Bringing fans closer to the voices and visionaries behind some of anime’s most iconic characters, the festival features live talks open to all ticket holders, alongside exclusive, ticketed meet-and-greet experiences. Across the five-day event, guests can look forward to appearances by Kazuki Yao, the unmistakable voice of Franky and Bon Clay in One Piece, alongside Daisuke Hirakawa, known for his standout roles as Enmu in Demon Slayer and Noriaki Kakyoin in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders.

Additionally, Yuki Kaji, the voice behind Eren Yeager in Attack on Titan, and legendary voice actress Noriko Hidaka, known for voicing Sera Masumi in the Detective Conan series and Shalnark in the adventurous Hunter x Hunter (2011) series, will be on hand to greet fans. They are joined by Tetsuya Kakihara, known for Natsu Dragneel in Fairy Tail, and Kenn, the voice behind David Martinez in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.

The lineup continues with Shoji Kawamori, the creator behind the Macross franchise and some of anime’s most recognisable mecha designs, joined by fan favourites Mariya Ise, celebrated for her role as Killua in Hunter x Hunter, Fairouz Ai, known for her bold performances in Chainsaw Man as Power and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean as Jolyne Cujoh, and Kensho Ono, whose career includes beloved characters such as Giorno Giovanna from the exciting journey of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind series and Diluc from the popular open-world RPG Genshin Impact!

At the centre of Animenia Abu Dhabi 2026 are four themed anime realms, bringing your favourite series to life through captivating immersive experiences. Each world is drawn directly from BLEACH, SPY x FAMILY, DAN DA DAN, and GINTAMA, allowing fans to step inside the stories they love through hands-on games, cinematic walkthroughs, exclusive merchandise, and photo moments set within iconic scenes.

The BLEACH world drops fans straight into the realm of Soul Reapers, with a striking intro space, themed interactive zones, and an obstacle-style challenge inspired by the Shin-o Academy. Elsewhere, DAN DA DAN greets guests with a haunting shrine before spiralling into high-energy challenges and a horror house complete with live scenes and eerie surprises. At the SPY x FAMILY realm, guests’ top-secret mission includes interactive sets and photo moments inspired by the Forger family, while GINTAMA brings absurd humour to life inside the Kabuki District with quirky challenges and a door maze.

Celebrating the boundless creativity of anime, Animenia Abu Dhabi 2026 will once again set the stage for a jaw-dropping Cosplay Competition. Taking place on February 15th, cosplayers from across the globe step into the spotlight across solo and group categories, competing for the world’s largest prize pool of AED 400,000.

Throughout this five-day showcase of all things anime, guests can also learn from the pros with interactive workshops hosted by famous cosplayers, such as exclusive sessions with Weiren.cos on the basics of cosplay and MioMayo on storytelling and character portrayal. M7Cosplay will also show fans the art of crafting cosplay armour, creating prosthetics, and quick fixes to ensure you’re always stage-ready. Additionally, Alexcancosplay hosts a sewing masterclass, and Mossy_Cosplays showcases character-driven makeup techniques before joining Cosmo_Cosplays for a special wig styling workshop.

Beyond cosplay, the schedule also features trading card game workshops hosted by Japan in Arabia, where guests can learn the basics of Pokémon card trading games in a fun, beginner-friendly setting. Creative minds can also explore illustration workshops led by Halffrozeart and spend time at the Manga Studio, a dedicated hub for reading iconic titles. Meanwhile, gaming fans can jump into dedicated gaming experiences running throughout the festival, offering hands-on play, friendly competition, and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow fans.

Day passes are available at AED 95 on weekdays and AED 145 on weekends, with full access to anime worlds, exhibitions, gaming, workshops, retail and street food. Fans can also opt for the 5-Day Festival Pass at AED 495, or level up with the Super VIP Pass at AED 2,995, which includes Meet & Greets, afterparties, VIP perks, and a limited-edition Topps trading card. Don’t miss out—secure your spot at Animenia Abu Dhabi 2026 before prices increase on February 11th!

When: 11 to 15 February 2026   

Where: Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi    

Tickets & Pricing:

Weekday Pass

Current Price: AED 95 per day

Price From February 11th: AED 125 per day

Offer: Emirates NBD debit and credit card holders enjoy an exclusive 10% on Platinumlist and Ticketmaster.

Inclusions: Available on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday with access to retail and street food offerings, anime worlds, exhibitions, gaming, and workshops

Weekend Pass

Current Price: AED 145 per day

Price From February 11th: AED 175 per day

Offer: Emirates NBD debit and credit card holders enjoy an exclusive 10% on Platinumlist and Ticketmaster.

Inclusions: Available on Friday and Saturday with access to retail and street food offerings, anime worlds, exhibitions, Gaming Zone, and workshops

Friends & Family (4+1)

Current Price: Weekday AED 380; Weekend AED 580

Price From February 11th: Weekday AED 500; Weekend AED 700

Offer: Buy 4 Weekday Passes and get 1 Weekday Pass free

Inclusions: access to the festival grounds, immersive anime worlds, shopping, exhibitions, gaming, workshops, and food vendors.*

5-Day Festival Pass

Price: AED 495

Inclusions: 5-day festival pass with access to retail and street food offerings, anime worlds, exhibitions, Gaming Zone, and workshops

After Party Ticket

Current Price: AED 240

Price From February 11th: AED 270

Inclusions: Access to the festival grounds on the day of the party, including anime worlds, shopping, exhibitions, gaming, workshops, food vendors, and access to the Animenia after party, as well as exclusive Animenia Abu Dhabi After Party trading card in collaboration with Topps

Super VIP

Price: AED 2995

Inclusions: 5-day access to the festival, access to all Meet & Greets, afterparties, and Opening Day Media Tour, Animenia Merch Bag, VIP parking, Super VIP Guest Relations support, and exclusive, limited edition Animenia Abu Dhabi trading card in collaboration with Topps

Meet & Greet Ticket

Current Price: Weekend AED 345; Weekday AED 295

Inclusions: Meet your selected anime icon at the allocated time and receive one signed item

Terms & Conditions: Only valid as an add-on to an Animenia 5-Day Festival Pass or Day Pass or After Party; Spaces limited