AniManGaki 2026: Three Days of Anime, Cosplay, Gaming, Music and ACG Fun at The Mines
If anime, comics, games, cosplay and Japanese pop culture are your thing, get ready for a packed weekend at AniManGaki 2026.
The 18th edition of AniManGaki, commonly known as AMG, is set to bring the ACG community together at The Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre from 28 to 30 August 2026.
This year’s theme is “The Great Exploration of Lost Cities and Forgotten Relics”, with the event expecting to welcome more than 40,000 attendees.
With activities taking place throughout the 3-day event, international guests, cosplay, exhibitions, workshops, stage performances and a three-night concert line-up, AniManGaki 2026 promises plenty for fans to see, do and experience.
AniManGaki: “By Fans, For Fans”
AniManGaki has built its identity around the philosophy of “by fans, for fans”, bringing together thousands of animation, comics and games enthusiasts through its various projects.
The event celebrates a broad spectrum of pop culture, from Japanese anime and contemporary Japanese pop culture to Marvel and DC universes and Western comics.
Over the years, the main AniManGaki event and its related projects have grown into familiar names within Malaysia’s ACG community. The organiser describes AMG as one of Malaysia’s largest ACG events of its kind and is also an active ACG event organiser representing Malaysia at Japan’s International Otaku Expo Association (IOEA).
That community-driven spirit remains at the heart of the event.
A Packed Programme from Day to Night
One thing attendees certainly will not be short of is things to do. AniManGaki describes its programme as being filled with non-stop content and activities, with many activities running concurrently. In other words, visitors may find themselves having to choose between several things happening at the same time!
Here’s a look at some of the attractions:
Artist Alley
For those who love original artwork and handmade creations, Artist Alley provides artists with booths to showcase their work.
Visitors can browse creative pieces, handmade crafts and even request commissions, making this a great place to discover independent artists and take home something unique.
Cosplay Alley
Cosplay gets its own dedicated space at AniManGaki. Cosplay Alley allows cosplayers to set up booths where they can sell their works and merchandise, while also hosting Meet and Greet sessions with their fans. For cosplay enthusiasts, this provides an opportunity not just to admire costumes, but to meet some of the people behind the characters.
Exhibitor Booths
There will also be plenty to browse at the Exhibitor Booths, featuring products and services, educational institutions, merchandise sellers and more.
Whether you’re looking for merchandise, discovering new products or simply wandering around to see what’s available, this will be another major part of the event experience.
Carnival Games
Fancy trying your luck? The Carnival Games give attendees the opportunity to play mini carnival games and try to win rewards along the way.
VTuber Showcase
Virtual entertainment also gets its place at AMG through the VTuber Showcase. For those unfamiliar with the term, a VTuber, or Virtual YouTuber, is an online entertainer who uses a computer-generated virtual avatar.
Panels and Workshops
AniManGaki isn’t just about entertainment and shopping. The Panels and Workshops provide opportunities for attendees to pick up new skills, hear talks, get inspired and meet special guests in person. Depending on the session, there may even be opportunities to score an autograph.
Food and Beverage
Of course, all that walking around, shopping and taking photographs is bound to work up an appetite. A variety of food and beverage vendors will be available inside the event hall, giving visitors plenty of options when it is time for a makan break.
Cosplay Competition
Cosplay takes centre stage with a dedicated Cosplay Competition, adding a competitive element to the weekend for participants who want to showcase their creativity, costumes and performances.
Community Booths
AniManGaki also makes room for the wider community through its Community Booths. These bring communities together to share their passions, raise awareness and grow their groups. Workshops and panel sessions are also part of the community programme.
Three Nights of Live Concerts
One of the biggest highlights of AniManGaki 2026 is undoubtedly its three-night Live Concert programme. Concerts will take place on all three days from 7.30pm onwards, giving attendees another reason to stay into the evening.
Friday, 28 August – Aya Hirano
Opening the concert line-up is Aya Hirano, the Japanese stage and voice actress and singer best known for her iconic role as Haruhi Suzumiya in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.
Hirano began her career as a child actor in 1998 and rose to prominence through her work in anime and music. Her voice-acting credits include Haruhi Suzumiya, Lucy in Fairy Tail, Konata Izumi in Lucky Star, Misa Amane in Death Note and Migi in Parasyte. She is also associated with the newly announced character Vesna in Genshin Impact.
2026 is also a milestone year for Hirano, marking the 25th anniversary of her CD and voice-acting debut, 20th anniversary of her solo artist debut and 15th anniversary of her musical theatre debut.
Saturday, 29 August – KOTOKO
Saturday’s concert features KOTOKO, a leading vocalist of the Japanese music creator group “I’ve”. She made her major debut in 2004 with the album 羽-hane- and has since built an extensive career in anime and game music.
Among her notable works is “being”, the opening theme of the television anime Shakugan no Shana, which reached No. 4 on the Oricon Weekly Single Ranking. Her game music catalogue is equally extensive, with the 10-CD KOTOKO’s GAME SONG COMPLETE BOX “The Bible” featuring 134 game songs she contributed to.
Her collaboration with Aiobahn on “INTERNET OVERDOSE” also introduced her to a new generation of fans. In 2026, she is set to continue her musical activities with the release of KOTOKO’s GAME SONG COMPLETE BOX “The Bible 2” and an international album release tour.
Sunday, 30 August – Stereo Dive Foundation
Closing the three-night concert programme is Stereo Dive Foundation (SDF), the music project of Japanese composer, producer and singer R・O・N.
SDF combines electronic sounds, emotive vocals, rich melodies and cinematic atmospheres, creating a distinctive sound within the anime music scene.
The project has been featured in anime titles including That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Dimension W, Moriarty the Patriot and Beyond the Boundary (Kyoukai no Kanata).
