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{{short description|Anime convention in Washington, D.C.}}
{{For|the Metal Gear Solid character|Otacon}}
{{Infobox Convention
| name               = Otakon
| logo               = Otakon 2020 logo.png
| logo_caption       = Otakon 2020 logo
| image              = Otakon IMG 7202 (28373078394).jpg
| caption            = Cosplayers at Otakon 2016
| status             = Active
| genre              = [[Anime]], East Asian popular culture
| venue              = [[Walter E. Washington Convention Center]]
| location           = [[Washington, D.C.]]
| country            = United States
| first              = {{Start date and age|1994|7|29}}
| last               = 
| next               = 
| organizer          = Otakorp, Inc.<ref name="AC-Otakorp"/>
| filing             = 501(c)(3)
| attendance         = 42,101 in 2023<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| website            = [https://dc.otakon.com/ Otakon.com]
}}

'''Otakon''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|oʊ|t|ə|k|ɒ|n}} {{respell|OH|tə-kon}}) is an annual three-day [[anime convention]] held during July/August. From 1994 to 2016, it took place at the [[Baltimore Convention Center]] in [[Baltimore|Baltimore, Maryland]]'s [[Inner Harbor]] district; in 2017, it moved to the [[Walter E. Washington Convention Center]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] The convention focuses on [[East Asian]] popular culture (primarily [[anime]], [[manga]], music, and [[Film|cinema]]) and its [[fandom]]. The name is a [[portmanteau]] derived from ''convention'' and the [[Japanese language|Japanese]] word ''[[otaku]]''.

==Otakorp==
Otakon is run by the [[Pennsylvania]]-based [[non-profit organization]] Otakorp, Inc.<ref name="OtakorpPAInfo"/> whose primary purpose "is to promote the appreciation of Asian culture, primarily through its media and entertainment".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = Otakorp|url = https://www.otakorp.org/|website = www.otakorp.org|access-date = 2015-08-12}}</ref><ref name="AC-Otakorp"/>

==Programming==
Typical Otakon programming includes<ref name="otakon.com"/> anime and [[live action]] [[East Asian]] films shown on big screens in multiple video rooms. Fan-produced content including fan-parodies and [[anime music video]]s (AMVs) are also shown. For several years, Otakon had a dedicated 35&nbsp;mm film theater, but replaced it in 2008 with an HD theater<ref name="ReferenceB"/> to take advantage of the wider array of offerings in that format. Panels and workshops are held on subjects such as [[voice acting]], how to draw manga,<ref name="AnimeAdvanced"/> and [[Japanese culture]]. [[Anime industry|Industry professionals]] announce new acquisitions, and expert guests discuss or show tricks of their trade and field questions from the audience. Many panels and workshops are conducted by fans rather than pros (ex. ''[[Create a Comic Project]]'').<ref name="AnimeAdvanced"/> The convention also includes [[cosplay]] and a skit-based [[Masquerade ceremony|Masquerade]] show, which in the years before the convention moved to Washington D.C. had taken place inside the [[Royal Farms Arena]].<ref name="otakon.com"/>

==History==
Otakon 2020 was cancelled due to its venue, the [[Walter E. Washington Convention Center]], being converted to a field hospital to treat [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] patients during the ongoing [[COVID-19 pandemic|pandemic]].<ref name="ann04272020">{{cite news |last1=Sherman |first1=Jennifer |title=Otakon 2020 Cancelled Due to COVID-19 |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-27/otakon-2020-cancelled-due-to-covid-19/.159043 |access-date=26 May 2020 |work=Anime News Network |date=April 27, 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="AC-2020"/>

