Ai-Kon 2025: community, creativity, and celebration of anime

Attendees browse vendor stalls at Ai-Kon 2025. (Zach Kitchen/CTV News)

Nothing — not even an air quality warning — could stop them.

On Friday, Ai-Kon Winnipeg, Manitoba’s premier anime, video game, and Japanese culture convention, kicked off its annual celebration at the RBC Convention Centre in downtown Winnipeg.

Anime, gaming, and pop culture fans gathered to connect with others who share their passion. The event featured a packed schedule of activities, including voice actor panels, dance workshops, cosplay contests, and more.

Inside the bustling marketplace hall, attendees found a growing number of local artists and vendors offering handmade crafts and merchandise — a showcase of the convention’s strong support for community creators.

First launched in 2001 at the University of Manitoba, Ai-Kon has since grown into one of the largest events of its kind in Western Canada. According to organizers, the last in-person convention drew more than 10,000 attendees.

“I think it’s great. I feel like it’s doubled in size since we came last year,” one attendee told CTV News.

Ai-Kon remains a family-friendly event, offering free admission for the first child under 12 when accompanied by a paying adult.

The convention wraps up on Sunday, July 13.