Cosplay Matsuri (CosMatsu) made its matsu-waited “Winter Wonderland” return on December 28-30, 2025, at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City, Philippines. This event is a special festival for every Filipino anime and cosplay fan that marks the finale of the year, so it comes with the holiday spirit, the new year excitement, laughter with new and old friends, undeniable nostalgia, and the extravagant festivities of all-things otaku.
From the event programs, games, expo floor, and artist alley — Cosplay Matsuri is just a great and fun season-ender event to close the 2025 anime convention scene in the Philippines. This year, we got to experience some interesting and memorable highlights.
Capturing Moments at Cosplay Matsuri 2025
You could not miss the lively atmosphere inside Cosplay Matsuri 2025. Everyone was in high spirits, excited to make the best of memories before the year-end. The 3-day event was the perfect opportunity to enjoy and experience a good time.
In true Filipino-style for the festivities, Cosplay Matsuri 2025 celebrated with plenty of food. Right by the entrance were the delightful and savory treats from the Maggi booth. Cheers echo every so often (Maggi! Maggi! Maggi!) because of the delicious free taste. It was also very cute that the cosplayer stationed there was dressed as Xiangling, the head chef at the Wanmin Restaurant from Genshin Impact. Then there was Infinity Nikki, celebrating the launch of Version 2.0 with Minute Burger, which was a collaboration that surprised and fascinated many. They had interactive activities, exclusive rewards, and even a special appearance from Myrtle Sarrosa.
Meanwhile, the activities and programs at the stage never ran out of energy, from the auction, to the Anisong It Singing Contest, and to the Q&A session with special guest cosplayer Kiyo. There was even a special portion from the Philippine Iga Keno Club. The dates for the 2026 Cosplay Mania series were also revealed, together with Cosplay Carnival’s special guest and JAM Concert.
Of course, the expo floor was filled with many happy delights. From the newest anime trinkets at Anpanic, to the classic Gacha at Hubbyte, the lovely items at Aezer, and the exciting finds at the (crazy) artist alley– Cosplay Matsuri was overflowing with a lot of merchandise. It was every otaku’s dream. As always, this year-ender event does not disappoint.
Thanks to the shopper’s pass, a lot of con-goers enjoyed the last-minute shopping moments at the event. Although I heard that two hours is not enough to go through every booth leisurely, do not underestimate the dedication of a loyal fan and merchandise consumer; powered by passion, love, and a (somewhat) ready budget. Other than shopping, the other con-goers simply came to meet friends, watch the show, and just enjoy the moment.
Why Cosplay Matsuri is Beloved by Filipino Fandoms
It’s my fourth year covering these events with Anime Corner. I’ve written quite a lot of things by now: from how it felt to attend a convention after the pandemic, about a young Chainsaw Man cosplayer and crafter, a spontaneous T-Rex vs Pikachu battle, appreciating cosplay photographers and their creative processes, and how good people who make good places. I’ve been going on and on about celebrating the arts and fandoms. Although these events get tiring and repetitive sometimes, they also come with invaluable life experiences and memories. This year’s Cosplay Matsuri is no exception to that.
Why do con-goers always encourage others to join them for Cosplay Matsuri? It’s the biggest anime and cosplay convention that closes the year, but above all, it is one packed with nostalgia and pure happiness. It’s an all-out festival, and everyone is celebrating their new favorite shows, songs, and characters from all the titles that have come and gone throughout the year.
The best part about it is that sense of community — the space for self-expression through cosplay, arts, and merchandise, and having that shared bond through common appreciation for anime, manga, and Japanese culture. It’s both fun and unbelievably fulfilling. And then, we carry and hold on to that feeling as we enter into the new year. Cosplay Matsuri is special that way.
I said this last year, and I can’t believe I’m saying it again– from anime to games to the FMA dog girl (I’ll never be free from the pain), we saw plenty of amazing cosplayers! See the next page to see more of our Cosplay Matsuri 2024 cosplay gallery.
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