Most Anime Expo 2026 Badges Have Sold Out

If you were on the fence about checking out Anime Expo 2026, then you better hurry because most badges have sold out.

The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) has officially confirmed that Thursday, Friday, and Sunday badges for Anime Expo 2026 have sold out. Only Saturday badges and 1-Day Saturday badges remain. Organizers warn that the remaining inventory is in short supply and selling fast.

You can read the official announcement here:

This announcement pertains only to passes officially sold by Anime Expo. Passes can also be purchased on the second-hand market, but there is a risk of fraud with third-party sellers. The SPJA is not responsible for damages or losses incurred from these unofficial transactions and advises against purchasing passes this way.

Badge Sale History

This is not the first time badges for Anime Expo have sold out, as 8Bit/Digi has been reporting on sold-out badges since 2019. In 2025, Friday badges sold out right before the event was set to kick off. The same thing happened with all one-day badges in 2024, leaving only the weekend passes. 2023 was unique, as all badges sold out a few weeks before the event.

More to Come at Anime Expo 2026

Anime Expo is the largest anime convention in North America and a cornerstone event in the industry, drawing over 100,000 attendees alongside major publishers, studios, and distributors. Organized by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA), the convention gathers industry leaders, creators, and fans for a multi-day celebration of anime and manga. The 2026 event runs July 2nd to July 5th at the Los Angeles Convention Center, with additional programming at L.A. Live and Crypto.com Arena.

Passes for Anime Expo 2026 are currently on sale with prices ranging from $107 for a Saturday pass to weekend passes for $175. Special events like concerts and the maid cafe require attendees to purchase an additional ticket alongside their pass.

8Bit/Digi is an indie news outlet covering the anime and cosplay community of the San Francisco Bay Area. Follow us for ongoing Anime Expo 2026 coverage.