May 16-18, 2025

Otafest 2025

Telus Convention Centre, 120 9 Ave. S.E. and Marriott Downtown Hotel, 110 9 Ave. S.E.

Festival Hours:
Friday, May 16: 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 a.m.
Saturday, May 17 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 a.m.
Sunday, May 18: 10:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.

Tickets:
3-Day General (13+ yrs.): $70.00
3-Day Youth (6-12 yrs.): $15.00
3-Day Child (0-5 yrs.): FREE
Angel Pass: $190.00 all-inclusive pass full of additional benefits
Friday General: $55.00
Saturday General: $55.00
Sunday General: $55.00
All tickets include admission to the entire festival, including Exhibitor Hall, concerts, panels, events, guest spotlights, and more.

Calgary’s Japanese pop culture festival. Shop. Cosplay. Games. Anime. Join a community and meet your favorite stars! Check out over 100 hours of programming facilitated by fans, members of the community, special guests, and staff, the huge Exhibitor Hall and Artist Alley for amazing art and merchandise, autograph signings, guest meet & greets, concerts, photo booth, video game tournaments, Pokémon league, Maid & Butler Café, and so much more.

Otafest was born in 1999 when the University of Calgary's Dedicated Otaku Anime Club decided to have a 1 day film festival showing Japanese Animation (anime) to the public. Over the next decades, Otafest grew into a larger festival run by a non-profit organization (The Otafest Film and Cultural Festival Planning Committee) and while it still showcases anime, it’s just a part of the festival experience.

Otafest is an annual conference for anime enthusiasts. It is a creative outlet for fans, where you can show your passion and appreciation of the hobby. It is a space for you to show off the costumes you have made, the music videos you have created, and the art you have painted and drawn. Otafest is a forum for discussion and education. It hosts educational panels introducing you to the basics of the Japanese language and tips on how to use computer programs to enhance music videos and CG art. In the past, it has hosted guests who explained the process of donning a kimono, demonstrated the intricacies of tea ceremonies, and Iaido (the art of drawing a sword from a scabbard). It has also invited guests involved in the voice acting and animation industries to speak of their experiences.

Otafest is a marketplace. It gathers dozens of vendors together from all over Western Canada to facilitate the best bargain hunting in town. And, of course, it hasn’t forgotten our roots: Otafest is an anime festival. Each year, it hosts charity events and fundraisers during the festival to be donated to that year’s selected charity. Dedicated rooms such as the Maid Cafe donate their proceeds to the charity as well.

Main Events & Guest Events

The main live programming events at Otafest are those big key events you really don't want to miss.

Attractions:

Otafest AMPLIFIED

Friday Evening

Join musical guests for an unforgettable night of dancing and making new friends! The concert and dance party features a lineup of musical guests from various genres that’s sure to get you moving. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to meet like-minded folks who share your passion for music and culture. Make some friends and dance the night away.

Maid & Butler Café

Saturday – Sunday

Reserve your seat at the Maid and Butler Café and let charming staff take care of you. Experience the unique and captivating entertainment, indulge in delicious treats, participate in exciting games, and enjoy an enchanting dance performance – all in one place.

The café requires a separately purchased ticket.

Idol Festival

Featuring a variety of idol cover groups, this musical event promises to be a highlight of the festival. Watch talented performers dance their hearts out, and join the crowd and make Ota-History! With a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere, you’re sure to have a blast. The Idol Festival Contest is a competitive event that displays various Idol and J-pop dance cover groups in Otafest’s Main Events room. The Idol Festival Showcase is a non-competitive event on the Outdoor Stage that displays various Idol, J-pop and K-pop cover groups.

The Ota Factor

Preliminaries: Friday Finals: Sunday

Witness incredible vocal performances by talented singers competing for glory and recognition! The Ota Factor is the perfect opportunity to enjoy amazing live music while supporting local performers who are ready to give their best performance.

