Cosplay.ph’s 2026 event series kicked off last weekend with Cosplay Carnival 2026 at the SMX Convention Hall in Pasay, Philippines. The two-day convention buzzed with exciting emerald energy as fans gathered under one roof to celebrate a shared love for anime, cosplay, gaming, music, and pop culture. It was held on March 28-29, 2026.
Incidentally, the carnival also celebrated its 10th anniversary. It only took up two halls this time, but packed into this small venue was a Filipino otaku community whose enthusiasm far exceeded the space itself. And so, without further ado, here are our highlights of Cosplay Carnival 2026.
A Parade of Emerald Energy
At anime and cosplay conventions like this, many con-goers can choose from a variety of different activities. It could be meeting friends, joining cosplay competitions, seeing the special guests, or going shopping on the exhibit floor and artist alley. The magic in roaming is always in the adventure!
This year, McDonald’s appeared with their exclusive SPY x FAMILY Uno Cards, while Mountain Dew had a gaming setup going on as well. Along the photobooth area was a new addition to the exhibit floor: a combination of music and cosplay by AlphaTeta. There was singing, dancing, and partying– all good vibes.
Cosplay Carnival’s 2nd Anime Music Concert
For the second time, Cosplay Carnival 2026 hosted Cosplay Mania’s iconic Japanese Anime Music (JAM) Concert. Japanese singers halca (Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, Rent-A-Girlfriend), Who-ya Extended (Jujutsu Kaisen, Psycho-Pass 3), and Naomi Payton (Love Live!), along with local DJ Sigrid, graced the stage with their incredible talents. F
We were able to join both days of the JAM Concert, courtesy of Cosplay.ph. The performances were a blast of energy, and we especially had a lot of fun jamming along with fellow Filipino fans, who were able to enjoy an unforgettable night of live music. With the JAM concerts being consistently here twice every year, I can’t help but appreciate how much effort the organizers are doing for the Philippine anime community.
In addition, Anime Corner also had the exclusive opportunity to meet and interview with the JAM artists, so make sure to check it out!
The Charm of the Carnival
As the first event of the year, Cosplay Carnival is the one everyone is always excited for. It represents the beginning of a new convention season, together with the nostalgia of new and familiar favorites. Personally, this carnival has always held a special place in my heart, since it was the first anime convention I went to right after the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that it’s celebrating ten years, it makes me think all the more about how far things have come. There are plenty more anime-enjoyers now, more gamers, and even cosplay is becoming more widely acknowledged as an art form and hobby. Communities are growing (including cosplay competitions!), and J-music is becoming more and more beloved. From elaborate crafts to excited fangirling, the entire place now buzzes with contagious energy.
You see, beyond the costumes, the true carnival charm is the sense of belonging– everyone is free to be themselves and celebrate what they love without judgment. When you meet artists, interactions can turn strangers into instant friends, united by the characters (waifus/husbandos) and worlds they love. When you meet cosplayers and crafters, fiction steps into reality, where everything becomes alive with imagination and joy. At this point, this is not just any event, but a community that welcomes you the moment you walk in. Cosplay Carnival 2026 feels just like that.
That said, we saw plenty of amazing cosplayers, so see the next page to see our full Cosplay Carnival 2026 cosplay gallery!
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