Meet the Special Guests
AniManGaki 2026 also features an impressive selection of special guests from the worlds of illustration, mechanical design, anime, gaming, music, voice acting and cosplay.
Hidetaka Tenjin
Hidetaka Tenjin is an illustrator, designer, image board artist and voice actor whose work spans plastic model box art, video games and animation. His credits include work on mechanical designs for titles such as Macross Zero, Macross F, Genesis of Aquarion, Hellsing, Macross Δ, Knights & Magic, Super Robot Wars T, Back Arrow and Yasuke.
He also served as mechanical art director for Star Blazers 2205 and has designed outside the entertainment industry, including a four-legged walking robot built by Sansei Technologies.
In 2022, Tenjin received the Inkpot Award at San Diego Comic-Con, recognising his highly acclaimed work in Japan and internationally.
Aya Hirano
Beyond her headline concert appearance, Aya Hirano is also one of the event’s major special guests. For anime fans, her extensive voice-acting career alone provides plenty of reason to look forward to meeting her, while her music and stage career adds another dimension to her appearance at AMG.
Jacob Takanashi
Jacob Takanashi, an American voice actor based in Tokyo, has brought characters to life across anime and games. His credits include Kinich in Genshin Impact, Chibi Godzilla in Chibi Godzilla Raids Again, Richt in Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius, Eniac Neumann in Card-en-Ciel, Pacciani in Captain Tsubasa and Griff in Far-Fetched.
His work extends beyond voice acting. He has appeared in the Japanese drama Oi, Handsome! and is also a musician, contributing vocals to soundtracks and performing covers.
MIT Photography
For photographers and cosplay enthusiasts, MIT Photography offers a different perspective on the art form. Based in Japan, MIT is a cosplay concept-art photographer who travels internationally for exhibitions and workshops exploring the deeper meaning of cosplay.
Her approach covers everything from casting and costume creation to composition, with the aim of creating images that go beyond simply capturing beauty.
Michi Mochievee
Michi Mochievee is a VTuber, content creator and vocalist known for her energetic personality, fashion sense and famously unfiltered stories. Described as a self-proclaimed professional yapper, Michi has built an international fanbase with her distinctive chaotic energy and entertaining streams.
James Day
James Day is a British-Malaysian actor and voice actor born in Kuala Lumpur and now based in London. He trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and has worked across film, television and video games. His credits include Patch in CBeebies’ Playtime Towers and Jin Hathaway in CBBC’s So Awkward Academy. His voice can also be heard in games including Final Fantasy XIV, Wuthering Waves and Resident Evil Requiem.
Featured Guests Bring More Cosplay and Creator Energy
The featured guest line-up adds another layer to the event, particularly for fans of cosplay, content creation, gaming and streaming.
Hakken
Hakken returns as AniManGaki’s resident Special Guest. Renowned for their androgynous elegance and striking, model-like visuals, Hakken has gained international acclaim for bringing characters to life with remarkable accuracy.
Hakken is one of Malaysia’s leading ACG exports and an international cosplay icon who has helped elevate cosplay as a form of high art.
Mist / 郭小幻
Mist (郭小幻) is a Malaysian content creator, comic artist and gaming streamer. Known affectionately as “Uncle Huan”, Mist shares her daily life, picture-book creations and gaming adventures with her followers, alongside her energetic storytelling style.
Baobao
Originally from Hong Kong and now based in Malaysia, Baobao has been active in the cosplay scene since AniManGaki 2013. She has appeared as a special guest cosplayer at events across Japan, Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and other countries, building an international following through cosplay, content and livestreaming.
Sally Dorasnow
Sally Dorasnow is a Malaysian cosplayer and content creator known for bringing anime and game characters to life through captivating visuals. As a featured guest associated with Hada Labo, her profile at AMG also highlights creativity, confidence and healthy, hydrated skin.
Ristelle
Ristelle began cosplaying in 2011 and has since expanded her work into performing, content creation and Twitch streaming. Her interests include video games, trading card games and anisong, making her a natural fit for an event that brings together so many aspects of the ACG community.
Infinity Nikki at AniManGaki 2026
The event also features Infinity Nikki, a free-to-play open-world adventure and dress-up game developed by Infold Games, a subsidiary of Papergames. Players follow Nikki and her companion, Momo, through the fantasy world of Miraland, where magical outfits come with unique abilities.
The game combines exploration with activities such as solving puzzles, gathering resources, fishing and purifying enemies, all within a beautifully designed fantasy setting.
An Event Built for ACG Fans
What makes AniManGaki 2026 particularly interesting is the sheer variety packed into one event. You can spend the afternoon browsing artwork and merchandise, checking out cosplay booths, watching a VTuber showcase, joining a workshop, meeting a creator, grabbing some food and catching stage performances.
Then, on concert evenings, the experience continues into the night with major Japanese music acts taking the stage from 7.30pm.
With the organiser expecting more than 40,000 attendees, AniManGaki 2026 is shaping up to be a major gathering for Malaysia’s ACG community. Whether you’re a serious anime fan, a cosplayer, a gamer, an artist, a collector, a music fan or simply curious about the world of ACG, there is plenty here to explore.
AniManGaki 2026 at a Glance
Date: 28–30 August 2026
Opening hours: 10am – 7pm
Venue: The Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre
Event: AniManGaki 2026
Theme: The Great Exploration of Lost Cities and Forgotten Relics
Live concerts:
28 August – Aya Hirano
29 August – KOTOKO
30 August – Stereo Dive Foundation
Concerts start from 7.30pm onwards until 9pm
If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to dig out that cosplay, reunite with fellow ACG fans, discover new artists and creators, or simply immerse yourself in three days of anime, gaming and pop culture, AniManGaki 2026 looks like the place to be this weekend.
