Otakon 2026 in Washington, D.C.

Otakon returns July 31–August 2, 2026 to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center at 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW (also listed as Mount Vernon Place NW). Founded in 1994, the fan-run convention is one of the largest North American celebrations of Asian pop culture: anime, manga, music, movies, video games, cosplay, dealers, and fandom panels across three downtown days.

Registration runs through Otakon’s Experient portal. As of late July, weekend membership was $100 through July 30 (11 p.m. EDT), with single-day badges at $70 Friday, $80 Saturday, and $45 Sunday; treat otakon.com/2026registration as day-of truth if at-door rates shift. Badge pickup hours: Thursday 3–10 p.m. (satellite desks at Marriott Marquis and The Westin 4–8 p.m. Thursday only), Friday–Saturday 8 a.m.–10 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m.–noon. Hotel blocks are still listed through the same registration flow. The Mt. Vernon Square / 7th St–Convention Center Metro stop on the Green and Yellow lines exits at the building.

Guest announcements are still rolling. The published 2026 Western guest list already includes voice actors such as Cassandra Lee Morris, Ray Chase, Alejandro Saab, Xanthe Huynh, Crystal Lee, Sam Slade, and Jordan Dash Cruz, plus fashion and creator programming (including MOE↗AGE! and several J-fashion brands). Treat the live guest page as truth if names or autograph rules shift.

How it stacks in the DMV calendar

Otakon is the weekend’s heaviest DMV anchor. If you want food instead of badges, Asia in a Bite Baltimore and One Loudoun both run August 1–2. Later August still holds Live Night Market Hanover, Panda Fest, and the Chinese Culture Festival. Weekend Metro helps, but last trains still cut off earlier than con floors close.

When: July 31–August 2, 2026
Where: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW, Washington, DC 20001

Confirm badge pickup, concerts, and guest hours on otakon.com before you leave.