After a week of unbearable heat and horrible air quality, thousands of anime fans got together for one perfect, unforgettable weekend at Tekko. If you’ve never been to this legendary convention at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, you are truly missing out on one of the greatest events in the Steel City. Organized by the Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society, this long-running convention brings together everything we love about Japanese pop culture under one massive roof. From incredible cosplays and gaming setups to some of the best musical acts from both the US and Japan, there is a distinct spark in the air the moment you step through the main doors. It always feels like a massive family reunion for the nerds and weebs. Whether you’re a veteran con attendee or someone putting on your very first wig, Tekko welcomes everyone with open arms and endless excitement.

Every year, Tekko has a theme, and one of the absolute coolest parts of the weekend this year was seeing how deeply the con embraced its home city with the perfect theme: Pittsburgh. Attendees took the concept and ran wild with it in the most creative ways imaginable. Walking through the hallways, you could spot anime characters reimagined as classic black and gold Yinzers holding Turners Tea. This was especially popular amongst the hoard of Mikus. People wore armor crafted to look like iconic steel bridges, while others handmade pierogi costumes. It was so fun seeing how local pride blended with otaku culture, giving the con a unique local identity. The most beloved Pittsburgh mascot Jalapeño Hannah even made a brief appearance, much to the delight of her adoring fans!

Thursday

Thursday officially kickstarted the festivities with a shortened schedule, but the energy was sky-high right out of the gate for opening ceremonies. The stage came alive with thunderous drumming from Pittsburgh Taiko, almost like they were personifying the con with its own heartbeat. The crowd was then treated to a special appearance by local poet and songwriter Rachel Ann Bovier, who brought her signature quirkiness to the stage, with poems, ukulele, and so much old-school Pittsburgh charm. Adding even more local flavour to the mix, Rachel was joined by Jalapeño Hannah. Two local icons onstage together was almost too much to handle, and a perfect way to get the weekend started.

Beyond the big main stage events planned for Friday and Saturday, general con shenanigans were popping off around every single corner all weekend long. You could wander down almost any hallway and stumble upon fan-led panels covering everything from obscure anime to detailed prop making workshops. The karaoke rooms were packed from morning until late at night with fans screaming their favourite jams at the top of their lungs. Spontaneous hallway dance sessions kept breaking out thanks to people bringing speakers, drawing huge crowds of cheering cosplayers. It didn’t matter what hour of the day it was because there was always something silly or entertaining happening just a few feet away.

As Thursday drew to a close, everyone gathered upstairs for a truly special ending to the first day. Shadow Realm, the anime band who are known through their playing during Anime Night, took over the outdoor rooftop area to perform a special acoustic set. Watching them play stripped down versions of beloved anime jams while looking out over the Pittsburgh skyline was pure magic. The cool evening breeze combined with the warm acoustic melodies created an intimate vibe that brought everyone together. It was the perfect calm before the storm of the upcoming weekend madness.

Friday

Friday kicked off in full force as the massive expo hall finally opened its doors to the eager crowds. Walking into that room was an absolute assault on the senses in the best way possible. Vendor tables stretched as far as the eye could see, filled with rare figures, custom apparel, and trading cards. Artist Alley was packed with incredible creators selling stunning fan art, jewelry, prints, unique stickers that you couldn’t find anywhere else. Multiple vendors were selling imported snacks, including fruit-shaped ice cream that was irresistible. Honestly, keeping your wallet safe in that room was an impossible battle because every single booth had something incredible to take home.

Friday was also packed to the brim with an incredible lineup of panels and celebrity programming. Over at Tekko Today Live, the hosts interviewed several featured cosplay guests to talk about their craft and share fun stories using a game of Never Have I Ever, Cosplay Edition. Fans looking for action got to experience sword demonstrations and hands-on lessons courtesy of the Pittsburgh Sword Fighters, led by Kratos himself. Voice acting legends Tara Sands and Anne Yatco faced off in a hilarious Pennsylvania Trivia battle hosted by Sandy Fox. Learning about the cookie table, as always, was a delightful treat for all. To top it all off, Kaiji Tang hosted a fantastic Q&A session where he shared awesome behind-the-scenes stories about working on The Apothecary Diaries.

