Animenia Abu Dhabi will return to Manarat Al Saadiyat from February 11 to 15, 2026, featuring four anime series and what organisers describe as the world’s largest cosplay prize pool.
The five-day festival, presented by BRAG in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, will feature BLEACH, SPY x FAMILY, DAN DA DAN, and GINTAMA through what organisers call “large-scale, interactive worlds”.
Each anime series will occupy a dedicated zone within the venue.
Five-day Anime festival returns to Abu Dhabi in February with interactive experiences
The BLEACH zone includes a cinematic walk-through experience, themed zones, an obstacle challenge based on the Shin-o Academy, and a merchandise area.
DAN DA DAN features a supernatural shrine entrance, story-driven walkthrough, high-intensity zones, a horror-style courtyard with a horror school, and live scenes.
The SPY x FAMILY experience includes an intro room, walkthrough gallery, interactive sets, a multi-room escape game, challenges, photo opportunities, live activities, and merchandise.
GINTAMA’s zone, designed around the Kabuki District, offers an intro room, gallery, challenges, a door maze, interactive rooms, reflex-based games, and merchandise.
Animenia Abu Dhabi announces AED400,000 cosplay competition prize pool for February 2026
The Animenia Abu Dhabi Cosplay Competition will feature a prize pool of AED400,000. The judging panel comprises cosplayer and concept artist Cinderys, Myrtle, Piece of Cake Cosplay, and World Cosplay Summit champions Mio & Mayo.
The festival includes workshops for reading, sketching, and artist-led sessions. Meet and greets with anime and cosplay figures will be announced, alongside live performances and on-stage entertainment.
Other features include quiz zones, gaming areas, a Konbini-style Japanese supermarket with snacks and drinks, and a DIY instant noodle station. Festival merchandise will debut at the event.
Day passes and festival passes are available through Ticketmaster and Platinum List, with additional ticket categories to be released.