Photo Ops

The venue and the areas surrounding it make for some great backdrops for your cosplay photos! From the rooftop patio to balloon installations, there are plenty of unique photo opportunities for you to capture and share with your friends and fellow fans.

The various types of architecture around the venue offer a diverse range of locations for you to take unforgettable photos. These locations and backdrops are a fantastic way to showcase your cosplay and capture the memories of your festival experience.

Exhibitor Hall

Otafest’s Exhibitor Hall brings together painters, illustrators, cosplay designers, stores, industry professionals, and traveling vendors into one convenient location for you to browse and shop. Some artists even take commission requests for custom pieces, allowing you to bring home something truly unique.

Meet your favorite guests at autograph sessions, visit Otafest’s official merchandise booth for exclusive festival goodies, and check out the sponsors who help make this event possible.

Sketch Drive

Have you ever wanted to know how you would look as a cat? a ninja? a ninja cat? Choose your favorite style from the team of talented artists and get your dream portrait sketched for a good cause. Sketch Drive, one of Otafest’s longest-running traditions (and best kept secrets) is where these ideas come to life!

Half the cost of the sketch will go directly to the artist, and the rest goes to Otafest’s chosen charity, so you’re supporting a local artist and giving back to the community with a single purchase!

Community Corner

Friday–Sunday

Otafest’s Community Corner is a space that provides a platform for conventions, non-profits, and groups to showcase and share their passion projects and works with the wider community. As a collaborative and inclusive space, this is where you can discover something new, exciting, and local. By supporting and promoting the work of our community, we can build a stronger, more connected, and vibrant society.

Cosplay, Contests, & Repair Station

Friday–Sunday

With a variety of contests to choose from, the cosplay events at Otafest are designed to showcase your hard work, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro.

Unexpected costume mishap? The Cosplay Repair Station is fully equipped to handle any last-minute fixes, so you can focus on enjoying the festival and feeling confident in your cosplay creations.

How It's Made: Cosplay Edition

Sunday

How It’s Made brings the community together by sharing knowledge and experiences in cosplay and related crafts. The event is set up just like a science fair: presenters display cosplay pieces or equipment that they have made or used, educating visitors about the processes involved. It’s all about building up the cosplay community in Calgary!

Arcade

Friday–Sunday

The Otafest Arcade hosts different gaming events and spaces throughout the festival. Play in competitive gaming tournaments and drop-in events, the Open Arcade for casual gaming, and the Mobile Corner where you can play the latest mobile and digital card games!

Pokémon League

Friday–Sunday

The Otafest Pokémon League provides a safe space for fans to play against other fans, play for real-life badges, and have a chance at being crowned a Champion. You’ll also enjoy Pokémon-related panels, mini-games, various events, and a welcoming community!

Gunpla Hangar

Friday–Sunday

Are you a fan of giant robots? Do you like to build model kits? Feel free to come in and build an experience kit or a kit you picked up on the show floor, take in the gunpla and Gundam related panels, or just hang out and chat with fellow Gunpla builders and Gundam fans.

If you want to show off your stuff, enter the Gunpla Hangar Showcase contest! With various categories and prizes, you can compete at the level of your choice.

Manga Library

Friday–Sunday

Need a break from all the hustle & bustle of the festival? Maybe you just want to find a place to curl up with a good book? Well you’re in luck. The Otafest Manga library is a comfy place for you to relax in a quiet space and pick up a book from the collection of manga and light novels.

The collection is comprised of books generously donated by publisher sponsors, Otafest staff & volunteers, and members of the wonderful community.

Community Panels

Friday–Sunday

The community hosted panels are great socialization events that pair you with knowledgeable hosts, place you as a contestant in game shows, or have you laughing a fit while interacting with your fellow attendees. There is a such variety of content that you’ll always have something to do!

Anime Showings

Friday–Sunday

An anime festival obviously needs anime! There is a wide range of anime series, screened throughout the weekend. The showings provide a great opportunity for fans to connect with each other over their shared love of anime, and to discover new series that they may have missed.