Little performances kept the convention venue feeling lively and vibrant everywhere you walked all weekend long. Stage Uzume had a nonstop rotation of dance and music showcases, including a gorgeous set by Katie Shesko, who played enchanting flute covers of iconic video game tracks. Over on the hall stage, Thanakarn Limtham captivated onlookers by filling the space with elegant piano compositions that sounded like a live video game soundtrack. Nancy Kepner had multiple delightful sets throughout the weekend, including the ever-popular session where she made up entire songs on the spot based on audience prompts. A few attendees set up a monitor hooked up to Guitar Hero right in the middle of a hallway, free for anyone to compete, with battles drawing cheering from passerbys whenever someone had the courage to take on “Through The Fire And Flames.”

When it was time for the dance competition, the main stage exploded with unbelievable high energy. Dancers and performance crews from all over the region brought their absolute best routines to compete for the top crown. The stage was popping with flawless choreography, jumps, kicks, and so much passion. Solo duo competitors were Chris Short, Nathan Festog, Alex Pinku, Rin, and Toxinesis. The group competitors were Zent Cover Crew, FRESA, SYNR-G Crew, and Future Dance Crew. You could feel the bass rattling the floorboards as the audience screamed and cheered for every single hit beat, penlights raised in sync to the music. The sheer talent on display was staggering, making it one of the most electric events of the whole convention.

For the start of the Friday night concert, the legendary idol group BABYBEARD hit the stage for their very first Pittsburgh show ever, which also happened to be their first US performance this year. Their set was an absolute whirlwind of cute metal energy that had absolutely packed room jumping, dancing, and moshing in sync. Heavy guitar riffs blended with hyper cute pop vocals in a way that only Ladybeard and his crew can pull off. Right in the middle of their set, the energy got even wilder when a rowdy wrestling match broke out right there on the stage, a nice throwback to Ladybeard’s roots as a wrestler. It was completely chaotic, wildly fun, and easily one of the most memorable concert experiences in Tekko history.

Returning for the second year in a row, fan-favourite singer Caleb Hyles took over the main stage all to himself. He dominated the room from the moment he stepped out, with powerful vocals that gave everyone in the audience goosebumps. Caleb utilized the massive backing screen masterfully to enhance the storytelling of every single track he sang. The absolute peak of the show came when he closed his set with a thrilling rendition of “I’ll Make A Man Out Of You” from Mulan. As the iconic scene played out behind him on the giant screen complete with lyrics, the entire crowd sang along at the top of their lungs in unison.

Shadow Realm returned for their second set of the weekend, this time cranking the volume up to full-throttle rock. They constantly rotated their singers throughout the set so members could swap into entirely new cosplays between songs. Performing on their biggest stage ever, the group poured every ounce of their energy into the performance. High definition anime scenes synced perfectly on the backing screen behind them, bringing every fast-paced track to life in a huge visual display. Caleb Hyles even joined them on stage for an awesome rendition of one of the Naruto themes, and encouraged the crowd to form massive ninja-running circle pits. Friday night closed out with a heavy version of the Pokémon theme, complete with inflatable Pokéballs, leaving everyone completely exhausted yet unbelievably hyped for the next day.

Saturday

Saturday is always the undisputed big day for cosplay, and this year was no exception to that rule. Hallways were packed with jaw-dropping costumes from every franchise imaginable, all in anticipation of the costume contest. You could see months of hard work and craftsmanship on display in every elaborate piece of armor, carefully crafted prop, and hand-sewn dress. The photo sets provided by Candiiland helped turn basic hallway photos into absolute visual masterpieces. Photographers and cosplayers worked together all day to capture incredible shots that looked like they came straight out of a movie. This year’s big hit was the brand new Pittsburgh-themed set, featuring one of the iconic bridges surrounded by cherry blossoms.

The Masquerade costume contest, as always, was split into two distinct parts consisting of walk-ons and full stage performances. While the walk-ons allowed creators to show off intricate details, the skit performances were where the true showcase unfolded. The skits are always a highlight of Tekko, but the contestants really went all out with their creativity this year. There was everything from flag spinning and singing to perfect recreations of scenes from shows. The dedication and effort poured into every single costume and script made it an unforgettable showcase of fan talent.

After hours of running around in heavy cosplays, con-goers could step into a wonderfully calm corner of the expo hall for a quick break. The convention partnered with local animal organizations Heart and Soul Parrot Rescue and Kitty Queen Cat Rescue to bring in rescue parrots and adorable kittens for attendees to interact with. Getting to hold a friendly parrot or pet a playful kitten was the ultimate way to recharge your batteries. You could see bright smiles all over the room as stressed out fans took a quiet moment to decompress with these lovable creatures. It’s always such a unique and sweet addition to the convention floor that everyone looks forward to every year.

