Fun anime conventions in Omaha

Anime fans exist across the entire country, not just on the coasts, so often people underlook the fact that Midwestern cities like Omaha can have some major and epic anime celebrations.

Two such conventions in Omaha are Kanpai!Con and Anime Nebraskon. I am not affiliated with the latter.

Kanpai!Con is an amazing annual convention held in Omaha that focuses on cosplaying, music, anime guests, arcade games, voice actors, and more. It also has a fun ConSweet where you can get unlimited free rice, ramen, and soda included with your admission.

A picture of the big stage at Kanpai!Con in Omaha.

Kanpai!Con is currently held annual at the Hilton Omaha, which is a beautiful hotel facility.

A different event, Anime Nebraskon is an annual convention that grew out of a local nonprofit college group that hosted their convention annually, and it has been going on for more than a decade.

What to expect at these conventions.

Anime conventions, also known as anime cons, are a fun and exciting experience for many people for several reasons:

1. Community: Anime conventions bring together fans of anime, manga, and Japanese culture, creating a sense of community and belonging. Fans can connect with like-minded individuals and make new friends who share their interests. Nowhere else is it so easy to be interesting and get accepted by a community so quickly.
2. Cosplay: All Midwestern anime conventions that I know about heavily feature cosplay, where fans dress up as their favorite anime characters. This provides an opportunity for creative expression and allows fans to showcase their costumes and bring their favorite characters to life. I wish I got to cosplay more these days, but I did enjoy bringing to life some of my favorite characters like Kyouya and Alucard.
3. Panels and Workshops: Anime conventions will host panels and workshops led by industry professionals and fans, covering topics such as animation, voice acting, and cosplay. These events provide a learning opportunity and can deepen fans’ understanding and appreciation of anime and manga.
4. Exclusive Content: Anime conventions can be a source of exclusive content and merchandise, such as rare merchandise and collectibles, anime screenings, and sneak peeks of upcoming anime series. The vendor halls are great places to load up on anime swag and merchandise.
5. Live Performances: Many anime conventions feature live performances, such as concerts and stage shows featuring Japanese pop music and performances by cosplayers. These events provide an opportunity for fans to experience their favorite anime and manga in a new and interactive way. Often the guest list at Kanpai!Con will include fun costumed musicians.
6. Artist Alley: These cons always feature an Artist Alley, where fans can purchase artwork and merchandise from up-and-coming artists and creators. This provides an opportunity for fans to support and discover new talent in the anime and manga community.
7. Gaming: These events will alsohave gaming areas, featuring video games, card games, and tabletop games based on popular anime and manga franchises. This provides an opportunity for fans to engage in gaming with like-minded individuals and experience their favorite franchises in a new way. Kanpai!Con even features imported games from Japan in an arcade gaming room.

A concert held at the Hilton Omaha at Kanpai!Con, April 2022.

For many, these Omaha anime conventions are one of the most fun experiences they have ever had — some (many) people return every single year. Whether it’s connecting with the anime and manga community, showcasing cosplay skills, learning about the industry, or experiencing exclusive content and events, anime cons offer a unique and enjoyable opportunity to celebrate anime, manga, and Japanese culture. I hope to see you at the next one.