===Event history===

{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Dates 
! Location
! Attendance (unique memberships) 
! Guests
! Notes
|-
| July 29–31, 1994
| Days Inn Penn State, [[State College, Pennsylvania]]
| 350<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| Robert DeJesus, Dave Fleming, Jei Fubler Harvey, Bill Mayo, Neil Nadelman, Steve Pearl, Lorraine Savage, Sue Shambaugh, and Jeff Thompson.<ref name="AC-1994"/>
|
|-
| September 1–4, 1995
| Penn State Scanticon, State College, Pennsylvania
| 450<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| Steve Bennett, Robert DeJesus, [[Matt Greenfield]], [[Teruo Kakuta]], Trish Ledoux, Neil Nadelman, [[Toshio Okada]], Steve Pearl, C. Scott Rider, Tomoko Saito, Lorraine Savage, Sue Shambaugh, [[Toren Smith]], John Staton, Jeff Thompson, [[Adam Warren (comics)|Adam Warren]], and [[Robert Woodhead]].<ref name="AC-1995"/>
| Otakon's first and only [[#1995 Four-day convention|four day convention]]
|-
| August 9–11, 1996
| Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, [[Hunt Valley, Maryland]]
| 1,000<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/> 
| Steve Bennett, Robert DeJesus, [[Masaomi Kanzaki]], Matt Lunsford, Neil Nadelman, Steve Pearl, Sue Shambaugh, Jeff Thompson, and Adam Warren.<ref name="AC-1996"/>
|
|-
| August 8–10, 1997
| Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, Maryland
| 1,750<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/> 
| [[Ippongi Bang]], Kuni Kimura, Matt Lunsford, and [[Jan Scott-Frazier]].<ref name="AC-1997"/>
|
|-
| August 7–9, 1998
| Hyatt Regency-Crystal City, [[Arlington County, Virginia|Arlington, Virginia]]
| 2,500<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/> 
| [[Hiroshi Aro]], [[Juliet Cesario]], Robert DeJesus, [[Tiffany Grant]], Scott Houle, [[Shoji Kawamori]], Kuni Kimura, Trish Ledoux, Stuart Levy, Matt Lunsford, Tristan MacAvery, Neil Nadelman, [[Lisa Ortiz]], Steve Pearl, Jan Scott-Frazier, Scott Simpson, John Staton, Jeff Thompson, and [[Amanda Winn-Lee]].<ref name="AC-1998"/>
|
|-
| July 2–4, 1999
| [[Baltimore Convention Center]], [[Baltimore|Baltimore, Maryland]]
| 4,500<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| Steve Bennett, Chris Beveridge, Michael Brady, Robert DeJesus, Robert Fenelon, [[Crispin Freeman]], Tiffany Grant, Amy Howard-Wilson, [[Mari Iijima]], [[Mitsuhisa Ishikawa]], [[Yoko Kanno]], Kuni Kimura, [[Hiroyuki Kitakubo]], Shin Kurokawa, [[Rachael Lillis]], Neil Nadelman, [[Kazuto Nakazawa]], Lisa Ortiz, Steve Pearl, [[Fred Perry (comics)|Fred Perry]], [[Frederik L. Schodt]], Jan Scott-Frazier, John Staton, Jeff Thompson, Adam Warren, and [[Shinichiro Watanabe]].<ref name="AC-1999"/>
|
|-
| August 4–6, 2000
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 7,500<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| [[Yoshitoshi ABe]], [[Bôa]], Steve Bennett, Chris Beveridge, [[Mandy Bonhomme]], Robert Fenelon, Michael Granberry, [[Shinya Hasegawa]], Scott Houle, Amy Howard-Wilson, [[Kunihiko Ikuhara]], Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, Ian Kim, Neil Nadelman, Steve Pearl, [[Gilles Poitras]], [[Hiroaki Sakurai]], Jan Scott-Frazier, John Staton, Jeff Thompson, [[Yasuyuki Ueda]], Adam Warren, Pamela Weidner, and [[Simon Yam]].<ref name="AC-2000"/>
|
|-
| August 10–12, 2001
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 10,275<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/> 
| Steve Bennett, [[Rodney Caston|Rodney "Largo" Caston]], [[Jo Chen]], [[Colleen Doran]], [[Fred Gallagher (cartoonist)|Fred Gallagher]], Tiffany Grant, Scott Houle, [[Toshihiro Kawamoto]], Ian Kim, Shin Kurokawa, [[Masao Maruyama (film producer)|Masao Maruyama]], [[Hikaru Midorikawa]], Fred Perry, Gilles Poitras, Jan Scott-Frazier, [[Kazuya Tsurumaki]], Adam Warren, and Pamela Weidner.<ref name="AC-2001"/>
|
|-
| July 26–28, 2002
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 12,880<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| Steve Bennett, Chris Beveridge, Rodney "Largo" Caston, Fred Gallagher, [[Yoko Ishida]], [[Wendee Lee]], Masao Maruyama, [[Yutaka Minowa]], [[Hiroyuki Morioka|Kiroyuki Morioka]], Neil Nadelman, [[Yasuhiro Nightow]], Fred Perry, Gilles Poitras, [[Tatsuo Satō (director)|Tatsuo Sato]], Jan Scott-Frazier, and Lianne Sentar.<ref name="AC-2002"/>
