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Convention Review

Castle Point Anime Convention 2026

By JccJcat • May 9, 2026

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CPあC 2026 Review: The Convention New Jersey Needs

Alrighty, everyone! We are back from the Meadowlands Exposition Center for Castle Point Anime Convention 2026. If you’ve been following the blog or the channel for a while, you know CPあC holds a special place in my heart—I’ve been attending since 2013! What started as a campus event at Stevens Institute of Technology has blossomed into something much bigger. Is it still a “student-run” con? Technically, yes. But does it feel like an amateur hour? Absolutely not.

The Overview

Convention Type Anime
Location: Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, NJ
Size Small/Small-Medium (~5,000 attendees)
Vibe Professionally polished, community-driven, and surprisingly high-octane for its scale.

CPあC is run by Anime Critics United, Inc., a non-profit primarily led by Stevens students and alumni. This was their 18th event, and honestly? It shows. They have the logistics down pat. While you won’t see the massive, multi-million dollar booths of a NYC event, the “student-run” DNA gives it a mature, cozy, yet ambitious atmosphere.

Convention Size & General Stats

While official numbers aren’t out yet, my “con-radar” puts us right around the 5,000 attendee mark. It felt busy—especially with the Love Live! fans coming in from across the country—but never uncomfortable.

The big win this year was the logistics overhaul. They reorganized the line management for autographs and main events, moving the cosplay photoshoot area to the front and grouping the high-traffic zones together. This allowed the staff to adjust the “line corrals” as needed. The MEC lobby handled registration and badge pickup like a champ, with the overflow moving outside in a way that actually kept the interior from becoming a sardine can.

Location & Venue

Since moving to Secaucus in 2018, CPあC has found its “Goldilocks” zone.

The Food Situation: Look, con food is always a “convenience tax” (shoutout to Go!Go!Curry! and Wild Bills for being staples), but the real MVP of this location is the Plaza at Harmon Meadow. You’ve got CAVA, Shake Shack, and Dave’s Hot Chicken within walking distance. We hit up Buffalo Wild Wings, but if you’re looking to feast, there’s also a K-Pot nearby now!

The MEC: It’s the perfect size for where the con is right now. They utilize the Expo Center for the “loud” stuff (Dealers, Artists, Main Stage) and the nearby Harmony Suites for the more intimate programming like the Maid Cafe.

Parking & Transit: Unlike the nightmare that is Hoboken parking, Secaucus offers plenty of free garages. Plus, it’s super accessible via NJ Transit for the out-of-towners.

Ikuyo Tip

There is a Walmart and Sam’s Club right behind the center. Please, for the love of all things anime, eat a real meal. Don't run on chips and energy drinks. Your body will thank you.

Ikuyo Mascot

Guests & Events

HOW DOES A LOCAL CON GET LOVE LIVE SEIYUUS TWO YEARS IN A ROW? Seriously, the guest list was stacked: Shu Uchida, Zeno Robinson, Kira Buckland, Ricco Fajardo, Lotus Juice, and Yuina.

One of my Highlights: The Lotus Juice performance was pure hype. Seeing the crowd bust out JoJo poses for Overdrive or singing along to Persona 3 tracks was a core memory moment for the 2026 season.

Programming: With six pages of scheduled events, this felt like a full-scale convention. Every room was utilized every hour. My only gripe? Some of the more popular panels definitely outgrew their rooms—though the Shu Uchida Q&A in the Main Events area was handled perfectly.

Guests & Events

Exhibitors & Artists

Dealers Hall: A solid 22 vendors ranging from official figure sellers to TCG shops. The spacing here was actually too good—lots of room to walk, which makes me wonder if they could have sacrificed some of this space for the…

Artist Alley: This was a massive showing with 102 artists! The variety was incredible—I could have gone broke here easily. However, it was a bit of a tight squeeze. The inner aisles felt uncomfortably narrow during peak hours. Great selection, but please, CPあC, give these talented folks some breathing room next year!

Gaming & Activities

Even without Snow Phoenix this year, the gaming section held its own. Between Origin of Play (consoles), Nerd Mall (board games), and Riichi Nomi NYC (Mahjong), there was always something to do. Save Point kept the arcade vibes alive, proving you don’t need a massive footprint to have a functional gaming hall.

The Final Verdict

CPあC is the convention that New Jersey needs. It manages to bridge the gap between a “local hangout” and a “major feature event” without losing its soul. It’s well-managed, affordable, and punches way above its weight class in terms of musical guests and programming. Here is how it stacks up:

Location & Venue
7.0
Exhibit Hall
6.0
Artist Alley
8.0
Guests & Events
8.0
Overall Value
8.0

Who is this convention for?

The Target Audience: The Local Con-Goer – If you want the “big con” features—concerts, world-class VAs, and a huge Artist Alley—but hate the “big con” stress and prices, this is your event.

Ikuyo Mascot