WasabiCon 2026 returns to the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center in downtown Jacksonville on October 9–11 for three days of anime, manga, gaming, cosplay, and pop culture celebration. As Northeast Florida's largest fan convention, WasabiCon draws thousands of attendees from across the Southeast and has grown into a signature event on Jacksonville's cultural calendar, blending niche fandom enthusiasm with a sprawling vendor hall that makes it a major destination for trading card collectors.
The vendor hall is a paradise for TCG enthusiasts and card collectors. Dozens of dealers fill tables with Pokémon TCG product — from vintage Wizards of the Coast Base Set and Team Rocket holos through modern Scarlet & Violet Illustration Rares and Special Art Rares, plus Japanese exclusive sets and sealed booster boxes. Magic: The Gathering vendors stock Commander staples, Reserved List cards, and current Standard playables. Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece TCG, Lorcana, Dragon Ball Z Fusion World, Digimon, Flesh and Blood, and Star Wars Unlimited are well represented. Beyond TCG, sports card dealers bring graded slabs, vintage Topps and Bowman, and modern Prizm and Chrome hits. The hall also features anime figures, Funko Pops, manga, cosplay accessories, original art prints, handmade jewelry, and artist alley creators selling custom playmats, stickers, and prints.
Day-by-day hours: Friday, October 9 — doors open at 3:00 PM and run to 11:00 PM, with evening panels and late-night gaming. Saturday, October 10 — 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, the main event day with the cosplay contest, celebrity Q&As, and peak vendor hall traffic. Sunday, October 11 — 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, traditionally the best day for vendor deals as the convention winds down.
Tickets are available at jax.wasabicon.com with single-day, full-weekend, and VIP options. VIP badges include early entry, exclusive panels, and swag bags. Kids under a certain age attend free with a paying adult — check the site for current child-admission policies. On-site programming includes anime screenings, tabletop and video game tournaments, cosplay workshops, panels on TCG collecting and competitive play, and meet-and-greets with voice actors and content creators.
The Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center is located at 1000 Water Street in downtown Jacksonville, housed in the beautifully restored historic Jacksonville Terminal building. The venue offers on-site parking garages, easy access from I-95 and I-10, and is within walking distance of hotels, restaurants, and the downtown Riverwalk. The convention center is fully climate-controlled and ADA accessible, with food vendors inside and hotel dining nearby.
WasabiCon is ideal for families, cosplayers, anime fans, and serious collectors alike. Card collectors can spend hours digging through TCG vendor tables while their friends explore the cosplay contest or gaming lounge. First-time convention-goers will find the atmosphere welcoming, the vendor hall easy to navigate, and the staff helpful. Cosplayers of every skill level are celebrated with photo ops, group shoots, and a headline costume contest with prizes.
To make the most of your weekend, buy tickets in advance — Saturday often sells to capacity. Arrive Friday afternoon for first pick of vendor inventory. Bring cash, a want list, top loaders and sleeves for card purchases, comfortable shoes for three days on a convention floor, and a portable charger. Follow @wasabicon on Instagram and X for guest announcements, schedule drops, and real-time updates during the event.