Anime Expo 2026 runs July 2 to 5 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and the city around it is packed with anime pop-ups and exhibitions timed to the same stretch. Publishers and studios have lined up immersive events all over town, some within walking distance of the show floor and others a short drive away for when the Exhibit Hall lines pile up. Here is a guide to what is happening around the city while AX is in session.
Kodansha House Los Angeles (Little Tokyo)
Kodansha brings its immersive fan event to the West Coast for the first time, setting up in Little Tokyo just a few blocks from the convention center. Kodansha House runs July 2 to 12 at 701 E. Third St., and admission is free.
The space is split into two wings. Story Worlds re-creates the worlds of Akira, Attack on Titan, Blue Lock and Witch Hat Atelier through immersive rooms, and it adds a photo zone and free arcade games. The Manga Clubhouse holds a gallery, a reading library, a lounge and a retail section operated by Kinokuniya USA with exclusive merchandise.
The guest lineup is a major draw. Blue Lock creators Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura are scheduled to appear Saturday, July 4, and Witch Hat Atelier author Kamome Shirahama is scheduled for Sunday, July 5. All three are also official Anime Expo guests with separate panels and signings at the convention. Story Worlds and the Clubhouse are open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., though the Clubhouse closes at 5 p.m. on July 4 and 5. Creator Q&As and signings are managed through a sweepstakes system, so check the event calendar for entry windows.
Ryoko Kui and Delicious in Dungeon Exhibition (Arts District)
Kadokawa World Entertainment is bringing the official Ryoko Kui Exhibition and Delicious in Dungeon Exhibition to Art Share L.A. at 801 E. Fourth Place, after its U.S. debut in New York last October. The Los Angeles run is July 2 to 26.
The exhibition pairs immersive photo spots based on the series’ dungeons, monsters, food and items with a deeper look at Kui’s career, including reproduced artwork from her earlier titles, rough concept sketches, time-lapse drawing footage and a long-form interview. Imported merchandise will be available on-site.
Standard tickets are $20, with a $25 add-on for an exhibition-exclusive plate. During Anime Expo week, July 2 to 5, entry is issued in one-hour timed slots. From July 6 to 26, tickets switch to daily entry valid anytime during operating hours. Fans following the franchise should also note that Studio Trigger is scheduled to share a Season 2 update at its AX panel on Saturday, July 4, which makes the exhibition a natural companion stop.
Shonen Jump Shop (Del Amo Fashion Center, Torrance)
VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump Shop returns to Southern California with a long run at the Del Amo Fashion Center, 3525 W. Carson St., Suite 180, in Torrance, near AMC Theatres and Mitsuwa Marketplace. The pop-up opens July 1 and runs through March 28, 2027, during regular mall hours.
The shop carries officially licensed merchandise imported from Japan, spanning collectibles, apparel, accessories and stationery. Featured titles include One Piece, Sakamoto Days, Blue Box, Kagurabachi, Ichi the Witch, Hunter x Hunter, Dragon Ball, Naruto, Bleach, Haikyu!!, My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen and Kaiju No. 8. Look for Los Angeles-themed exclusives featuring Jump characters, plus rotating gifts with purchase throughout the long residency.
Donguri Republic (Del Amo Fashion Center, Torrance)
Studio Ghibli’s official merchandise brand, Donguri Republic, has opened its first brick-and-mortar location in the United States, and it shares a mall with the Shonen Jump Shop. The pop-up sits in Shop 179 at the Del Amo Fashion Center and runs June 23 through Dec. 31. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
The store stocks more than 400 items drawn from across the Ghibli catalog, including My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, inside a forest-themed interior with a life-size Totoro greeting visitors. As an opening promotion, shoppers who spend $100 or more receive a limited-edition Los Angeles tote bag while supplies last. The store is also tied into Studio Ghibli Fest 2026: present a ticket from an eligible festival screening and spend at least $10 at the store to receive a film-strip-style bookmark, available in six designs.
Crunchyroll’s The Loop (Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park)
Crunchyroll, in partnership with Three Ten Merchandising Services, opened a rotating pop-up called The Loop at Westfield Topanga in Canoga Park on June 12. The activation is built to refresh over the summer, and its first wave of themed rooms runs through August.
The opening lineup centers on Solo Leveling, with Sentenced to Be a Hero and Bananya rounding out the first wave. Each series gets an immersive room with photo opportunities, replica props, audiovisual installations and themed environments. The retail shop carries exclusive apparel, figures, plushies and home goods tied to the featured titles, plus a limited selection of Crunchyroll-branded items. General admission is free, with a standby line when the space hits capacity. Crunchyroll subscribers get early access, and a $15 three-pack of pins doubles as a day-of fast pass to skip the line. Three more anime activations are planned for later in the summer. The Loop is the farthest stop from the convention center, sitting out in the San Fernando Valley, so set aside dedicated time for the trip.
Planning your map
If you want to stay close to the show floor, Kodansha House and the Delicious in Dungeon exhibition sit downtown and are easy to reach on foot or by a short ride. The Del Amo pop-ups in Torrance pair well as a single South Bay run, and The Loop in Canoga Park rewards anyone willing to head into the Valley. Hours and ticketing can shift, so confirm details with each venue before you go.
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