Olympia selected to host UK’s largest anime convention, AnimeCon UK, for its London debut

Olympia Events has secured another major London debut, as AnimeCon UK, the nation’s largest convention dedicated to anime, manga and Asian pop culture confirms it will launch in the capital at Olympia’s Grand Hall on 3–4 October 2026, following the major £1.3bn transformation of Olympia into London’s newest destination for events, entertainment, hospitality and business.

This new event coming to Olympia reinforces its growing reputation as a first-choice venue for large-scale, experience-led events seeking a central London platform. AnimeCon UK joins a strong pipeline of organisers selecting Olympia for their London debut, drawn by its combination of scale, flexibility, connectivity and integrated destination appeal, enhancing the experiences for organisers, exhibitors and visitors alike.

Already established as the UK’s leading anime convention, with successful editions at NEC Birmingham and Manchester Central, AnimeCon UK attracts tens of thousands of highly engaged fans. Its move to Olympia is said to be its most ambitious edition yet and reflects both the event’s continued growth trajectory and the increasing demand for centrally located, high-capacity venues capable of delivering immersive, multi-format experiences.

The event will utilise Olympia’s Grand Hall to deliver a vast exhibitor and creator showcase. The show floor will feature over 200 pop culture vendors and a vibrant Artist Alley - where independent illustrators, designers, makers and creative studios present and sell work inspired by anime, manga and wider fan culture. The programme spans live content, immersive fan experiences, performances, fan engagement zones and community-led experiences, demonstrating the flexibility of Olympia’s heritage spaces to accommodate complex, multi-layered event formats.

Clive Nørgaard Morton, Group Director for Oakham Group, said:

“AnimeCon UK is a fun and engaging celebration of this enthusiastic community and it showcases the growing worldwide influence of anime and manga. Launching at the revitalised Olympia allows us to create an unforgettable experience at scale in central London. Olympia’s redevelopment adding on-site dining, hotels and evening entertainment all adds to the buzz and makes it the perfect fit for the show!”

Andy O'Sullivan, CEO at Olympia Events, which operates the heritage halls, new International Convention Centre (ICC) and The Addison premium lounge at Olympia, said:

“We’re delighted to be welcoming AnimeCon UK to Olympia’s Grand Hall for its London debut. It’s part of a growing number of major events choosing Olympia as their first home in the capital, which really speaks to the strength of the central London global destination we’re transforming into. The event is a great example of how our spaces can support large-scale, experience-led formats that combine content, community and commerce, all within a highly connected city location. We’re excited to see it come to life later this year.”

The transformation of Olympia provides a landmark setting, combining historic architecture with state-of-the-art facilities in one of the capital’s best-connected locations, marking a new era for live events in the UK. With its restored heritage halls, new-build ICC, premium hospitality offer and best-in-class transport connectivity, Olympia is positioned to meet increasing organiser demand for venues that can deliver both scale and experience in a single destination.

Further details, including ticket information and guest announcements, will be released in the coming weeks.