- Animena Abu Dhabi runs 11-15 Feb 2026 at Manarat Al Saadiyat
- The cosplay competition boasts a AED 400,000 prize pool
- Expect Neo-Tokyo aesthetics, full-scale scene recreations, an interactive gaming zone, live J-Pop/Anisong, exclusive merch and street food.
Animenia Abu Dhabi is locking in five days of anime, gaming and live shows next winter. The second edition lands at Manarat Al Saadiyat from 11 to 15 February 2026, and brings back its headline attraction: a cosplay showdown with a AED 400,000 prize pool—the biggest we’ve seen announced for the UAE. Expect Neo-Tokyo vibes, interactive zones and plenty of merch; cosplay sign-ups stay open until 15 January 2026.
Dates, venue and what’s new
Animenia’s 2026 edition heads to Manarat Al Saadiyat for five days packed with anime culture. The organisers say this year scales up across live acts, set pieces and fan activations.
- When: 11–15 February 2026 (Wednesday–Sunday)
- Where: Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi
- Who’s behind it: Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) with BRAG
The location sits in Abu Dhabi’s cultural hub on Saadiyat Island, so pairing the festival with a museum visit is easy. If you’re planning your pop-culture calendar, also keep an eye on other UAE fandom events we’ve covered like FNDM Dubai 2025 and immersive tie-ins such as the Stranger Things Experience in Abu Dhabi.
Cosplay competition: AED 400k on the line
The centrepiece returns with a huge AED 400,000 prize pool, with solo and group contests plus special awards. Global cosplayers are invited, and entries close on 15 January 2026.
- Prize pool: AED 400,000
- Categories: Solo and group; special awards include Best in Craftsmanship, Best in Performance and Animenia’s Spark award
- Finale day: 15 February 2026
- How to enter: via animeniaabudhabi.com before the deadline
If you’re plotting builds, brush up on performance tips and stay inspired—our anime coverage like One Piece S2’s first look and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners news is a good start for ideas and references.
What to expect inside
The theme leans into Neo-Tokyo—a blend of glowing signs, quirky shops and full-scale scene recreations that drop you into familiar worlds from anime and games.
- Neo-Tokyo set-pieces and photo spots
- Interactive gaming zone for players and onlookers
- Live shows: J-Pop, Anisong and voice talent appearances
- Retail therapy: exclusive drops, collectibles and artist merch
- Street food: cross-cultural bites to keep you going
If you’re into big-scale fandom and esports crossovers in the region, you might also like our guides to Games of the Future 2025 in Abu Dhabi and wider pop-culture weekends around the UAE.
Tickets, timings and updates
The press note focuses on dates and programming; ticketing and timings weren’t included at the time of writing. For official updates, the organisers point fans to the website and social handles.
- Website: animeniaabudhabi.com
- Instagram/TikTok/Facebook/YouTube: @animeniaabudhabi
- Organiser: DCT Abu Dhabi, with production by BRAG
We’ll post timings and ticket info once shared. In the meantime, if you’re building a full weekend, try our Abu Dhabi-centric culture and events coverage like Taste of Abu Dhabi or nightlife features.
When is Animenia Abu Dhabi 2026?
It runs 11–15 February 2026.
Where is it happening?
Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi.
How big is the cosplay prize pool?
AED 400,000 across solo, group and special awards.