|
|-
| August 8–10, 2003
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 17,338<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| Steve Bennett, Mandy Bonhomme, [[Johnny Yong Bosch]], [[Justin Cook]], Julie Davis, Robert DeJesus, [[Brian Drummond]], Fred Gallagher, Scott Houle, Yoshiaki Iwasaki, Toshihiro Kawamoto, [[Itsuro Kawasaki]], [[Tsukasa Kotobuki]], Pontus Madsen, Masao Maruyama, [[Rica Matsumoto]], [[Susan J. Napier|Dr. Susan Napier]], Satoshi Nishimura, [[Kristine Sa]], Frederik L. Schodt, Jan Scott-Frazier, [[T.M.Revolution]], and Pamela Weidner.<ref name="AC-2003"/>
| Otakon's 10th anniversary
|-
| July 30 – August 1, 2004
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 20,899<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| [[Angela (band)|Angela]], Matt Boyd, [[Ching Siu-tung|Siu-Tung "Tony" Ching]], [[Luci Christian]], [[Koge Donbo*]], [[Richard Epcar]], Christian Fundin, Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, [[Chuck Huber]], [[L'Arc-en-Ciel]], Pontus Madsen, Ian McConville, Yutaka Minowa, [[Ichiro Okouchi]], [[Ananth Panagariya]], [[Chris Patton]], [[Monica Rial]], [[Christopher Sabat]], Tatsuo Sato, Yuzo Sato, Lianne Sentar, and [[Matt Thorn]].<ref name="AC-2004"/>
|-
| August 19–21, 2005
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 22,000<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| [[Greg Ayres]], Katie Bair, Matt Boyd, Brian Carroll, Luci Christian, Justin Cook, [[Richard Ian Cox]], Huw "Lem" Davies, [[Ben Dunn]], Christian Fundin, Fred Gallagher, [[Michael Gluck]], Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, [[the Indigo]], Yoshinori Kanemori, Kumiko Kato, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Dave Lister, Pontus Madsen, Masao Maruyama, Ian McConville, [[Mike McFarland]], [[Mary Elizabeth McGlynn]], [[Scott McNeil]], [[Vic Mignogna]], [[Mitsukazu Mihara]], [[Seiji Mizushima]], Ananth Panagariya, Fred Perry, [[Puffy AmiYumi]], [[Scott Ramsoomair]], Xero Reynolds, Monica Rial, [[Michelle Ruff]], Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, and Toshifumi Yoshida.<ref name="AC-2005"/><ref name="Power Puffy Girls"/>
| Attendance was capped at 22,000; attendance cap was reached on Saturday, August 20.<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
|-
| August 4–6, 2006
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 22,302<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| [[Christine Auten]], [[Troy Baker]], [[Colleen Clinkenbeard]], Christian Fundin, [[Lisa Furukawa]], Fred Gallagher, [[Caitlin Glass]], [[Yoshiki Hayashi]], [[Kate Higgins]], [[Kouta Hirano]], Hirotsugu Kawasaki, [[Ayako Kawasumi]], [[Nana Kitade]], [[Yuri Lowenthal]], Pontus Madsen, Masao Maruyama, Mike McFarland, [[Mucc]], Kazuto Nakazawa, Monica Rial, Antimere Robinson, [[Patrick Seitz]], [[Makoto Tateno]], and [[Nobuteru Yuuki]].<ref name="AC-2006"/>
| Attendance was capped at 25,000; attendance cap was not reached.<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
|-
| July 20–22, 2007
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 22,852<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| [[AAA (band)|AAA (Attack All Around)]], [[Morio Asaka]], [[Steve Blum]], Colleen Clinkenbeard, [[Aaron Dismuke]], [[Eminence Symphony Orchestra|Eminence]], Christian Fundin, Fred Gallagher, Caitlin Glass, [[Ryuhei Kitamura]], [[Kenji Kodama]], Pontus Madsen, Vic Mignogna, [[Maki Murakami]], [[Mamiko Noto]], [[Hitoshi Sakimoto]], [[Tomokazu Seki]], [[Stephanie Sheh]], [[Michael Sinterniklaas]], Michihiko Suwa, and Steve Yun.<ref name="AC-2007"/>
|
|-
| August 8–10, 2008
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 26,262<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| [[Laura Bailey]], [[Peter S. Beagle]], [[DaizyStripper]], Richard Epcar, [[Peter Fernandez]], [[Taliesin Jaffe]], [[JAM Project]], [[Willow Johnson]], [[Kyoko Kano]], [[Mika Kano]], [[Mela Lee]], Yuri Lowenthal, [[MarBell]], Masao Maruyama, Hiromi Matsushita, [[Tony Oliver]], [[Tara Platt]], [[Derek Stephen Prince]], Michael Sinterniklaas, [[Ellyn Stern]], [[Kazuko Tadano]], [[The Underneath (band)|The Underneath]], and [[Kappei Yamaguchi]].<ref name="AC-2008"/>
