Akumakon 2025
A celebration of anime and manga
Japanese cultural convention Akumakon brings the worlds of anime and manga to life for its annual celebration at NUI Galway.
Akumakon is one of the longest running Anime and Manga conventions in Ireland. Held over a weekend in February each year, it is a non-profit event organised by students of NUI Galway with many events helping raise money for charity. Over a thousand people attended Akumakon last year, making the convention one of the largest of its kind in the country.
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Akumakon 2025 is expected to be bigger and better than ever with a great weekend of panel discussions, trade halls, special events, screenings, and special guests for all attendees. A great lineup of voice actors and professional cosplayers from around the globe is once again expected to attend this popular event.
Supporting local charities
One of Akumakon’s greatest events is their charity auction, where the con raises funds for organizations in both Japan and Ireland. The last event in 2023 raised more than €15,000 to support the NPO Animators Supporters and Teach Solais. The 2024 event is in aid of the Galway Autism Partnership.
Highlights of previous Akumakon events
- Panels and workshops provided by various special guests and members of the anime community
- Signings, meet and greets, and photo opportunities with special guests
- Screenings of popular anime series and movies
- Japanese cafe run by the Wa Cafe serving authentic Japanese food
- A trade hall with traders from Ireland and Europe, selling merchandise from anime, manga, video games, comic books & more
- Artists’ Alley, full of artists from around Ireland with their original drawings, prints & more
- Art competitions
- Charity auction
- Video game tournaments
- Card game tournaments
- Japanese events, such as yukata fittings and origami workshops