Yinz better get your best cosplay ready because Tekko is back and bigger than ever! Downtown Pittsburgh is about to get flooded with anime fans from all over, and this year’s theme is paying tribute to the Steel City itself. Heading dahn to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center from July 23rd to the 26th, attendees are going to experience an absolute celebration of Japanese culture mixed with that classic local pride. Whether you’re a seasoned con-goer or a first-timer just looking to see what the hype is about, this weekend is going to be non-stop excitement around every corner.
The guest list this year is totally stacked with talent, and you are definitely going to want to grab an autograph or two. It’s a total Jujutsu Kaisen takeover as Kaiji Tang (Satoru Gojo), Anne Yatco (Nobara Kugisaki), Kayleigh McKee (Yuta Okkotsu), Amber Lee Connors (Mei Mei), Tara Sands (Momo, Utahime, and Young Panda), Matthew David Rudd (Panda and Mahoraga), and Lex Lang (Suguru Geto and Kenjaku) are all heading into town! You can also catch the amazingly talented Brittney Karbowski (Wendy Marvel in Fairy Tail, Black Star in Soul Eater, Going Merry in One Piece), Kristen McGuire (Milim Nava in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Akane Kurokawa in Oshi no Ko, Tatami Nakagame in My Hero Academia), and Sandy Fox (Betty Boop, Hello Kitty, Chibiusa and Black Lady in Sailor Moon) sharing stories and signing autographs all weekend long. To top it all off, VTube sensation Dokibird is making a massive virtual appearance for a meet and greet which will definitely be a weekend highlight.
If you love live music, the concert lineup is absolutely stacked. Shadow Realm and Babybeard are both set to rock the main stage on Friday night. Friday night also features an After Dark Idol showcase at Stage Uzume hosted by Ichigo Ro!, who are actually performing earlier in the day as well. Saturday night will turn into a giant EDM takeover brought to you by Asahi Crew, featuring incredible beats from DJs Ryu*, James Landino, Kikaru, Kors K, and Suzubrah. On Sunday, the idols from Steel Triangleアイドル will be putting on a massive show hosted by Ladybeard of Babybeard. To round out the weekend, Dirty Burgh Brass Band will be filling Stage Uzumi with funky video game jams, and Katie Shesko will be playing epic flute covers of your favourite soundtracks.
There are so many activities packed into these four days that you won’t even know where to look first. You can dive into intense RPG sessions, attend hilarious, educational, or interactive fan-run panels, or learn some new moves from dance lessons before showing off at the formal or informal balls. If you like to perform, you can hit up one of the numerous karaoke sessions, compete in the dance competition, or enter the legendary masquerade cosplay contest. Nostalgia fans are eating good this year, since there are official meetups for both Neopets and Gaia Online to bring back those classic 2000s vibes. Between the arcade games, sword fighting demos, a fashion show, and the charity cosplay drag show, there really is something for everyone.
You do not want to miss out on the biggest weekend of the summer, so make sure you clear your calendar right now. The beautiful city of champions is ready to welcome the anime community with open arms and a ton of excitement. Tickets are available, and in addition to the usual weekend pass, this year there are single day passes for anyone who wants a smaller dose of anime shenanigans. Last year’s con was out-of-this-world fun, and this year’s is looking to top it with some epic Steel City shenanigans. Mark your calendars for July 23rd through 26th and get ready for an amazing time. Tell your friends, pack your bags, and we’ll see yinz dahn there!