|
|-
| July 17–19, 2009
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 26,586<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| [[Becca (musician)|Becca]], Crispin Freeman, [[Kikuko Inoue]], [[Noboru Ishiguro]], Yukio Kikukawa, Masao Maruyama, [[Hidenori Matsubara]], Mike McFarland, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, [[MELL]], [[Misako Rocks!]], Tony Oliver, Frederik L. Schodt, [[Naomi Tamura]], [[VAMPS]], [[Kanon Wakeshima]], [[Travis Willingham]], and [[Yutaka Yamamoto]].<ref name="AC-2009"/>
|
|-
| July 30-August 1, 2010
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 29,274<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| Peter S. Beagle, [[Chris Bevins]], [[Maile Flanagan]], [[Scott Freeman (voice actor)|Scott Freeman]], [[Todd Haberkorn]], [[Clarine Harp]], Yoshiki Hayashi, [[Naoto Hirooka]], [[Home Made Kazoku]], Amy Howard-Wilson, Masashi Ishihama, [[Jerry Jewell]], [[Kanon (bassist)|Kanon]], [[Hiroki Kikuta]], [[Hiroshi Koujina]], Masao Maruyama, [[Koji Masunari]], Vic Mignogna, [[Yuji Mitsuya]], Shihori Nakane, Tomonori Ochikoshi, [[Takamasa Sakurai]], Patrick Seitz, Stephanie Sheh, Michael Sinterniklaas, Felipe Smith, [[Sugizo]], [[J. Michael Tatum]], [[The Yoshida Brothers]], and [[Hiroaki Yura]].<ref name="AC-2010"/>
|
|-
| July 29–31, 2011
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 29,337<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| Peter S. Beagle, Johnny Yong Bosch, [[Chemistry (band)|Chemistry]], Eyeshine, Scott Freeman, Toshihiro Fukuoka, Orine Fukushima, Noboru Ishiguro, Atsuhiro Iwakami, Masumi Kano, Roland Kelts, [[Kylee]], [[Shelby Lindley]], Masao Maruyama, Mitsuba, [[Cassandra Lee Morris]], [[Kazuya Murata (director)|Kazuya Murata]], Momoka Ohara, Tony Oliver, Lisa Ortiz, Masayuki Ozaki, Scott Sager, Takamasa Sakurai, DJ Saolilith, [[Akira Sasanuma]], Patrick Seitz, Stephanie Sheh, Chiaki Shimogama, [[Makoto Shinkai]], Bob Shirohata, Sixh., Synergy, J. Michael Tatum, [[Nobuo Uematsu]], [[Cristina Vee]], [[Tom Wayland]], Mari Yoshida, and Hiroaki Yura.<ref name="AC-2011"/>
|
|-
| July 27–29, 2012
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 30,785<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| Peter S. Beagle, [[Christine Marie Cabanos]], [[Jason David Frank]], Gashicon, [[Aya Hirano]], Mikako Joho, [[Tetsuya Kakihara]], [[Lauren Landa]], Masao Maruyama, [[Yuuka Nanri]], [[Trina Nishimura]], [[Ai Nonaka]], [[Brina Palencia]], Shin Sasaki, Michael Sinterniklaas, J. Michael Tatum, [[Hidetaka Tenjin]], [[Gen Urobuchi]], [[VIXX]], and [[Sarah Anne Williams]].<ref name="AC-2012"/>
|
|-
| August 9–11, 2013
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 34,211<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| [[Shingo Adachi]], Peter S. Beagle, Maile Flanagan, Crispin Freeman, [[Tsukasa Fushimi]], Todd Haberkorn, [[Kyle Hebert]], Home Made Kazoku, [[Chiaki Ishikawa]], Hiroyuki Kanbe, Yoko Kanno, Tetsuya Kawakami, Roland Kelts, Kaoru Kurosaki, Masao Maruyama, Mike McFarland, Vic Mignogna, [[Kazuma Miki]], Masayuki Ozaki, Takamasa Sakurai, [[Jad Saxton]], Tomokazu Seki, [[Micah Solusod]], Michihiko Suwa, T.M.Revolution, [[Yuzuru Tachikawa]], Cristina Vee and, Shinichiro Watanabe.<ref name="AC-2013"/>
| Otakon's 20th anniversary<ref name="jnto20"/>
|-
| August 8–10, 2014
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 33,929<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
| [[Altima (band)|Altima]], [[Linda Ballantyne]], [[Dante Basco]], Peter S. Beagle, Christine Marie Cabanos, [[Robbie Daymond]], Kelly Gneiting, [[Katie Griffin]], [[Saori Hayami]], Yoshiki Hayashi, [[Jiro Ishii]], Shinichiro Kashiwada, [[Sunao Katabuchi]], [[Carrie Keranen]], [[Yusuke Kozaki]], Wendee Lee, Masao Maruyama, Hidenori Matsubara, [[Erica Mendez]], Tony Oliver, Stephanie Sheh, [[John Stocker (voice actor)|John Stocker]], Ray Villard, [[David Vincent (actor)|David Vincent]], [[Yamamotoyama Ryūta|Yama]], [[Yoshiki (musician)|Yoshiki]], and Hiroaki Yura.<ref name="AC-2014"/>
