Anime Boston is back at the Hynes Convention Center this weekend for its 22nd edition, turning the neighborhood into a three-day swirl of screenings, concerts and wall-to-wall cosplay. The convention runs Friday through Sunday and is set to pack the Hynes and adjoining hotel ballrooms with panels, performances and the fan-favorite Masquerade. Expect long lines and standing-room-only crowds for the biggest events, as per The Boston Globe.
According to The Boston Globe, this year’s standout picks include Anime Unscripted on Friday at 12:30 p.m., a high-energy Super Karaoke Party hosted by hololive talents on Saturday and the weekend’s signature Masquerade cosplay showcase. The Globe also highlights a Friday Q&A at 5:30 p.m. with hololive English stars Nerissa Ravencroft and Koseki Bijou, which is expected to be one of the weekend’s hottest tickets. Anyone hunting for live music or deep-dive panels will find plenty of options on the packed schedule.
Music and guests
Coda, the singer-songwriter behind several JoJo opening themes, headlines a Friday "JoJo Jam Session" at 12:30 p.m. and returns Saturday at 6:30 p.m. for a full concert with Spirit Bomb opening the show, according to Anime Boston. Fans eyeing a spot in the ballroom for either set should plan to line up early, since these concerts tend to fill fast.
Special screening and rakugo performance
A special screening of the first episode of Akane-banashi, timed with the show’s premiere, will be paired with a live rakugo performance from Katsura Sunshine on Saturday at 7 p.m. for a mix of new-school anime and traditional Japanese storytelling. As reported by The Boston Globe, the event includes both a performance and a talk after the episode. Entry will depend on room capacity, so anyone determined to see it should arrive early.
Cosplay spotlight: the Masquerade
The Masquerade remains Anime Boston’s marquee cosplay showdown, featuring performance and craftsmanship contests along with Anime Music Video awards on Saturday at 5 p.m. According to Anime Boston, the event draws some of the convention’s biggest crowds and typically fills the theater, so both contestants and spectators will want to budget extra time for lines.
Attendees are encouraged to download the convention guidebook and double-check room assignments before heading off to panels, since scheduling and locations can shift during the weekend. Vendors, artists and late-night programming will spread across the Hynes and neighboring hotel ballrooms, giving fans plenty to do between headline events. For full details, keep an eye on the official schedule and the on-site room boards.
