The facts
Next edition
Jan 8–10, 2027
Venue
Embassy Suites East Peoria Conference Center
City
East Peoria, Illinois (Peoria area)
Organiser
AnimeCon.org
First held
2010 (first held January 2010)
Kind
Anime
Masquerade / cosplay contest
Mainstage Grand Cosplay Contest
Tickets
3-day $34 until Nov 19, 2026, then $36–$40; day $20; Platinum $100
Prop & weapon policy
Swords allowed if tied in sheath or wood/plastic; never swung
About Anime-ZAP!
Anime-ZAP! is a three-day winter anime convention in the Peoria area of Illinois, organized by AnimeCon.org. The first edition was put together at short notice in January 2010 and drew more than 150 fans; it now draws over a thousand. The 2027 edition is January 8–10 at the Embassy Suites East Peoria Conference Center, where hotel rooms start at $138 a night.
A full three-day ticket is $34 through November 19, 2026, then rises to $36 and finally $40; a single day is $20, Sunday alone $15, and a Platinum badge $100.
The Mainstage Grand Cosplay Contest headlines the costume program. Swords are allowed only if tied shut in their sheath or made of wood or plastic, and may be used for still poses but never swung.
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