| Attendance was capped at 35,000; attendance cap was not reached.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.otakon.com/news_article.asp?id=867|title=Otakon's Online-Registration Opens at 12:01AM, March 8th!|work=www.otakon.com|date=March 7, 2014|access-date=January 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112072311/http://www.otakon.com/news_article.asp?id=867 |archive-date=2015-01-12 |url-status=dead}}</ref> First time in Otakon's history that an attendance decline occurred.
|-
| July 24–26, 2015
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 26,877<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance" />
| [[Ei Aoki]], Laura Bailey, [[Sandy Fox]], [[Yuichiro Hayashi]], Yasuaki Iwase, [[Seiji Kishi]], Toru Kubo, Shizuka Kurosaki, Lauren Landa, [[Lex Lang]], Masao Maruyama, Toshiyuki Nagano, [[Oreskaband]], [[Bryce Papenbrook]], [[Romi Park]], Christopher Sabat, Takamasa Sakurai, [[Sean Schemmel]], [[Shinji Takamatsu]], [[Kaiji Tang]], J. Michael Tatum, [[Toshiyuki Toyonaga]], Travis Willingham, Shuko Yokoyama,<ref name="AC-2015"/> and Draft King.<ref name=ann05282015draft/>
| Attendance was capped at 35,000; attendance cap was not reached. Second consecutive attendance decline recorded.
|-
| August 12–14, 2016
| Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| 29,113<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance" />
| [[Zach Aguilar]], [[Kazuki Akane]], Ilya Alekseyev, All Off, [[Ray Chase (voice actor)|Ray Chase]], Robbie Daymond, Aaron Dismuke, Shiro Dogu, Kasumi Fukagawa, Caitlin Glass, Yoshiki Hayashi, Kazuki Higashiji, [[Kenji Horikawa]], Kuniko Kanawa, Yoshitaka Kawaguchi, Nobuhiro Kikuchi, [[Erik Scott Kimerer]], Lauren Landa, Michael Liscio Jr., [[Yui Makino]], Michi, [[Jason Charles Miller]], [[Max Mittelman]], [[Koji Morimoto]], [[Sarah Natochenny]], Muneki Ogasawara, Lisa Ortiz, Haven Paschall, [[Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld]], Stephanie Sheh, Michael Sinterniklaas, Matt Stagmer, [[Sonny Strait]], [[LeSean Thomas]], [[Alexis Tipton]], Shunsuke Wada, and [[Kazutomi Yamamoto]].<ref name="AC-2016"/>
| Last year Otakon was held in Baltimore. Attendance increased by 9.3% after two consecutive years of decreasing attendance.
|-
|August 11–13, 2017
|[[Walter E. Washington Convention Center]], [[Washington, D.C.]]
|24,894<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance" />
|Ilya Alekseyev, Ei Aoki, Stella Chuu, [[Flow (Japanese band)|Flow]], Sandy Fox, [[Toshio Furukawa]], Kyle Hebert, JAM Project, [[Shino Kakinuma]], Kuniko Kanawa, Roland Kelts, Tetsuya Kinoshita, [[Tomoki Kyoda]], Lex Lang, Masao Maruyama, Hidenori Matsubara, Takanori Matsuoka, [[Jamie McGonnigal]], Vic Mignogna, [[Chris Niosi]], Tony Oliver, Project BECK, Tyson Rinehart, Michelle Ruff, Frederik L. Schodt, Stephanie Sheh, Michael Sinterniklaas, [[The Slants]], Matt Stagmer, Katsuyuki Sumizawa, T.M.Revolution, Hideyuki Tomioka, and [[Shimba Tsuchiya]].<ref name="AC-2017"/><ref name="otakuusaota2017"/><ref group="n">Flow, JAM Project, and T.M.Revolution appeared as part of the Anisong World Matsuri event.</ref>
|First year Otakon was held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Attendance decreased 14.4%.
|-
|August 10–12, 2018
|Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C.
|28,116<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance" />
|Ollie Barder, Johnny Yong Bosch, [[Nobutoshi Canna]], Ray Chase, [[SungWon Cho]], Mr. Creepy Pasta, Robbie Daymond, [[Lucien Dodge]], [[Kanetake Ebikawa]], [[Jessie James Grelle]], Todd Haberkorn, Kuniko Kanawa, Soojin Kang, Shoji Kawamori, Hirokatsu Kihara, Young Sun Kim, Yasutaka Kimura, [[Cherami Leigh]], [[Masaya Matsukaze]], Yuji Matsukura, Kyle McCarley, Erica Mendez, Max Mittelman, [[Tatsuyuki Nagai]], Masahiko Otsuka, Bryce Papenbrook, Sujin Ri, [[Arnie Roth]], Jez Roth, Naoko Tsutsumi, Nobuo Uematsu, Ho San Yi, Toshifumi Yoshida, and [[Yoh Yoshinari]].<ref name="AC-2018"/>
|Attendance rebounded almost to 2016's level, increasing by 13.14%
|-
|July 26–28, 2019
|Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C.
|28,430<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
|Ilya Alekseyev, Steve Bennett, Jen Cohn, Richard Epcar, [[Makoto Furukawa]], [[Toru Furuya]], [[Diana Garnet]], [[Erika Harlacher]], [[Hiroyuki Imaishi]], Kikuko Inoue, Hirokatsu Kihara, Shigeto Koyama, [[E. Jason Liebrecht]], Masao Maruyama, [[Elizabeth Maxwell]], [[Hiroshi Nagahama]], Atsushi Nakayama, [[Nano (singer)|Nano]], Stephanie Panisello, Jez Roth, [[Shing02]], Matt Stagmer, Ellyn Stern, Substantial, Michihiko Suwa, [[Kirk Thornton]], [[Kaoru Wada]], [[Kari Wahlgren]], Hiromi Wakabayashi, and Yoshihiro Watanabe.<ref name="AC-2019"/>
