Great Manga/Anime Event: The ACen

What is ACen?

Anime Central (ACen) is Chicago’s and the Midwest’s largest anime, manga and Japanese popular culture convention. The convention is currently held in Rosemont, IL, less than 30 minutes from downtown Chicago.

As part of its mission, ACen brings fans together with guests from the Japanese and US sectors of the anime and manga industry, as well as gaming, cinema, and Asian culture personalities. The event includes a huge exhibit hall, a massive video game room, concerts, dances, educational panels and workshops, premiere screenings, autograph sessions, 24-hour video rooms, tabletop gaming and much, much more!

About the Show 

Anime Central (ACen) is the largest anime, manga and Japanese popular culture convention in Chicago and the Midwest. ACen happens once a year in the Spring (around April or May) less than 30 minutes from downtown Chicago, in Rosemont, IL.

As part of its mission, ACen brings fans together with guests from the Japanese and US sectors of the anime and manga industry, as well as gaming, cinema, and Asian culture personalities. The event includes a huge exhibit hall, a massive video game room, concerts, dances, educational panels and workshops, premiere screenings, autograph sessions, 24-hour video rooms, tabletop gaming and much, much more!

Attendees can dance the night away with tens of thousands of their favorite friends and cheer while amazing DJs spin

Location

ACen is held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

Hyatt Regency O’Hare

The Hyatt Regency O’Hare is connected by skywalk to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, and offers convenient access to Allstate Arena and Rosemont Theatre. With over high-speed Internet across hundreds of thousands of square feet of meeting space, and Wi-Fi high-speed internet access in all over a thousand guestrooms, this O’Hare airport hotel is a standout among Hyatt hotels in Chicago.

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center

The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center offers 840,000 square feet of configurable exhibition space. With six halls, limitless floor plan options, and great contract services, it provides a stable, full-featured home for Anime Central that attendees, industry, and exhibitors enjoy year after year.

Chicago

Chicago is currently the third largest city by population in the United States, with a population of over 9 million in the metropolitan area. 34 million tourists have visited the city in past years. It has many sister cities around the world, one of which is Osaka, Japan.

The Consulate General of Japan at Chicago provides travel services and cultural information about Japan, and the Chicago Botanic Gardens has a Japanese garden, Sansho-En, and a renowned Bonsai Collection.

In addition to Japanese cultural outlets, Chicago hosts extremely vibrant theater, music, sports, and food scenes. It is home to the Second City and I.O. comedy troupes; numerous symphonies, jazz ensembles, indie bands, hip-hop groups, and clubs; an array of major league sports teams; and restaurants serving fine cuisine from just about every culture on Earth.