Nekocon
StatusActive
GenreAnime, Asian culture[1][2]
VenueHampton Roads Convention Center
LocationHampton, Virginia
CountryUnited States
First1998
Attendance6,900 in 2014[3]
Websitewww.nekocon.com

Nekocon is an annual three-day anime convention held traditionally on the first weekend in November at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, Virginia. It is Virginia's oldest anime convention.[4] The convention's name comes from the Japanese word neko, meaning "cat".[5]

Programming

The convention typically offers art shows, artist's alley, autograph sessions, card game tournaments, charity auction, concerts, costume competition, dances, dealer's room, fashion show, karaoke contests, kimono/tea ceremony workshop, maid cafe, music video contest, panels, Q&A sessions, role playing, tabletop games, vendors, video game tournaments, video rooms, and workshops.[5][6][7][8][9] Nekocon's 2015 charity events benefited Be The Match.[9] More than $7,000 was raised in 2023 for the Carolina Manga Library and Heritage Humane Society.[10] Nekocon's 2025 charities included the Carolina Manga Library and Hampton Roads Cancer Care Foundation, for which the convention raised $7,249.[11]

History

An attendance cap of 1,600 passes was instituted in 2003 due to fire code regulations.[12] The convention held its first J-rock concert in 2009, hosting Suicide Ali.[13] Virginia Air and Space Center provided content during the 2012 convention.[1] Nekocon in 2017 had an Anime style cooking challenge with students from the Culinary Institute of Virginia.[14] Nekocon 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15][16]

Event history

DatesLocationAtten.Guests

References

  1. ^ McDonald, Sam (November 2, 2012). "NekoCon anime festival launches fans into outer space". Daily Press. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  2. ^ Joseph, Natalie (November 4, 2016). "NekoCon 2016 returns to Hampton Convention Center". Daily Press. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  3. ^ "NekoCon 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
  4. ^ McDonald, Sam (2011-10-03). "NekoCon, a Japanese animation festival, brings colorful characters to Hampton". Daily Press. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
  5. ^ "After Action Report". The Virginian-Pilot. 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
  6. ^ Tennant, Diane (2011-10-03). "NekoCon, a gathering of anime aficionados". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
  7. ^ Forster, Dave (2006-10-05). "Fans of Japanese animation, or anime, convene in Hampton". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
  8. ^ "Audience: Nekocon 16". WAVY. 2013-10-31. Retrieved 2013-11-06.[dead link]
  9. ^ Reckling, Chris (October 30, 2015). "Audience: NekoCon 18". WAVY. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  10. ^ Appel, Jillian (8 November 2023). "NekoCon 25: Little Witch Catademia". Williamsburg Yorktown Daily. Local Daily Media. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  11. ^ Appel, Jillian (4 November 2025). "In Photos: NekoCon 27 Goes Cy-Purr-Punk". Williamsburg Yorktown Daily. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  12. ^ "Nekocon Announces Attendance Cap". AnimeCons.com. 2003-11-02. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  13. ^ McDonald, Sam (2009-10-06). "This Year's Nekocon A Treat For Eyes And Ears". Daily Press. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
  14. ^ Smith, Hillary (November 2, 2017). "Thousands expected to attend 20th annual Japanese anime convention NekoCon". Daily Press. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  15. ^ "Sad News – Nekocon Has Been Postponed to 2021". NekoCon. 17 July 2020. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  16. ^ "NekoCon 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-09-14.