|
|-
|August 1, 2020<ref name="otakononline2020"/>
|Online convention	
|
|
|
|-
|August 6–8, 2021
|Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C.
|25,564<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
|Zach Aguilar, [[Ricco Fajardo]], Aleks Le, [[Adam McArthur]], [[Laura Post]], Kaiji Tang, [[Abby Trott]], Anne Yatco, [[Suzie Yeung]], [[Joe Zieja]],<ref name="AC-2021"/> and [[Conisch]].<ref name="HetaliaWS"/><ref group="n">Norihiro Kurosawa, Hiroshi Watanabe, Conisch and Atsushi Kosaka appeared in a livestreamed Hetalia World Stars panel and Q&A event.</ref>
|Idol group SPARK SPEAKER was scheduled to appear, but cancelled when the group disbanded in May 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spark Speaker unable to appear at Otakon 2021 |url=https://www.otakon.com/news/2021/03/02/spark-speaker-unable-appear-otakon-2021/ |website=www.otakon.com |access-date=15 July 2021}}</ref>
|-
| July 29–31, 2022
| Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C.
| 40,466<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
|[[AleXa]], [[Celeina Ann]], [[Beau Billingslea]], Steve Blum, Tiana Camacho, Jose Estrada, Ricco Fajardo, Angelina Foss, Lai Frances, [[Harumi Fujita]], Toshio Furukawa, G.L.A.M.S, [[Yuki Hayashi (composer)|Yuki Hayashi]], Motonobu Hori, Chado Horii, [[Mariya Ise]], [[Takahiro Izutani]], Shino Kakinuma, Masazumi Kato, Hiroyuki Kikukawa, Junhong Kim, KingChris, Masafumi Mikami, [[Pixy (group)|Pixy]], Kiral Poon, [[Zeno Robinson]], [[Rolling Quartz]], [[Kaho Shibuya]], Kaoru Wada, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Yoshihiro Watanabe, [[Wataru Watari]], Yoh Yoshinari, and Jenny Zha.<ref name="AC-2022"/>
|Attendance rose by 57% from 2021, breaking the previous all-time record set by 2013's Otakon. Factors including relaxed travel restrictions allowing Japanese guests to return, the burgeoning popularity of Korean music in the U.S. at the time, and the option given to [[AnimeNEXT]] members to roll 2022 memberships over into Otakon memberships after the public attractions of AnimeNEXT 2022 were called off, lead to Otakon's highest attendance numbers ever.<ref>{{cite web |title=2022 Call-Off |url=https://animenext.org/2022calloff/ |website=www.animenext.org |access-date=3 August 2022 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
|-
| July 28–30, 2023
| Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C.
| 42,101<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance"/>
|[[Shinji Aramaki]], [[Kia Asamiya]], Ollie Barder, [[Mario Castañeda]], Justin Cook, Jose Estrada, Ricco Fajardo, [[Haruna Ikezawa]], [[Junko Iwao]], Shoji Kawamori, KingChris, [[AmaLee|Amanda "AmaLee" Lee]], [[Brandon McInnis]], Masahiko Otsuka, Takaharu Ozaki, Kaho Shibuya, [[Megan Shipman]], Substantial, Super Art Fight, J. Michael Tatum, Hidetaka Tenjin, Natalie Van Sistine, Yoshihiro Watanabe, and Wataru Watari.<ref name="AC-2023"/>
|- 
| August 2–4, 2024
| Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C.
| 46,000 (est.)<ref name="ann08062024"/>
|[[Britt Baron]], John Bentley, Jonathan Case, Ricco Fajardo, Christophe Ferreira, Flow, Diana Garnet, Haenuli,  Yuki Hayashi, [[Hideo Ishikawa]], [[Erica Lindbeck]], Brandon McInnis, Max Mittelman, Hiroshi Nagahama, Masahiko Otsuka, [[Ben Starr (actor)|Ben Starr]], Substantial, J. Michael Tatum, [[Koki Uchiyama]], Kaoru Wada, Yoshihiro Watanabe, Scott Westerfeld, and Suzie Yeung.<ref name="AC-2024"/>
| Otakon's 30th Anniversary
|-
| August 8–10, 2025
| Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C.
|
|Babybeard, Nobutoshi Canna, Allegra Clark, Haenuli, Kohei Hattori, [[Xanthe Huynh]], [[Hiroshi Kamiya]], [[Christina Marie Kelly]], [[Katsuyuki Konishi]], Hidenori Matsubara, Sarah Myer, [[Koutaro Nishiyama]], Non Sweet, Hiroaki Sakurai, Sushio, [[Sora Tokui]], Kari Wahlgren, Hiromi Wakabayashi, and Yoshihiro Watanabe.<ref name="AC-2025"/>
|
|
|-
| July 31-August 2, 2026<ref name="AC-2026"/>
| Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C.
|
|
|
|}

