Southeast Pop Culture Convention Expands With Anime, Gaming, Cosplay and Major Industry Guests
MomoCon 2026 set a new attendance record over Memorial Day weekend, drawing more than 67,000 fans to the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta for four days of gaming, anime, comics, cosplay, and pop culture events.
Organizers announced that 67,277 attendees participated in this year’s convention, making it the largest edition in the event’s history. The convention ran May 21–24 and will return to Atlanta May 27–30, 2027.
Founded in 2004 by Georgia Tech students Jessica Merriman and Chris Stuckey, MomoCon has grown from a small campus gathering into one of the largest fan conventions in the southeastern United States.
Wonder Festival Makes North American Debut
One of the biggest additions to this year’s event was the North American debut of Wonder Festival, a major Japanese showcase focused on collectible figures, model artistry, and hobby craftsmanship.
More than 40 professional creators, sculptors, and designers participated in a dedicated exhibit area, giving American attendees rare direct access to a cornerstone of Japanese collectible culture.
The expansion reflects growing U.S. interest in anime merchandise, collectibles, and hobby modeling, industries that have seen rapid growth alongside the mainstream popularity of anime and Japanese gaming franchises.
Tekken Director Katsuhiro Harada Headlines Gaming Guests
Katsuhiro Harada, the longtime director behind the Tekken series, was among the event’s featured guests.
Harada participated in fan panels and autograph sessions during the convention. His appearance came shortly after announcing the formation of VS Studio under SNK Corporation, where he will serve as director.
Fighting game communities remain a major part of MomoCon’s audience, particularly as competitive gaming and esports continue growing across the United States.
Critical Role Cast Draws Large Crowds
The convention also welcomed cast members from the popular web series Critical Role.
Featured guests included:
- Matthew Mercer
- Ashley Johnson
- Taliesin Jaffe
- Travis Willingham
- Liam O’Brien
Panels and autograph sessions featuring the cast attracted hundreds of attendees, highlighting the continued popularity of tabletop role-playing entertainment and streaming culture.
Convention Raises $10,000 for Mental Health Nonprofit
Organizers said MomoCon 2026 raised $10,000 for Silence the Shame, a nonprofit focused on mental health awareness and support in high-stress communities.
The charity partnership reflects a broader trend among gaming and pop culture events that increasingly incorporate mental health advocacy and community wellness initiatives.
“We spend all year organizing MomoCon to see the impact we have on people’s lives, be it smiles on 67,000 plus faces or raising money for worthy causes,” said Chris Stuckey, co-founder of MomoCon. “This year’s event was our most impactful yet, and we look forward to making an even more profound positive change in 2027.”
MomoCon Continues Growing Alongside Anime and Gaming Culture
The rapid growth of MomoCon mirrors the broader expansion of anime, gaming, cosplay, and fandom culture across the United States.
Once considered niche entertainment communities, anime conventions and gaming expos now attract massive audiences, celebrity guests, esports events, and major industry sponsors.
Atlanta has also emerged as one of the country’s leading convention destinations thanks to its large event venues, growing entertainment industry, and strong regional fan communities.
Memberships for 2027 Event Already Available
Organizers confirmed that memberships for MomoCon 2027 are already on sale.
Four-day passes are priced at $87.13, while single-day admission ranges from roughly $64 to $81 depending on the day of attendance.
As fan conventions continue expanding in size and cultural influence, MomoCon’s latest attendance record underscores the sustained momentum of gaming, anime, cosplay, and pop culture events throughout the United States.
Infuriatingly humble organizer. Entrepreneur. Zombie guru. Professional creator. Future teen idol.
