Cosplayers descend on the all-new Olympia for the UK’s biggest anime weekender, bringing anime hype to the destination following its £1.3bn regeneration.
AnimeCon, the UK’s largest anime and manga convention, will see thousands of fans gather at Olympia for what is anticipated to be the biggest AnimeCon event to date of the multi-billion dollar anime industry, reflecting the continued rise of these genres from niche interest to mainstream entertainment, particularly amongst GenZ audiences, with 54% of Gen Z respondents in a Crunchyroll/NRG study, including the UK, identifying as anime fans.
Ahead of the event, cosplayers dress as their favourite characters were pictured at Olympia, where anime fans will meet for a fun-packed weekend of performances, shopping, cosplay competitions and panels.
The popularity of Japanese pop culture continues to grow across the UK, fuelled by bestselling manga series, thriving fan communities and British subscribers streaming more than 5.5 billion minutes of anime in a year. Globally, more than half of Netflix members have now watched anime, with anime titles generating over 1.5 billion views on the platform in 2025.
That growth is now moving off screen and into real life. AnimeCon has more than doubled its attendance since the early 2020s, as fans look to experience anime together rather than simply watch it. With AnimeCon taking place at Olympia, cosplayers are ready to bring their favourite worlds to life.
AnimeCon takes place at Olympia’s Grand Hall on Saturday, 3 and Sunday, 4 October 2026. General admission runs from 10:00 to 18:00 on Saturday and 10:00 to 17:00 on Sunday, with VIP entry from 09:30 on both days. Tickets are available from £25.
The event follows a summer of Japanese culture at Olympia, which hosted HyperJapan from 24-26 July, the UK’s biggest Japanese culture event. Together, the two events reflect the growing popularity of Japanese culture in the UK, and Olympia’s emergence as a new cultural destination for the community.
The all-new Olympia is home to a host of new bars, restaurants and hotels, the 3,800-capacity music venue British Airways ARC, alongside new public spaces, and more to come in 2027, including London’s newest theatre in 50 years.