===Locations===
[[File:Otakon Visit Baltimore Award 2011.jpg|thumb|Otakon 2011 Visit Baltimore "Customer of the Year" Award]]
The first Otakon was held at a [[Days Inn]] in [[State College, Pennsylvania]] in 1994; 350 people attended.<ref name=WaPo>{{cite news |first=J. Freedom |last=Du Lac |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/awkward-moments-at-baltimore-anime-convention-as-art-form-comes-of-age/2011/07/31/gIQAFYY5rI_story.html |title=Awkward moments at Baltimore anime convention as art form comes of age |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=August 3, 2011 |access-date=2017-09-08 }}</ref>

====Baltimore====

From 1999 to 2016, Otakon was held at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2011, the Baltimore city tourism agency, [[Visit Baltimore]], gave Otakon a "Customer of the Year" award for "demonstrat[ing] ongoing commitment to Baltimore, bringing more than 27,000 attendees to the city every year, a much-anticipated event by the local community and media".<ref>{{Cite web|title = History: In the News|url = http://www.otakon.com/history_news.asp|website = www.otakon.com|access-date = 2015-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905055513/http://www.otakon.com/history_news.asp |archive-date=2015-09-05 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Otakon has been a top convention for Baltimore since 2003.<ref name="OtakonEconomicImpact2009"/> Otakon 2009 had an economic impact of $12.5 million in direct spending and booked over 4,500 hotel rooms. According to the ''Baltimore Business Journal'' on December 10, 2010, Otakon 2010 had 4,575 booked hotel rooms and an estimated economic impact of $15.3 million, up from $12.5 million the year before;<ref name="OtakonEconomicImpact20102"/> in particular it had significant impact on food vendors.<ref name="OtakonEconomicImpact2010"/>

====Washington, DC====
Beginning in 2017, Otakon moved to Washington, DC, to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.<ref>{{cite news |first=Rebecca |last=Cooper |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2017/08/11/with-otakon-city-boosters-hope-to-up-d-c-s.html |title=With Otakon, city boosters hope to up D.C.'s creative cred |newspaper=Washington Business Journal |date=August 11, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Michelle |last=Goldchain |url=https://dc.curbed.com/2017/8/14/16143742/otakon-2017-anime-photos |title=Otakon 2017, the highlights |website=Curbed Washington DC |date=August 14, 2017 }}</ref>

====Las Vegas====
{{main|Otakon Vegas}}
From 2014 to 2018, a spin-off convention also run by Otakorp had been held in January at the [[Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino]] in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas, Nevada]].<ref name="OtakonSpin-OffANN"/><ref name="AC-Otakorp"/> In 2018, shortly after the end of Otakon Vegas 2018, Otakorp, Inc. announced on the Otakon Vegas website that Otakon Vegas was going on hiatus for an undetermined amount of time and that Otakon Vegas 2018 would be the last Otakon Vegas held. Otakorp, Inc. described Otakon Vegas as being an "experiment" and stated that they were "taking some time to examine the results of this experiment, to rethink and reorganize the show logistics, and to determine how best to bring the show forward." They left the door open for a future Otakon Vegas by concluding that they "hope to return to Vegas in the future."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.otakonvegas.com/|title=Welcome to Otakon Vegas|website=Otakon Vegas 2018|access-date=2018-03-16}}</ref>"

==Notes==
<references group=n/>

==References==
{{reflist|33em|refs=

<ref name="AC-Otakorp">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/organizer/3/otakorp-inc- | title = Otakorp, Inc. Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-1994">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/340/otakon-1994 | title = Otakon 1994 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-1995">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/341/otakon-1995 | title = Otakon 1995 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-1996">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/342/otakon-1996 | title = Otakon 1996 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-1997">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/343/otakon-1997 | title = Otakon 1997 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-1998">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/344/otakon-1998 | title = Otakon 1998 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-1999">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/345/otakon-1999 | title = Otakon 1999 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2000">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/346/otakon-2000 | title = Otakon 2000 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2001">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/89/otakon-2001 | title = Otakon 2001 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2002">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/284/otakon-2002 | title = Otakon 2002 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2003">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/88/otakon-2003 | title = Otakon 2003 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2004">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/211/otakon-2004 | title = Otakon 2004 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2005">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/738/otakon-2005 | title = Otakon 2005 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2006">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/917/otakon-2006 | title = Otakon 2006 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2007">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/1123/otakon-2007 | title = Otakon 2007 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2008">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/1367/otakon-2008 | title = Otakon 2008 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2009">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/1681/otakon-2009 | title = Otakon 2009 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2010">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/1921/otakon-2010 | title = Otakon 2010 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2011">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/2297/otakon-2011 | title = Otakon 2011 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2012">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/2791/otakon-2012 | title = Otakon 2012 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2013">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/3542/otakon-2013 | title = Otakon 2013 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2014">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/4270/otakon-2014 | title = Otakon 2014 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2015">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/5226/otakon-2015 | title = Otakon 2015 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2016">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/6413/otakon-2016 | title = Otakon 2016 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2017">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/7594/otakon-2017 | title = Otakon 2017 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2018-07-13}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2018">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/9443/otakon-2018 | title = Otakon 2018 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2023-11-21}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2019">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/11372/otakon-2019 | title = Otakon 2019 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2023-11-21}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2020">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/13747/otakon-2020 | title = Otakon 2020 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2020-05-26}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2021">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/15613/otakon-2021 | title = Otakon 2021 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2023-11-21}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2022">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/18201/otakon-2022 | title = Otakon 2022 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2023-11-21}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2023">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/19258/otakon-2023 | title = Otakon 2023 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2023-11-21}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2024">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/19259/otakon-2024 | title = Otakon 2024 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2024-08-05}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2025">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/19260/otakon-2025 | title = Otakon 2025 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2025-08-06}}</ref>

<ref name="AC-2026">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/19261/otakon-2026 | title = Otakon 2026 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2025-08-12}}</ref>

