*Tangerang, August 16, 2026* — Anime Festival Asia Indonesia 2026 (AFAID26) kicked off in spectacular fashion at Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) BSD City, Hall 1 & 2, bringing together thousands of fans for a full day of anime, music, cosplay, creators, and Japanese pop culture.
Celebrating *AFA 10th anniversary in Indonesia* under the theme “Celebrate the Magic of Japan Pop Culture,” the festival opened its doors at 10:00 AM and continued with a packed schedule of activities throughout the day. Organized by *SOZO Pte Ltd* in collaboration with *PK Entertainment*, AFAID26 once again proved why it remains one of Southeast Asia’s biggest celebrations of Japanese pop culture.
AFA Next Stage Kept Fans Entertained All Day
From late morning through the afternoon, the *AFA Next Stage* became one of the festival’s main attractions, featuring a diverse lineup of performances and special appearances.
The day began with an energetic *Idol Showcase by Meishohikokai*, followed by a VTuber Showcase featuring *Pandavva*and a Music Showcase by *Daruma Rollin’*.
Anime fans were treated to a special *Detective Conan* session featuring legendary voice actress *Noriko Hidaka*, while animation enthusiasts gained behind-the-scenes insights from *Manabu Otsuka*, President & CEO of MAPPA, and *Kiyoshi Matsuda*.
Music fans also enjoyed a special performance by Eurobeat legend *Dave Rodgers*, while the Cosplay Showcase featuring *Rukia, Romu, and Kumose Chio* brought beloved characters to life.
Another highly anticipated session featured *Sally Amaki* and *Needy Girl Overdose*, before the day continued with the *Stamp Rally Lucky Draw*, giving festivalgoers the chance to win exciting prizes.
AFA Music Fest Turns ICE BSD City into a J-Rock and Anisong Celebration
As evening arrived, the excitement moved to the *AFA Music Fest*, where thousands of fans gathered for a night filled with Japanese music.
Opening the concert was *Sally Amaki*, followed by an impressive lineup featuring anisong singer *ASCA*, Tokyo rock duo *BACK-ON*, VSinger *Isekaijoucho*, digital music producer *kz (livetune)*, and J-rock powerhouse *SPYAIR*.
The atmosphere reached another level as BACK-ON and SPYAIR delivered some of their most recognizable anime theme songs, prompting massive sing-alongs across the venue.
With its combination of anisong, electronic music, alternative sounds, and high-energy rock, the first night of AFAID26 Music Fest became one of the festival’s standout highlights.
A Colorful Exhibition Filled with Brands, Merchandise, and Interactive Experiences
Beyond the stages, the exhibition area was packed with booths from major brands and popular IPs, offering fans plenty of opportunities to explore, shop, take photos, and participate in interactive activities.
Participating brands included *AVEX, Crunchyroll, Fitbar, Hello Kingdom, Honda, Honor of Kings, Hydro Coco, iQOO, Kyou Hobby, Lumica, Phoenix Gramedia Indonesia, Rexus, Universal Music Indonesia*, and many others.
Fans of *Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage* could also visit the themed *Hatsune Miku Café*, while *JOJOCARAVAN* became another popular destination for exclusive merchandise and photo opportunities.
AFAID26 also introduced *AFA Cardverse*, a dedicated zone for trading card enthusiasts featuring several TCG exhibitors and giving collectors the opportunity to discover and hunt for rare cards.
Meanwhile, the *Astra Honda Motor* booth combined futuristic automotive technology with Japanese pop culture, showcasing the Genio and Beat models in an interactive exhibition space that attracted fans, cosplayers, and automotive communities alike.
For visitors looking to recharge, the *Hydro Coco x Fitbar* collaboration offered refreshing coconut water, healthy snacks, exclusive merchandise, and mini-games throughout the festival.
Cosplay and Creators Take Center Stage
The *Cosplay Hub* was another major crowd favorite, with visitors gathering to meet and photograph guest cosplayers including *Cxiela, JIAJIA佳佳, Preston Les, Yukitora Keiji, and XIAOYUKIKO*.
Meanwhile, the *Creators Hub*highlighted the creativity of local artists and creators. From original illustrations and handmade accessories to custom merchandise, creators such as Anibow, Basakila, CATHZ, Kuromitsu Kitsune, Lunacerra, and Pixelo*brought a unique creative atmosphere to the festival.
Food Street and Community Hub Complete the Festival Experience
After hours of exploring the festival, fans could refuel at *Food Street*, which featured a wide range of food and beverage options from Yoshinoya, FamilyMart, Kopi Kenangan, Floridina, Ayam Pak Gembus, Telur Dadar Bangkok, Home Oishi, Street Mentai, Best Culinary, and Mie Sedaap Ramen Yes.
Mie Sedaap Ramen Yes also brought a special *Mi Goreng Tokyo Chicken Yakitori*, combining Japanese-inspired flavors with its signature fried noodle taste.
The *Community Hub* further showcased the strength of Indonesia’s Japanese pop culture community, bringing together groups such as Blue Archive Community Jabodetabek, Uma Musume Indonesia, YOASOBI Indonesia, Wuthering Waves Indonesia, and Jabodetabek Airdasher.
Day Two Promises Even Bigger Moments
After an action-packed first day, AFAID26 is ready to take the excitement even further on *August 16*.
One of the biggest highlights will be the Southeast Asian debut of *TOGENASHI TOGEARI* through the “Rinne no Kotowari” tour, alongside a special talk show with renowned Japanese illustrator *LAM*.
Fans can also look forward to appearances by *Aya Emori* and *Yuina from Love Live! Superstar!!*, as well as the *AFA Cosplay Singles Competition*, where talented cosplayers will compete for cash prizes.
With even more performances, special guests, cosplay, creators, and fan experiences on the schedule, the second day is set to be another unforgettable celebration of Japanese pop culture.
For the latest updates and festival highlights, fans can follow @afaid_ig and @animefestivalasia on Instagram and visit the official AFA website.
About AFAID26
*Anime Festival Asia Indonesia (AFAID)* is one of Southeast Asia’s largest Japanese pop culture festivals, organized by SOZO Pte Ltd. In 2026, AFA celebrates its *10th edition in Indonesia* under the theme “Celebrate the Magic of Japan Pop Culture.”
Taking place at *ICE BSD City, Hall 1 & 2, on August 15–16, 2026*, AFAID26 continues AFA’s mission of bringing fans together through anime, music, cosplay, creators, and Japanese pop culture.
Since its establishment in 2008, Anime Festival Asia has grown into a leading Japanese pop culture convention in Southeast Asia, staging more than 30 events, featuring over 520 performers and more than 2,300 exhibitors, while welcoming over 2.3 million visitors across six cities, from Singapore to Tokyo.
AFA Singapore has also received the *Outstanding Leisure Event* award multiple times at the Singapore Tourism Awards.
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