For the third year in a row, Otakon 2024 exceeded the previous year's record-breaking number, coming in at about 46,000, according to Otakorp.
Last year's number of 42,101 built on a previous record set in 2022, which was the first year that Otakon topped 40,000. Otakon 2024 marked the convention's 30th anniversary.
Otakorp President Brooke Zerrlaut said,
"Otakon was honored to celebrate its 30th anniversary with 46,000 friends and family. We cannot thank everyone enough for sharing this milestone with us! Even though our volunteer staff could use a week of sleep, we’re already planning for Otakon 2025. We hope to see you then."
The attendance number includes total memberships/attendees, both pre-registered and at-door, as well as staff, dealers, artists, industry, contractors, guests, and registered press.
The final number may be adjusted slightly after audits are conducted to ensure accuracy. Updated numbers, when completed, will appear on the Events Statistics page on the official Otakon website.
Hotel blocks for Otakon 2025 will open in a little more than a week, on Tuesday, August 13. Otakon 2025 will be held from August 8-10, 2025 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
ABOUT OTAKON AND OTAKORP, INC.: Now entering its thirty-first year, Otakon is an annual celebration of Japanese and East Asian popular culture, and also one of the largest gatherings of fans in the United States. Otakon celebrates popular culture as a gateway to deeper understanding of Asian culture, and has grown along with the enthusiasm for anime, manga, video games, and music from the Far East. Historically, Otakon has drawn over 40,000 people for three days each year (for a paid attendance of over 100,000 turnstile attendees). Otakon is a membership-based convention sponsored by Otakorp, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based, 501(c)3 educational non-profit whose mission is to promote the appreciation of Asian culture, primarily through its media and entertainment. Otakorp, Inc. is directed by an all-volunteer, unpaid staff – we are run by fans, for fans.
For more information about Otakorp, Inc., see https://www.otakorp.org/
For more information and the latest news on Otakon 2025, see https://www.otakon.com/