A group of Metal Gear Solid 3 cosplayers, Big Boss and Revolver Ocelot cosplay, at FanimeCon 2026. 8Bit/Digi

Another Solid Turnout for FanimeCon

Following an eventful Memorial Day weekend in May, FanimeCon confirmed that the 2026 event drew 27,500 attendees.

According to the information provided by the FanimeCon Marketing team, the 2026 event that took place from May 22nd to May 25th drew a total number of 27,500 attendees over the weekend. The numbers are based on individual passes sold prior to and during the event. These numbers also include the sale of day passes and the distribution of staff passes. These numbers are based on individual passes sold and not turnstile counts.

It should be noted that this count does not include Fanime attendees who participated in festivities outside the convention center but did not purchase a pass.

What it Means?

Compared to previous years, the number of attendees has taken a minor dip compared to the 2024 event. FanimeCon isn’t alone, as several events saw a dip in attendance in 2026. WonderCon allegedly didn’t draw the big turnout of previous years, while the 2026 Game Developers Conference saw attendance drop to roughly 20,000, down from nearly 30,000 in 2025, a 33% decline. This decline can be attributed to the economic downturn, with the Bay Area alone having lost over 9,000 tech jobs from January to May 2026.

Despite the dip, attendance is down only 1.8% compared to 2024. Not something event organizers like to see, but it’s not a steep decline.

Planning for FanimeCon 2027

At the time of writing, FanimeCon has made no announcement regarding the 2027 event. Details about registration, open houses, and guest announcements will become available in the coming months.

FanimeCon is one of the largest fan-organized anime conventions in North America. It takes place over Memorial Day weekend, with the main event at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center and additional events hosted at the San Jose DoubleTree, the Civic Center, and Plaza de César Chávez.

To have an idea about the Fanime weekend, check out our coverage from the 2026 event:

8Bit/Digi is an independent news outlet that provides insight into the Bay Area gamer and cosplayer community.

Posted on 0 By Stan Rezaee Special Report Posted in Special Report Tagged #

Stan Rezaee

Stan Rezaee is the founder and editor of 8Bit/Digi, a Bay Area video game and anime news outlet. A journalist, gamer, and cosplayer covering the industry since 2016, he writes about retro games, new releases, fan conventions, and cosplay culture across the San Francisco Bay Area.

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