Anime Expo 2026 Reveals J-POP SOUND CAPSULE Lineup for July Event

Anime Expo 2026 has laid out the first-day highlights for its return to the Los Angeles Convention Center. The convention, set for July 2–5, 2026, continues to solidify its position as the largest anime gathering in North America with a mix of fan-favorite programming and high-profile musical acts.

The convention’s official kickoff will take place at The Novo, a 2,300-seat venue adjacent to the L.A. Live complex, on Thursday, July 2.

The Welcome Ceremony traditionally sets the tone for the long weekend, featuring industry announcements, special guest introductions, and a look ahead at the marquee events.

Exact programming details for the ceremony have not yet been released, but organizers have signaled it will serve as the anchor for Day 1 activities.

Also slated for opening day are the Anime Music Video (AMV) Finals, a perennial draw for fans who compete and vote on the best fan-made music videos set to anime clips.

The AMV competition has grown in prestige alongside the convention itself, drawing hundreds of submissions each year.

J-POP SOUND CAPSULE Concert Series

The headline musical attraction, J-POP SOUND CAPSULE 2026, will run concurrently at Crypto.com Arena from July 2 through July 5, with a different headliner each night.

The daily lineup includes rising virtual singer Lumine on Thursday, the genre-blending artist Juno on Friday, electronic-and-vocal act Kangel on Saturday, and veteran Japanese rock band SPYAIR on Sunday.

SPYAIR, known for opening themes to hits like Gintama and Haikyu!!, brings the strongest name recognition to the bill.

The concerts are a key component of Anime Expo’s expanding live entertainment footprint, drawing thousands of attendees into the arena across the four-day event.

Single-day and four-day passes for the concert series are expected to go on sale in early 2026 through the Anime Expo ticketing portal.

Convention Growth and Venue Expansion

Anime Expo has grown steadily since its 1992 inception, routinely attracting more than 100,000 unique attendees in recent pre-pandemic years.

The 2026 edition will once again fill the Los Angeles Convention Center with panel rooms, exhibition halls, artist alley, and dedicated screening spaces.

The addition of Crypto.com Arena—just a few blocks south on Figueroa Street—allows the convention to host arena-scale concerts without displacing core convention floor programming.

Organizers have emphasized that the J-POP SOUND CAPSULE lineup represents only part of the overall entertainment slate.

Additional musical acts and special guests are expected to be announced in the months leading up to the event.

With the return of the Welcome Ceremony to The Novo and the AMV Finals anchoring Day 1, the 2026 edition is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious in the convention’s history.