Anime Friends 2026 festival in São Paulo faces crowding and logistical complaints

The 22nd edition of Anime Friends, a pop‑culture festival held in São Paulo from 2–6 July 2026, expected more than 200,000 visitors across a 54,000‑m² site with six stages, multiple auditoriums and hundreds of exhibitors. Attendees enjoyed cosplay contests, manga and anime screenings, Japanese food stalls, and concerts by artists such as Flow and Asian Kung‑Fu Generation, while guest voice actors and producers appeared on‑stage.

Visitors reported long waiting times, with queues of up to two hours under the sun, delayed free‑shuttle transport and poor signage at entry points. Independent artists complained of sharply rising booth fees, limited support from organizers, and difficulties accessing the venue even with credentials. Other concerns included lax control of the “social entry” food‑donation discount and the cost of mandatory food vouchers, which many felt matched regular restaurant prices. Organizers had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.