Animate! Columbus returns to the Greater Columbus Convention Center on Friday through Sunday, June 12–14, 2026 for a three-day celebration of anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and — crucially for the trading card community — a packed vendor hall filled with Pokémon, Dragon Ball Z Fusion World, One Piece, Digimon, and other TCG dealers. Produced by GalaxyCon, Animate! Columbus has quickly become the Midwest's biggest dedicated anime convention, and its anime-heavy focus translates directly into a vendor hall built for Japanese and anime-adjacent card collectors.
TCG dealers bring especially deep Pokémon inventory covering every era: vintage WOTC Base Set, Jungle, Fossil, Team Rocket, and Neo Genesis; modern Scarlet & Violet hits; rare Japanese exclusives, promos, trophy cards, and jumbo cards; and graded slabs from PSA, BGS, CGC, and SGC. Dragon Ball Z Fusion World tables are a standout at anime-focused conventions like Animate! — expect deep inventory on Awakened Pulse, Blazing Aura, Perfect Combination, and the latest expansions, plus singles priced for deck builders. One Piece TCG dealers stock the full run from OP-01 through the most recent releases, with rare promos and alt-art chase cards. Digimon, Union Arena, Shadowverse, Weiß Schwarz, and Cardfight Vanguard also make appearances. You'll also find manga, artbook, anime figures, Funko Pops, vinyl soundtracks, cels, cosplay props, and artist-alley originals.
Friday hours typically run 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and Sunday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM EDT, with exact times confirmed by GalaxyCon closer to the event. Single-day and three-day passes are available in General Admission and VIP tiers through the official GalaxyCon site. Kids 10 and under typically enter free with a paying adult. Scheduled programming includes celebrity guests, voice actor panels, cosplay contests, anime screenings, artist-alley meet-and-greets, and TCG tournaments and meetups.
The Greater Columbus Convention Center is located at 400 North High Street in the heart of downtown Columbus's Short North arts district, walking distance from dozens of restaurants and hotels and directly connected to the Hyatt Regency. Paid parking is available in the GCCC garages and nearby downtown lots. The venue is fully ADA accessible with elevators, escalators, and accessible restrooms on all floors. Short North, Arena District, and downtown restaurants are perfect for lunch or post-con dinners.
Anime fans, cosplayers, TCG players, and Pokémon collectors will all find this a fantastic stop. Pokémon collectors particularly benefit from the anime-focused vendor mix — Japanese imports, vintage Japanese singles, and rare promos tend to show up here in quantities you won't see at general sports card shows. Competitive Pokémon and One Piece players can scout singles for upcoming Regional and Store Championships. Families love the cosplay-friendly atmosphere and wide variety of kid-appropriate activities. First-timers should plan to spend at least a full Saturday — one day is not enough to cover the full hall.
For the best experience, buy weekend passes in advance for priority entry, arrive early Saturday for fresh inventory, bring cash plus Venmo and Zelle, and carry a want list of rare Pokémon promos, Japanese exclusives, and Dragon Ball Z Fusion World singles. Pack penny sleeves, top loaders, and a carrying box, and save time for panels between buying sessions. Follow @animatecolumbus on Instagram and the GalaxyCon website for guest announcements, schedule drops, and vendor previews.