There’s always something special about spending a day surrounded by people who love the same stories you do– from eye-catching cosplay and bustling art booths to exciting stage performances and the thrill of new collectibles. This year, Anime and Cosplay Expo 2026 was a lovely celebration of creativity, community, and everything that makes Filipino anime fandoms so much fun.
Throughout the event, con-goers explored exhibits, with every corner filled with new and old fandoms. The budol (impulse buying) energy was strong! Meanwhile, there were a lot who dressed up as their favorite anime characters; some cosplays were all out bonggacious, while some were more humorous or simple than others. We also witnessed the GICOF competition, hilarious anime-themed games, and even experienced excitement over Nissin’s Yakisoba and Gong Cha’s milk tea. The community was undoubtedly fired up in making the most out of this anime and cosplay weekend. Here’s a lookback at some of the highlights.
There are a few things that people all laugh about whenever they go to a convention: the fact that they have not slept (because of the excitement or last-minute preparations), have not eaten (the struggles of losing track of time), have walked for hours (fitness may be our passion), seeing friends under different cosplays and fangirling over their transformations (it’s amazing actually), gathering the courage to ask for a photo with a cosplayer (before you lose the chance forever), and of course, our financial choices at the merchant and artist alleys. The fun part about this is that we get to celebrate and share these convention moments not just on our own, but with the community.
One of the best moments of ACX 2026 was watching the stage and audience turn into a lively scene. From the hyping of the emcees to the cheers of the crowd, I found myself drawn to the stage activities more than ever. And this was actually the most enjoyable sit-down I’ve had in a long time. The GICOF (Global International Cosplay Finals) Philippine Qualifiers competition was definitely a highlight, especially with everyone bringing on their A-game. Then there were the singing and cosplay talent competitions, which were both entertaining and thrilling to watch as the contestants showcased each of their unique anime pieces.
It was also hilarious to watch the stage game where players had to identify the song titles and their singers. I could just imagine how nerve-wracking it felt, but the excitement of getting the song right made the anime-fan in me so happy. (Also me: struggling to visualize my Spotify playlist like how I’d try to visualize my notes during a quiz). Anyway, it’s always nice to see people who are dedicated and passionate about their craft, and it’s even nicer to see that it makes other people feel cheerful.
I genuinely enjoyed how ACX 2026 leveled up their stage games and interactions with the community. Everybody was awesome! The one I do not appreciate, however, is that family feud-esque game where they asked for names of popular dogs in anime. The top answer– and I hate this– was Nina Tucker from Full Metal Alchemist. (Nooooooo!) A lot of us gave quite the violent reaction, but it was overall a funny, shared traumatic moment. I just can’t believe this also happened on the same day Daemons of the Shadow Realm made that Nina Tucker easter egg.
Now in its tenth year, ACX 2026 has continued to be our cozy, lighthearted yet lively festival in the middle of our rainy season. I’ve said this before, but this event is truly one of the best ones, especially if you want to have that easy-going-lucky vibe or introduce the community to someone new without getting overstimulated. It’s the perfect relaxing event where creativity thrives, friendship grows, and where fans can celebrate the stories and characters that have shaped them over the years. Every cosplay, fan art, display, performance, and shared laugh is a reminder that this community continues to flourish because of the passion, talent, and heart of the people who show up and make it their own.
My weekend may have started gloomy and heavy-hearted from the rainy season, but I went home with a full heart as warm as sunshine. I saw (and bought, ehem, thank you Anpanic) a lot of things that brought me simple joys from the anime world and Filipino community, which will no doubt keep me going with a hopeful heart.
The first half of the year may be over, but the second half is on its way! There’s much to look forward to because the next event is finally the flagship event, Cosplay Mania, at SMX Convention Center Manila. The full lineup of the international Japanese Anime Music concert, cosplay, voice, and VTuber guests has also been revealed. For more information, make sure to check out the Cosplay Mania Facebook page for more updates.
Of course, my article can’t conclude without the cosplay gallery! Head to the next page to see more of our Anime and Cosplay Expo 2026 cosplay gallery.
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