Convention Events
We have tons of main events every year, and additional events are added as panelists submit them - our featured Chicago anime convention events are listed below. We have literally 100+ events every year. To give you an idea of the full schedule, there are tons of events also not listed here, including anime screenings, our special date auction, photoshoots, debates, game shows, and beyond.
Concerts
Anime Midwest features epic concerts every year including fantastic guests playing everything from anime theme song covers to unique shows filled with noir, rock, and tremendous energy. Everything about Anime Midwest's concerts are awesome. We use the best lighting and speakers to create an epic, immersive concert experience.
Exhibit Hall
Our exhibit hall features the most amazing anime vendors ever, with tons of anime swag to take home. Dealers will be selling everything you can imagine, from costumes and corsets to pocky and DVDs, you'll be able to find some awesome stuff in our dealers room. Artists will sell all kinds of unique and rare artwork.
Rave Dances
We have several official, amazing DJs in our guest DJ lineup, including Greg Ayres, YTCracker, and some other talented guest DJs. We know how to break it down with awesome EDM dance music (hey, that's redundant!). Jumpstyle. Hardstyle. Techno. Trance. Maybe even dubstep? (If that's still cool by then). No stops and no bad DJs.
Arcade Gaming
We love arcade games from around the world, and our arcade gaming room is happy to bring them to you! In the past we have worked with partners including Tokyo Attack, Kdogs Arcade, and Credits Remaining to bring games like Dance Dance Revolution, JuBeat, Reflec Beat, Pop n Music, Taiko Drumming, and more. Join us and our partners for a game room filled with at least a dozen awesome arcade games.
Maid Cafe
Our maid cafe is a fun experience similar to maid cafes in Japan - but much more suited to Anime Midwest. Come, and be the king of your own maid world (you'll find out what this means!). Please note that tickets sometimes sell out early, as we have limited space available.
Maid/Butler applications are closed. You can apply to be a maid or butler when the con is between 30 and 90 days from now.Tabletop Games
We have tabletop games like Settlers of Catan for people to play all weekend long.
Photoshoots
Many people come to the convention in cosplay to have a great time with their fellow cosplayers! Bring your cameras and do photoshoots all over our wonderful venue.
Miniatures Games
Join us in our tabletop gaming room for miniatures and wargames.
Special Guests
Our convention has an incredible list of special guests attending every year! Voice actors, industry members, entertainers, and musicians join our event every year. Get an autograph with your favorite voice actors, see an amazing concert, and enjoy a great weekend!
Grand Cosplay Contest
Our Grand Cosplay Contest, aka the Masquerade, will be the best opportunity to show off your costumes and see some awesome, talented people. We have experienced costuming judges, and excellent competitors. We do everything we can to make your costumes look excellent on stage. Do you want to compete? Get the full cosplay contest details first.
Exhibit Hall
Our exhibit hall will feature some of the most awesome vendors ever, with tons of anime swag to take home. Dealers will be selling everything you can imagine, from costumes and corsets to pocky and DVDs, you'll be able to find some awesome stuff in our dealers room.
Arcade Gaming
We love arcade games from around the world, and our arcade gaming room is happy to bring them to you! In the past we have worked with partners including Tokyo Attack, Kdogs Arcade, and Credits Remaining to bring games like Dance Dance Revolution, JuBeat, Reflec Beat, Pop n Music, Taiko Drumming, and more. Join us and our partners for a game room filled with at least a dozen awesome arcade games.
Video Games
Our video gaming area features tons of big LCDs screens, game consoles, and more, with gaming tournaments happening all weekend. You can compete in tournaments centered around the latest console games and more.
Tournament Information
Rave Dances
Our guest DJ lineup features a collection of distinguished and electrifying talents, including the likes of Greg Ayres and YTCracker, among others. These virtuosos are poised to set the stage on fire with an adrenaline-infused selection of EDM. Forget about bad transitions and little bass, we're talking about a non-stop, pulse-pounding journey through the best of Jumpstyle, Hardstyle, Techno, Trance, House, Drum and Bass -- whatever the audience can groove to. Rest assured, there won't be a moment's lapse, and the quality of our DJs is uncompromising.
