Beirut’s Biggest Anime Convention Is Almost Here! What to Expect at Natsu Matsuri 2026

Those in the know are already familiar with the biannual anime and Japanese culture festival organized by Kaliko Friends, but if you’ve never been, this is what to expect. Coming back for its summer edition, Natsu Matsuri 2026 is gearing up for another weekend packed with anime, cosplay, Japanese culture, games, and plenty of activities for fans of all ages.

Here’s what the schedule is looking like so far:

Over the two days, the festival will bring together cosplayers, gamers, artists, and anime fans under one roof. The program will include a cosplay competition, video game competitions, a Japanese District, and an Artist Alley.

Workshops, performances, music, food, and other activities will also be part of the weekend. The full schedule will be posted soon!

The Main Event: The Cosplay Competition!

Of course, one of the biggest moments of Natsu Matsuri will be the cosplay competition, where talented cosplayers get to show off everything they’ve created. The competition will be divided into three categories: Catwalk, Craftsmanship, and Performance, giving contestants different ways to stand out, whether through their costume, their attention to detail, or their stage presence.

Three judges will take on the tough job of choosing the winners. The judges panel includes professional cosplayers Zee Cosplay from Egypt and Kyuubivi from Austria, and Lebanese actress Natasha Choufani. Organized and hosted by Jackie, one of Lebanon’s cosplay pioneers, who will keep things moving on stage.

With the cosplays, creativity, and performances all coming together, this is definitely one part of the festival you’ll want to stick around for. If you want to learn more about Lebanon’s cosplay community, click here.

Location: Ava Venue, Achrafieh, Beirut
Date: September 12–13, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM
Tickets: $12 for 1 day | $20 for 2 days | $15 at the door

For more information, check out Kaliko’s Instagram!

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