<ref name="AnimeAdvanced">{{cite web|url=http://anime.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=5565 |title=Anime Convention ::: Advanced Media Network - Comprehensive Convention Coverage |publisher=Anime.advancedmn.com |date=2009-07-21 |access-date=2012-07-26}}</ref>

<ref name=ann05282015draft>{{cite news|title=Draft King to Play Friday Concert at Otakon 2015|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2015-05-28/draft-king-to-play-friday-concert-at-otakon-2015/.88663|access-date=1 August 2015|work=Anime News Network|date=May 28, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="ann08062024">{{cite news |title=Otakon Attendance Reaches New Record of 46,000 |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2024-08-06/otakon-attendance-reaches-new-record-of-46000/.214008 |access-date=2 September 2024 |work=Anime News Network |date=6 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

<ref name="jnto20">{{cite web | url=http://www.japantravelinfo.com/event/index.php#otakon | title=Otakon | publisher=JNTO | access-date=2013-06-19 | archive-date=2013-06-28 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628085131/http://www.japantravelinfo.com/event/index.php#otakon | url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="OfficalOtakonAttendance">{{cite web | url = https://www.otakon.com/info/about/stats/ | title = Otakon: Statistics | publisher = Otakon| access-date = 2024-07-05}}</ref>

<ref name="otakon.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.otakon.com/events_schedule.asp |title=Events: Schedule |publisher=Otakon.com |access-date=2012-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721025645/http://otakon.com/events_schedule.asp |archive-date=2012-07-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="OtakonEconomicImpact2009">{{cite news | url = http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2009/07/13/daily58.html?page=all | title =Otakon convention brings thousands of Japanese anime fans to Baltimore | publisher = Baltimore Business Journal | access-date = 2014-08-07 | first=Rachel | last=Bernstein | date=2009-07-17}}</ref>

<ref name="OtakonEconomicImpact2010">{{cite news | url = http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2010/07/26/daily43.html?page=1 | title = Otakon and soccer means big business for Baltimore | publisher = Baltimore Business Journal | access-date = 2010-08-22 | first=Rachel | last=Bernstein | date=2010-07-30}}</ref>
<ref name="OtakonEconomicImpact20102">{{cite news | url = http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/print-edition/2010/12/10/room-to-grow.html | title = Room to Grow | publisher = Baltimore Business Journal | access-date = 2011-01-19 | first=Carolyn | last=Proctor | date=2010-12-10}}</ref>

<ref name="otakononline2020">{{cite web |title=Otakon Online 2020 |url=https://www.otakon.com/archive/2020/online/ |website=Otakon |access-date=21 November 2023}}</ref>

<ref name="OtakorpPAInfo">{{cite web | last = Register of Corporations | first = Pennsylvania Dept of State | title = Business Entity: OTAKORP, Inc. | url = https://www.corporations.state.pa.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?1642166 | access-date = 2007-10-24 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

<ref name="OtakonSpin-OffANN">{{cite news | url = https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-02-21/otakon-spin-off-convention-in-vegas-planned-for-january | title = Otakon Spin-Off Convention in Vegas Planned for January | publisher = Anime News Network | access-date = 2013-02-21 | date = 2013-02-21}}</ref>

<ref name="otakuusaota2017">{{cite web|title=Anisong World Matsuri Brings Two Amazing Concerts to Otakon|url=https://www.otakuusamagazine.com/anisong-world-matsuri-brings-two-amazing-concerts-to-otakon/|website=Otaku USA Magazine|access-date=28 September 2017|date=8 August 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="Power Puffy Girls">{{cite news | first = Stephanie | last = Shapiro | title = Power Puffy Girls | url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/885161011.html?dids=885161011:885161011&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+22%2C+2005&author=Stephanie+Shapiro&pub=The+Sun&desc=Power+Puffy+Girls+ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071001061018/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/885161011.html?dids=885161011:885161011&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+22,+2005&author=Stephanie+Shapiro&pub=The+Sun&desc=Power+Puffy+Girls+ | url-status = dead | archive-date = October 1, 2007 | work = [[Baltimore Sun]] | date = August 22, 2005 | access-date = 2007-07-17}}</ref>

<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web |url=http://otakon.com/pdf/bcc_map.pdf |title=Baltimore Convention Center Map |website=otakon.com |access-date=2010-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923010651/https://www.otakon.com/pdf/bcc_map.pdf |archive-date=2010-09-23 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="HetaliaWS">{{cite web |url=https://www.otakon.com/guests/hetalia-world-stars/ |title=Hetalia World Stars (Live Stream) |website=www.otakon.com |access-date=2021-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804134747/https://www.otakon.com/guests/hetalia-world-stars/ |archive-date=2021-08-04 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Otakon}}
*[https://dc.otakon.com/ Otakon.com]

{{coord|39.28538|N|76.61734|W|region:US-MD_type:event|display=title}}

{{Anime conventions in North America}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Anime conventions in the United States]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1994]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Annual events in Maryland]]
[[Category:Festivals in Baltimore]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Baltimore]]
[[Category:Conventions in Maryland]]
[[Category:Conventions in Washington, D.C.]]