Anime-inspired cosplay at Saboten Con 2026 in downtown Phoenix.
<img src="https://comicvibe.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/tts-pre-loader-1.gif” alt=”Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader”>
Anime is a vibrant art form powered largely by imagination. So it’s only natural that an event like the annual Saboten Con in downtown Phoenix would be just as wildly colorful.
That was certainly the case this past weekend, when anime-inspired cosplay took over two downtown hotels as Saboten Con brought costumed geeks from across Arizona together for four days of fandom-fueled fashion.
The annual anime convention ran Sept. 4 to 7 at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel and Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel. Tens of thousands of fans attended the con, and many came dressed for the occasion.
Hundreds of Saboten Con 2026 attendees costumed up as characters from video games like “Final Fantasy VII,” popular anime series like “One Piece” and animated shows like “Hazbin Hotel.”
Benjamin Leatherman
Some Saboten Con went all out with epic props, fantastical armors and costumes that took many hours to create. Others kept things simple but colorful.
Saboten Con co-founder Greg Fennell says cosplay has been a “huge part” of Saboten Con since the event launched in 2008. Its since become Arizona’s largest anime event, while its cosplay offerings have grown along with it.
Saboten Con’s annual cosplay masquerade is one of the convention’s biggest events, showcasing the weekend’s most attention-grabbing and intricately crafted costumes.
Benjamin Leatherman
Fennell says the quality of Arizona’s cosplay scene routinely surprises the guest judges brought in for the competition.
“Arizona has the best cosplay community I’ve seen anywhere in the United States,” Fennell says. “We always have judges that come in for the masquerade every year that always tell us, ‘Wow, we did not realize the level of talent that’s here for the masquerade.’”
Here’s the best cosplay we spotted at Saboten Con 2026 in downtown Phoenix.

Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Benjamin Leatherman
Loading latest posts…
Loading trending posts…

11 Comments
Pingback: Tennessee native Leanne Morgan celebrates first Emmy win for 'Leanne' - Comic Vibe
Pingback: “Don’t remind people what you aren’t”: DC's Richard Bruning on prestige, Vertigo, and why Paul Levitz wouldn’t buy a Mac, Part 1 - Comic Vibe
Pingback: FORMER OVERWATCH CHARACTER ART DIRECTOR ARNOLD TSANG LAUNCHES ORIGINAL MANGA AZUKI - Comic Vibe
Pingback: 2026 Topps Museum Collection Baseball: An Early Look at Top Chases - Comic Vibe
Pingback: You can now play PS3 games straight from the disc, without owning a PS3 - Comic Vibe
Pingback: The L Word: 22 years on, the sexy lesbian series remains a cornerstone for modern sapphic culture - Comic Vibe
Pingback: Ella Bright, Belmont Cameli delete `Off Campus` drama with new message - Comic Vibe
Pingback: 50 Years Later, Johnny Cash’s Comic Book Is Coming Back Into Print — See a Sneak Peek! (Exclusive) - Comic Vibe
Pingback: How to watch the 2026 Emmys: Start time, where to stream, full nominee list and more - Comic Vibe
Pingback: Big Bang Theory Spin-off TV Show Returns Today on HBO Max for Season 2 - Comic Vibe
Pingback: Gwyneth Paltrow Was Left Shocked When Benny Blanco Described Lil Dicky's 'Insane' Penis - Comic Vibe