Anime Central (ACen)

Anime Central — ACen to regulars — is the largest anime, manga and Japanese pop-culture convention in Chicago and the Midwest. Held each May at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, just outside the city and minutes from O'Hare, it draws tens of thousands of fans over three days; the 2027 edition runs May 14–16. Running since 1998, it's the region's anchor event for the anime community.

The convention delivers the full fandom experience. Expect Japanese and Western guests of honour — voice actors, musicians and creators — for panels, autographs and photo ops; a large exhibitors' hall and Artist Alley; video, arcade and tabletop gaming; anime screenings; and concerts and stage events, including J-music acts that have long been part of ACen's identity. The cosplay scene is enormous and enthusiastic, filling the convention center and its connected hotels with elaborate costumes and impromptu photo shoots all weekend.

The location is unusually convenient for a major con. The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center sits in Rosemont's entertainment district, connected to O'Hare International Airport by the CTA Blue Line and surrounded by hotels within walking distance — so many attendees fly in, check in and never need a car. Downtown Chicago is a short train ride away. Mid-May is a pleasant time to visit, with warm days before the peak of summer.

Badges are sold in advance through the official ACen site in single-day and full-weekend tiers, and premium options and popular photo ops sell out first, so book early. Bring comfortable shoes for the halls, a charger for the long days, and cash for artists and smaller vendors, though cards are widely accepted.

ACen leans hard into music and nightlife: J-rock and J-pop concerts have long been a signature, and the connected hotels turn the whole Rosemont complex into a round-the-clock convention village where the cosplay and socializing never really stop. Add the airport on the doorstep and it is one of the most travel-friendly major cons in the country. For many Midwest fans, it is simply the anime weekend the whole year is measured against.

For a geek traveler, ACen pairs well with a Chicago getaway — some of the best food, architecture and museums in the US are a quick train ride from Rosemont, and the airport on the doorstep makes it an easy long-weekend trip from anywhere in the country. Check the official Anime Central site for the confirmed guest list, schedule and badge availability as the date approaches.