Anime Expo 2027 — Day 2 (Friday)

“Friday is when the con hits full speed — panels…”

The announcement you will see trending worldwide by dinner happens in a room you could be standing in at lunch. That is the entire case for showing up on the first full public day instead of easing in over the weekend.

This is when the building finally hits capacity and the studio panels start dropping licensing reveals and surprise first episodes. Anisong sets bring Japanese recording artists who almost never play the States. Voice actors and creators sign all afternoon. The floor and Artist Alley run flat out from open to close — hundreds of independent artists selling prints, charms, and original work — and the sweet spot for actually shopping it is early afternoon, before the prime-time panels pull the crowd away.

The Metro drops you a short walk from the doors. A main badge covers daytime programming, panels, the floor, and the alley; the big concerts ticket separately.

Send it to the friend with a simulcast tab open right now. They will not need convincing.