Later in the evening, the crew at Tekko Tonight Live hosted another hilarious segment that had the entire audience in stitches. They brought the members of BABYBEARD onto the Hall Stage to taste test various iconic Pittsburgh delicacies live on stage. Watching the performers react to local favourites including Smiley Cookies, Red Ribbon Soda, and pickle popcorn was comedy gold, and also reassuring that our weird Yinzer treats are loved by all. The candid reactions made the entire segment feel so warm and charmingly unscripted. It was a perfectly Tekko experience that combined global guest talent with pure local hometown culture.

Late night programming at Tekko always gets a little feisty, and Saturday night offered some truly unforgettable choices. While a huge portion of attendees headed over to bounce at the official EDM ANIBASH party brought by Asahi Crew, the real hidden gem was tucked away in Panel 1. That was where the WeebAlong CosDrag show took place, bringing an incredible fusion of drag and cosplay to the stage. Drag and cosplay are already a match made in heaven, but adding some of the most genuine performers in Pittsburgh always makes this yearly tradition a magical event. A few lucky (and brave) volunteers got to try their hand at drag challenges, including strutting, dancing, and lip syncing, all in hopes of winning a tiara and the crowd’s adoration. Best of all, the show raised money for the WVU Children’s Hospital, making it the perfect heartwarming end to a wild night.

Sunday

Sunday is usually known as the slow wind-down day of a convention, but that was definitely not the case this time around. Right from the very start of the morning, the Steel Triangle Idol Showcase took over the main stage with boundless positive energy. The showcase gave a huge spotlight to several up and coming idol performers who blew the crowd away with their polished routines. The idols performing were AristoKAT, Addiecadabra, Re:Noiir, Jenni Bon, Kinetic, NimZ, macmac, Minus, W0NDERSH0W, and wasai bee. The event was hosted by the one and only Ladybeard, who kept the energy super high with his infectious enthusiasm. Cheering on these talented performers with penlights in hand was the ultimate way to start the final day of the con.

The legendary Iron Cosplay competition returned once again, putting four brave teams to the ultimate test of speed and creativity. Contestants were challenged to build complete, recognizable costumes using nothing more than literal trash and random craft supplies. Sudden curveball challenges were thrown at them throughout the contest, forcing the builders to adapt on the fly under intense pressure. Despite the absurd constraints, every single team managed to assemble mind blowing costumes in under two hours. Even the Philadelphia Flyers’ mascot Gritty made a surprise appearance and couldn’t resist the shenanigans! The crowd was mesmerized, cheering wildly as the completed creations posed on stage, proving once and for all that true cosplayers can make magic out of anything.

Looking beyond the big scheduled items, there were so many weird and wonderful little details scattered throughout the entire weekend. Attendees set up makeshift memorials in hallways for fallen anime characters, complete with tributes and notes. You could spot random abandoned props and full costumes left like artifacts, and giant poster paper plastered on walls covered in doodles. People hung up charming handmade flyers for upcoming events throughout the weekend, while an absurd abundance of normal and mutant Furbys made surprising appearances. Between custom Pokéstops set up inside the hall and pin trading stations, the organic community charm was everywhere you looked.

When you strip away all of the scheduled events, the guests, the consumerism, the absolute best part of Tekko is always the incredible people you meet. Hanging out with cosplay friends you only get to see once a year feels like no time has passed at all the moment you reunite. And it is so exciting to randomly run into long lost high school friends you haven’t seen in far longer than you’d care to admit. Striking up a random conversation with a complete stranger just because they’re wearing a shirt of a show you love is so easy here. One moment captured this spirit perfectly, when a little girl, no more than two years old, took off running because she saw her favourite character, Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon, who couldn’t have been older than twenty, was so sweet as she spent several minutes playing and chatting with the child and her parents. Seeing that pure, wholesome interaction embodied everything that makes Tekko such a special community.

And that’s a wrap on another incredible Tekko! This was by far the biggest year, with 13,632 attendees. The return of single day passes certainly helped, and hopefully they’ll return for next year. As we look towards the future, mark your calendars because Tekko next year will take place July 22nd to 25th, 2027 with a fresh theme focused on nature and going green. Voice actor Brian Beacock, known for his role as Monokuma in Danganronpa, has already been officially announced as the first guest, giving us even more reason to be excited! In the meantime, if your post-con depression is feeling a bit too heavy, be sure to check out the visiting partners below for other amazing conventions and activities to fill the gap. Until we meet again on the convention floor, keep working on those cosplays and making awesome memories with your fellow anime lovers!

July 23-26th, 2026