The biggest annual anime convention in the state of Florida is bringing three days of immersive experiences to Tampa. MetroCon returns to the city this weekend, taking place Firday-Sunday, July 31 – August 2, at the Tampa Convention Center.
Running strong since 2003, MetroCon is a huge draw to downtown, with last year’s festival seeing more than 15,000 in attendance. Tickets are available at the door or in advance online, with single-day tickets starting at $50 and weekend passes running $100.
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If you’ve been before, you know what to expect. The three-day weekend is packed full of cosplay, interactive displays, competitions, celebrities, panels, video games, music, dance, and tons more. 2026 marks the launch of a new theme for MetroCon: Stay Feral.
“Come, fellow possums and rejoice in the trash bin with us! No, it won’t just be about hissing and biting people – there’s a connection with our humanity we’re looking to find this year by removing the glossy tech, the algorithms, and the maddening AI infusion of our everyday lives,” organizers said. “Just three days – with human connection and a mind towards play – to remind us of the gremlins we were all destined to be.”
Highlights for the weekend include:
- Friday night masquerade party
- Anime human chess match
- 10,000 sq-ft arcade
- A fire show
- Pro wrestling-style “Kaiju Big Battel”
- Cosplay Central
- Live-action “Anime Action Spectacular” with real performers and stunts
- Voice actor panels
- A massive market with international vendors
