Naka-Kon Anime Convention features Oklahoma humanitarians

Another year of cosplay, community, and celebration has come to a close as Naka-Kon, the annual three-day anime convention held in Overland Park, wrapped up its 2026 event.

This year’s convention leaned into a sports-themed celebration, but as always, the real focus was the vibrant community that gathers each year to celebrate anime, gaming, cosplay, and fandom culture. Attendees filled the Overland Park Convention Center and adjoining Sheraton Hotel with panels, performances, vendors, and countless opportunities to connect with fellow fans.

For 2026, the Blackwell Journal-Tribune was once again granted press access, allowing coverage of several highlights throughout the weekend including the City Pop and Hi-NAKATANE dance parties, numerous fan panels, the Main Stage Cosplay Contest, and more.

The energy began building as early as Thursday as attendees started arriving, many already dressed in elaborate costumes representing characters from anime, video games, and comics. By Friday morning, the convention center was buzzing.

Friday’s events included the always colorful Cos-Parade, where costumed attendees marched through the halls of the convention center. Fans also packed rooms for interactive panels such as the Anime Quiz Bowl, the ever-popular Bunny Bar, and the comedic panel “Are They A/B/O?” hosted by Moon and Chris, which humorously explored familiar fan-fiction tropes.

Music took center stage Friday night when DJ Sameshima of BAN BAN BAN hosted the City Pop Party, energizing the crowd with an upbeat set that kept fans dancing well into the evening. The night concluded with a larger dance party featuring a lineup of performers including DJ Amamiya, DJ Chef Nguyen, Kuro Usagi, Vector Soldier B2B BioKun, and VJ Too Many Buttons.

Saturday kept the momentum going with a full schedule of guest panels and fan events. One of the convention’s headlining guests, PAiDA, hosted a Q&A session with attendees, while Spencer Pressly and Mary Renee Yang led a panel celebrating the 30th anniversary of the “Persona” franchise, one of the most beloved series in Japanese role-playing games.

Naka-Kon’s inclusive spirit was also on display during Luna Flare’s panel on LGBTQ+ pride within nerd culture, which explored how fandom spaces can foster community and acceptance.

The afternoon reached a peak with the Main Stage Cosplay Contest, where contestants showcased impressive costumes and performance skits. The event drew such a large crowd that overflow viewers gathered outside the hall to watch the contest on screens.

Fans of the popular anime “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime” also had their moment during a panel hosted by isekai enthusiast Mike Tinsley.

Saturday night brought the return of the 21+ Bunny Bar, which once again proved to be one of the convention’s most popular attractions, with a line stretching well outside the venue.

Gaming fandoms were also well represented throughout the weekend. The panel “Best Final Fantasy Character,” hosted by BadAsh Cosplay and her assistant Ninja, featured a tournament-style bracket determined by audience votes. Despite spirited debate, the competition ultimately ended with a decisive victory for Sephiroth, the iconic villain of Final Fantasy VII.

Oklahoma fans also made their mark during the “Resident Evil: Trivia with the S.T.A.R.S.” panel hosted by the Oklahoma HIVE of Umbrella, a statewide fan group dedicated to celebrating the Resident Evil franchise while supporting charitable causes.

The Jeopardy-style trivia contest was ultimately won by a Jill Valentine cosplayer with encyclopedic knowledge of the games, though this reporter managed to secure second place in Round 2 thanks to familiarity with the film series.

Meanwhile, the convention’s vendor hall remained one of the busiest spaces throughout the weekend. Vendors offered everything from collectible statues and Pokémon cards to anime merchandise, while the Artists Alley featured dozens of independent artists selling prints, crafts, and handmade creations.

This year’s guest lineup included voice actors Xanthe Huynh, Heather Gonzalez, Aaron Roberts, and Zeno Robinson, along with Japanese guests Maki Otsuki, Kazutaka Kodaka, Iris Garden x Haenuli, and Hiromi Sameshima. Cosplay and performance guests included Diana The Great, Kirilee Cosplay, Turtle Smithy, and the burlesque troupe Risque Revelry.

With another successful year in the books, organizers have already announced the dates for Naka-Kon 2027, which will return to Overland Park March 12–14.

For many fans, the countdown has already begun.

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