HAMPTON — Virginia’s longest-running Anime convention, NekoCon, is returning to the Hampton Roads Convention Center from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.
NekoCon has been an annual event since 1998, with the exception of the COVID-19 pandemic. NekoCon 2025 will be the 27th event in Hampton. Last year’s attendance was in the ballpark of 7,000, according to organizers, who added several programs from last year will be returning.
The event derives its name from the Japanese word for cat, and this year’s cat pun theme is “Cy-Purr-Punk.” Historically, the con explained its theme had always been staff-suggested and voted, however, last year, it began gathering information from attendees, including what types of events they would like to see in the future.
From there, a top 10 list of the most popular was compiled, and a social media vote was conducted to narrow it down to the top three. The staff then voted on the theme from the top three.
Highlights for this year’s event include a sponsorship from Equilibrium USG, guest performer Kazuha, a lineup of voice actor guests, a cosplay masquerade, and a variety of panels and photo meet-up opportunities for attendees.
“A lot of people like the family-friendly orientation of this particular con versus some of the megacons where you’re just lost in a sea of people,” said Pheno Skyrty, the marketing director for NekoCon. “I have people that come out to our convention, that it’s the only time in the year that they get to see their friends, and watching them reconnect every year has just been so much fun.”
NekoCon also works with the Carolina Manga Library every year — a nonprofit that promotes the use of graphic novels, comics, and Japanese manga as tools for improving literacy. The Library travels to conventions, book festivals, schools, and other libraries to set up free reading rooms of graphic novels.
Additionally, as its rotating charity, the convention is sponsoring the Hampton Roads Cancer Care Foundation, a foundation that is committed to offering compassionate support, essential services, financial assistance, and critical resources to local cancer patients and their families.
Full weekend and daily tickets are on sale now. For more information about guests, events, and prices, visit the official NekoCon website.