AMV Contest & Showings

Friday–Sunday

Whether you enjoy music videos playing all day, or take a break from the rush of the festival, all are welcome to enjoy the unique entertainment offered in the AMV room.

Fancy yourself an AMV Connoisseur? Grab a ballot and take your seat in the AMV contest! Votes on your favorite AMV from a full spectrum of entertaining edits.

Autographs & Guest Panels

Friday–Sunday

Otafest strives to bring your favorite voice actors, cosplayers, industry professionals, musical artists, live performers, virtual performers, and design experts to entertain, educate, and just hang out!

Meet them, greet them, exchange a story, and grab a precious autograph or picture to take home as a memorabilia that will remain with you for a long time!

Charity Auction

Sunday

Find some truly unique lots donated by the community, Otafest’s sponsors, and a variety of others. They’ll even have some auction-exclusive official Otafest paraphernalia. Bid away and support charity in one fell swoop!

Otafest is proud to support a local charity each year. All auction proceeds are donated directly to the charity partner, so you can bid with confidence knowing that you’re making a positive impact in the community.

Cosplay Meetups

A cosplay meetup is a scheduled, unofficial group photoshoot that is open to cosplayers and fans of specific fandoms or series. They provide the space and time, you host the meetup.

CONbini

Friday–Sunday

Japanese CONvenience store (????, “konbini”) meets CONvention! The doors are open and the fresh scent of melonpan is in the air! It’s your one-stop shop for specialty Japanese snacks, baked goods and drinks. We food that is a hug for your soul. Limited quantities only so visit the Otafest CONbini early to recharge!

… and a whole lot more!

Artist Alley

Otafest’s Artist Alley brings together a multifaceted array of original creative talent. Artists sell a wide variety of work including drawings, charms, handmade plushies, and more. Some will also take commission requests for custom pieces.

Vendor Hall

The Otafest Vendor Hall is full of booths where you can find official figures, manga, plushies, posters, and much more.

Gaming Events

Board, card and video games.

Cosplay Events

Otafest hosts multiple cosplay contests including performance pieces, craftsmanship contests, and more. Show off your hard work and win cash prizes.

Special Guests/Speakers

Yama no Oto, Performance Guest

Yosoca, Performance Guest

girl_dm_, VTuber Guest

Rie Tanaka, Voice Actor Guest,

JP AdvanceRatio, Musical Guest

CottontailVA, VTuber Guest

Aurora Matrix, Drag Guest

Autumn Cosplay, Cosplay Guest

Yanaginagi, Musical Guest,

JP Allegra Clark, Voice Actor Guest

Alejandro Saab, Voice Actor Guest

Kaiji Tang, Voice Actor Guest

Joe Zieja, Voice Actor Guest

and more.

Charitable Initiatives

Otafest welcomes Calgary Food Bank as the esteemed 2025 charity partner.

The Calgary Food Bank is the first line of emergency food support for people facing crisis, and their mission is to make food accessible to everyone in our city. Their largest and most well-known program is their Emergency Food Hamper program. This provides 7-10 days’ worth of nutritious food to individuals and families in need.

They served 173,354 Emergency Food Hampers last year, supporting their deeply held belief that no one should go without food. The Calgary Food Bank is by community, for community, and their efforts to fight hunger are only made possible by people like you!

You can help support the Calgary Food Bank by

- Purchasing an Angel Pass,

- Bidding on items at Otafest Charity Auction,

- Grabbing a photo print at Maid & Butler Café,

- Participating in Gunpla Hangar charity events,

- Commissioning a sketch at Otafest’s Sketch Drive,

- Challenging the Charity Gym at Pokémon League,

- Donating directly via their ticketing partner online or physical donation boxes around the festival.

With your help, they hope to raise $15,000 for those in need. Should they reach our goal, you’ll get to see our staff take part in some “fun” games during Otafest’s closing ceremonies.