Anime Festival Orlando returns June 19–21 for its 25th year, bringing voice actors, cosplay chaos, live music, and a whole weekend of Japanese pop culture fandom to the Rosen Plaza
If you’ve been waiting all year for an excuse to dust off your cosplay, finally meet one of your favorite voice actors, or just lose yourself in a crowd of people who understand why Fullmetal Alchemist changed your life — your moment has arrived. Anime Festival Orlando, Central Florida’s longest-running anime convention, kicks off this Friday, June 19, for a three-day celebration at the Rosen Plaza on International Drive. For over 25 years, AFO has brought quality anime and Japanese culture-focused content to Central Florida through interactive events, cosplay contests, panels, vendors, gaming, industry guests, and more — and this year’s edition looks set to be the most packed yet.
Whether you’re a seasoned convention-goer or a curious first-timer wondering what all the fuss is about, here’s why Anime Festival Orlando 2026 deserves a spot on your weekend plans.
A Voice Cast Worth Losing Your Mind Over
Let’s start with the guests, because this year’s lineup is genuinely stacked. Guests from across the anime and gaming industries will be meeting with fans, presenting panels, signing autographs, giving performances, and sometimes even helping judge contests. 
Headlining the featured guest roster is a murderers’ row of English dub talent. Aaron Dismuke, the beloved voice actor perhaps best known for his iconic work on Fullmetal Alchemist, will be on hand for signings and panels. Joining him is Daman Mills, a prolific voice actor whose credits span some of anime’s most recognizable series in recent years. Christopher Guerrero, Jill Harris, Gabe Kunda, Jordan Dash Cruz, Tony Oliver, and Aaron Campbell round out a featured guest lineup that covers decades of anime history and dozens of beloved characters.
For cosplay fans, the convention is bringing in Nikkosplay and River Glass as dedicated cosplay guests — both celebrated for their craft in the convention circuit and sure to draw long lines of admirers (and selfie requests). Rounding out the entertainment roster are drag performers AxelAndrews and Megami, bringing a flair for spectacle that will make AFO’s nighttime events something truly memorable.
The Events: There Is Something for Literally Everyone
Convention veterans know that the guest list is only half the story. What really makes or breaks a weekend is the programming, and AFO 2026 is firing on all cylinders.
The Happy Happy Cosplay GO GO GO Cosplay Contest will be returning once again to AFO. Watch as cosplayers show off their crafting and performing skills on the Main Events stage — it’s part talent show, part art exhibition, and entirely worth showing up for. Central Florida’s cosplay community brings its absolute best every year, and the level of craftsmanship on display regularly leaves audiences speechless. 
For something completely unique to AFO, there’s Tales of Orlandia. Tales of Orlandia is a Live Action Convention Experience (LACE) exclusive to Anime Festival Orlando. You can watch the story unfold on the Main Events and Game Show Theater stages, and you can even be part of the tale yourself by joining the Orlandia NPCs in the tavern throughout the weekend. Think of it as a live-action anime playing out around you all weekend — interactive, immersive, and unlike anything you’ll find at any other con.
One of the weekend’s most anticipated events is the Moon Prism Pride Charity Concert. Ongaku Overdrive and Anime Festival Orlando proudly present Moon Prism Pride, a pride month charity concert that celebrates the music of video games and anime. There will be live bands performing, and donations will be raised to benefit Zebra Youth, an Orlando-based organization that supports LGBTQ+ youth in Central Florida. It’s the rare convention event that manages to be both a genuinely great show and a force for good in the local community.
Late-night attendees will want to clear their Saturday for Cos/play Night: Unlimited Rave Works! Join Tiny Waves for a CosRave Masquerade Party at 3NINE, Rosen Plaza’s nightclub venue next to the lobby. Entry is included with your AFO pass. Dancing in costume at a venue attached to the hotel? That’s the kind of detail that separates a good convention from a great one. 
The Sweet Tooth Maid Cafe is back as well, described as offering an enchanting show and delightful moments with charming butlers and adorable maids — with multiple shows daily and a warm invitation to a cozy realm of sugar. For fans of maid cafe culture, this is the real deal.
Gaming, Panels, and More
Beyond the headline events, the Tabletop Game Room at AFO is a place where fans of traditional games can come together to play one-off games, longer games, and even participate in tournaments — while the Video Game Room offers a mix of tournaments and free play covering both old classics and new favorites. And running all weekend long, Game Show Theater lets attendees show off their anime knowledge and game show skills at one of many shows — a beloved AFO tradition that somehow manages to be both competitive and hilarious at the same time.
25 Years and Still Going Strong
AFO is a celebration for enthusiasts of Japanese pop culture, anime, manga, and more. As one of the premier events of its kind in Florida, AFO draws in fans from all corners, eager to immerse themselves in the world of anime conventions. That two-and-a-half-decade legacy means AFO has had the time to develop a community feel that bigger, flashier conventions sometimes lack. The organizers know their audience, the regulars know each other, and newcomers tend to find themselves welcomed into both.
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NocedoPhoto Media Group is an innovative and creative consortium that unites photographers, writers, cosplayers, event promoters, vendors, costume and prop makers, and other creatives under one roof to use their collective skills to maximize their distribution and presence on digital media platforms. Their goal is to create a well-rounded and successful network for all involved.
