Hentai Matsuri 2026 — San Diego

“Three days of panels the mainstream circuit won't run —…”

Three days of programming the mainstream anime circuit won't run. Hentai Matsuri returns to the Handlery Hotel in San Diego's Mission Valley for panels, cosplay, a vendor hall, and more — June 12–14, 2026.

Hentai Matsuri is a deliberately adult-oriented anime and pop culture convention that leans into the parts of anime fandom that other conventions treat as secondary — mature art, doujinshi culture, cosplay without content restrictions, and creator-forward panel programming. The convention has built a loyal following in the Southern California anime community over multiple editions: repeat attendees recognize the crowd, and the crowd recognizes itself.

Date: Friday June 12 – Sunday June 14, 2026
Venue: Handlery Hotel San Diego, 950 Hotel Circle North, Mission Valley, San Diego, CA 92108
Age Restriction: 18+ (valid government ID required for entry)
Tickets: Available at eventbrite.com — three-day passes and individual day badges.

Panels cover: creator meetups, figure collecting, adult animation industry, fan art culture, and cosplay-adjacent programming. The vendor hall leans toward independent artists, doujinshi creators, and specialty merchandise you won't find at larger general-audience cons. The convention floor operates on a schedule; the hotel lobby runs on a different clock.

If you've maxed out Anime Expo and want something smaller, more focused, and unfiltered — Hentai Matsuri is the room. Adults only; expect the crowd to know exactly why they're there.