Naka-Kon

Naka-Kon began in 2005 as a one-day event at the University of Kansas and grew into a three-day convention in the Kansas City area. It is run as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that also fundraises for charities tied to sharing Japanese culture. The 2027 edition is March 12–14 at the Overland Park Convention Center.

Cosplay is a large part of the weekend: the Main Stage Cosplay Contest covers craftsmanship, runway walks and skits and awards a delegate spot for the Holiday Matsuri Winter Cosplay Championship, alongside a Hallway Cosplay Contest and the IC4 build challenge.

Metal props with sharp points or edges, airsoft and paintball guns, and fake firearms that resemble real ones are prohibited, and security treats anything that looks like a real weapon as one.