Everything We Saw at Eastridge’s Anime Convention

October has been packed with events across the Bay Area, from horror themed gatherings to fan conventions. One highlight was FanCon 2026, a one day anime convention hosted at Eastridge Center in San Jose on October 24th. A collaboration between Eastridge and MAGWest, the event turned the heart of the mall into an anime convention and invited the community for a day of fun.

This free event brought the fandom community together for a day packed with artists tabling throughout the mall, a main stage with a variety of entertainment, and plenty of time to gather with friends. Here are the highlights from our day at FanCon 2026.

Dealers and Artists

FanCon offered plenty of shopping, and not just at the mall’s stores. Over 30 artists and vendors set up around the center of Eastridge Mall and in front of Round1 Bowling on the second floor. Even if you didn’t have a shopping agenda for the day, it’s still fun to look through all the cool stuff and meet the many artists.

Dreamscape is an organizer anime and itasha themed pop-up events that blend cosplay gatherings with car shows. Most of their events take place in the Bay Area, and they also have a presence at other anime conventions. At FanCon, Dreamscape displayed two cars, sold anime car themed merchandise, and promoted their upcoming events and community.

thel0llip0p is an artist and cosplayer who has been active in the anime community for over a decade. Her work focuses on Persona 5, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Splatoon, along with original characters. At FanCon, she sold prints and keychains and ran a gachapon machine stocked with unique prizes.

Neon Shrine sells concert accessories for VTuber and idol fans. Partnered with King Blade by Ruifan Japan, the brand brings authentic concert gear to fans in the United States. At FanCon, Neon Shrine sold accessories and promoted the upcoming events it will attend.

Eurymille is a Bay Area comic artist and illustrator active in the local convention scene. Their unique style brings iconic anime characters to life. At FanCon, they sold prints of their work along with keychains and other accessories.

As one of the organizers of the event, MAGWest also had a booth during the event. This was an opportunity to promote the 2027 event. Even though nothing has been set yet, details about the event will be announced in the future.

Main Stage

At the center of FanCon was a main stage that was set up for panels and live shows. Here are some of the performances I got to check out during the day.

The Foundation for the Eradication of Gen 5 Pokémon has long been a staple of the Bay Area fandom community, so their presence at FanCon 2026 was essential. They presented their panel “Ash Can’t Catch ’Em,” which breaks down how Ash is a terrible Pokémon trainer who didn’t earn any of his badges during the first season of the anime. It was the panel’s first appearance in two years, mixing fresh material with classic jokes longtime fans will recognize.

Petty Tactic is a NorCal J-Rock and J-Pop cover band that performs at anime events and produces work for VTubers. At FanCon, they took the main stage and turned the mall into a concert hall, putting their own spin on familiar hits.

Things to Do at FanCon 2026

Not organized by the staff, random games of Pokémon Go broke out among guests. With several gyms around the mall, guests gathered to participate in raids, while others took a break to catch any Pokémon within range. However, it was easier said than done, as reception in the mall can be awful depending on how far one has ventured.

Even though FanCon was a free event, guests who registered received a badge and a free play card for Round1 Bowling. With Round1 next to the event and several artists tabling by its entrance, it was the perfect place to have some fun, whether playing a few games or trying to win prizes.

Cosplay has always been a staple of anime conventions, and FanCon 2026 was no exception. Many cosplayers came out in their best or favorite work, with some devoted to bringing their favorite characters to life. While there were no official gatherings, fandoms made plans for unofficial meetups throughout the day.

Did you get a chance to check out FanCon 2026? If so, then share your story in the comment section below.

8Bit/Digi is a news outlet that provides insight into Bay Area Fan Conventions.