Comiccon. The annual convention focuses on anime while also bringing in manga, video games and Asian pop culture more broadly. Over three days, the event mixes programming built around anime, costuming, gaming and fan culture, with cosplay playing a major role throughout the weekend. The Exhibition Hall, Artist Alley and industry presence all help make it a central gathering place for both longtime fans and people discovering the event for the first time.