Chicago Anime Rave
Formal Fantasy Cosplay Ball
As a special treat, our convention holds an annual fantasy ball. Admission is free to convention attendees with a badge. In addition, we will have professional formal dance lessons before the event begins, taught by an experienced dance instructor. For those without dates, we will even have our very own Date Auction on Friday afternoon, before the ball. Semi-formal outfits and above required for this exciting featured event.
Chicago Formal Ball
AnimeCon.org's Fabulous Date Auction
Unrivaled by any other convention, AnimeCon.org's Fabulous Date Auction is your chance to win a date to the formal ball.... or several, if you're greedy. Join our sexy 20-con veteran hosts as they auction off other cosplayers to the highest bidder. Money goes towards improving the con, and 10% of all winning bids is donated to charity.
Escape Rooms
The Last Masquerade: Prince Prospero’s lavish masquerade ball has turned into a nightmare. The Red Death has snuck into the castellated abbey and, one-by-one, the partygoers are succumbing to the terrible plague. Your only hope to escape is to find the masks of those who died tragically, learn the stories, and ultimately earn their favor. Will you complete the ritual and be set free or will Darkness and Decay and the Red Death hold illimitable dominion over all?
Cackling Man: Lost in the woods, you stumble upon an old cabin. There are human remains inside, long deceased, and …clutching an old gaming controller? Whatever happened here is about to happen again. Something has awakened in the woods, and it’s coming for you. Can you solve the mystery behind a cursed video game and a strange occult ritual before midnight? Or will you be the next victim of the Cackling Man? An escape room inspired by creepypastas, the 80s, retro video games and urban legends.
Get The Last Masquerade Tickets Get Cabin of the Cackling Man Tickets Watch Trailer on YouTube
Concerts
Anime Midwest features epic concerts every year including fantastic guests playing everything from anime theme song covers to unique shows filled with noir, rock, and tremendous energy. Everything about Anime Midwest's concerts is awesome.
Panels
Anime Midwest has tons of panels, submitted and created by attendees like you. Talk about favorite shows, compete in homemade game shows, learn stuff, and more! Everything you love, from Lolita and Dolls, to Killa la Kill and Pokemon, we'll have it. Want to run a panel? Go to the event submission form.
Cosplay
We are excited to feature tons of cosplay events, in addition to the mainstage masquerade cosplay competition, including photoshoots, meetups, panels, and much more. Join your friends and celebrate your favorite characters in costume.
Mainstage Contest Rules Online signup is available when the con is between 60 and 10 days from now. You can sign up at the con until we're full.
ConSweet
We provide the best in Chicago of free snacks, ramen, and rice all weekend. To help you get through the convention filled with energy, our ConSweet provides congoers with unlimited rice, ramen, and soda throughout the entire weekend. Rice/ramen/soda may not be taken out of the ConSweet, and please clean up after yourself. The ConSweet will be located in the ballroom of the DoubleTree Hotel in 2023, and is typically in either the DoubleTree or Embassy Suites.
Meetups
Meetup with people who like the same stuff as you. Whether it's Ball Jointed Dolls, Lolita Fashion, Kingdom Hearts, J-Pop, or whatever, you'll make friends here. Meet other people with the same interests and make friends.
Autographs
We have a ton of awesome guests and of course you can have their autograph. The first autograph from most of our special guests is free, so bring your favorite DVD to get signed (no bootlegs, please).
Credits Remaining
Credits Remaining: Chicago’s largest convention arcade provider. We specialize in providing Midwest conventions with superior arcade machines, blending classic American Arcades with Japanese rhythm games. Featured favorites are: House of the Dead, Jubeat, Marvel vs Capcom 2, Nostalgia, and everyone’s favorite— Dance Dance Revolution! Join us at conventions across the Midwest! Check them out at a convention where you can enjoy all sorts of arcade games, dance games, music games, and more, in the convention’s gaming room!
Over 100+ events total.
There are also numerous panels and events not listed here happening at the convention, ranging from Karaoke to workshops. Please check out our website regularly so that you can find a more complete list when we post our program guide closer to the convention.
