AFA Singapore 2025: Japan Pop Culture Takes Over Suntec in a Weekend Extravaganza

The Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2025 (AFASG25) has officially opened its doors at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, Level 4, running from 28 to 30 November. As Southeast Asia’s largest and most iconic Anime, Comics, and Games experiential festival, it promises a weekend filled with visual and sensory delights for Japanese pop culture, anime, gaming, cosplay, and art enthusiasts.

We headed down today to take a look and it did not disappoint.

Explore over 250 exhibiting booths and encounter more than 200 creators and cosplayers across the Creators Hub and Cosplay Hub.

The event also boasts a spectacular line-up, featuring 16 artists and groups for the I LOVE ANISONG Music Festival and 13 stage showcases with over 20 special guests.

The venue was bustling with activities today, drawing large groups of cosplayers, and passionate anime and manga fans bonding and enjoying the vibrant atmosphere together. The cleaner layout this year has certainly made the experience more exciting and lively, with the experiential booths packed at the front, while the fan activites are concentrated behind and near the stage area.

The core of AFASG25 is divided into several segments: the Exhibition Hall, Day Stage, I LOVE ANISONG Music Festival, and Meet and Greets, along with special programs like art exhibitions.

The massive Exhibition Hall, known as Akiba Town, is a center for all things Japan Pop Culture, offering exclusive merchandise, services, and immersive interactions. Key exhibitors include industry heavyweights like TOHO, MANGA Plus by Shueisha, and KADOKAWA. This section was the highlight for us this year.

Exclusive merchandise only sold at or debuting at AFASG25 is a major draw. Attendees can find specific themed areas like the Bocchi the Rock! merch booth, the Makoto Shinkai Movies Exhibition booth, and the JOJOCARAVAN booth, including a Jojo Bizarre Adventure manga art exhibition.

The energy extends to the Game On area, dedicated to gaming with exciting titles from top developers and publishers, offering chances to try out games from blockbusters to indies, which also includes engaging activities like the Yugioh card games demo and trial, and PlayStation game showcases.

Crunchyroll‘s presence includes experience booths, as well as a Kpop Demon Hunters booth offering merchandise and free photo prints, adding to the wide array of activities.

The Exhibition Hall also houses the Cosplay Hub, where nearly 50 of the top cosplayers from the region are gathering to meet fans , and the Creators Hub, featuring 158 booths where creators like illustrators and crafters exhibit and sell their self-published art and merchandise.

For quick refreshment, the Food Street offers hearty Japanese snacks and light bites.

Additionally, the AFA NEXT STAGE, formerly the Akiba Stage, features a new layout for deeper fan engagement and hosts the grand finale of the Cosplay Singles Competition. Attendees can even partake in the traditional Japanese Cho-Bon Dance on this stage.

Separately, the Day Stage is a dedicated hall hosting a variety of special events throughout the three days. These include special talk shows, premiere screenings of new anime titles, and exclusive content direct from Japan. Day 2 featured appearances from voice actors from popular titles like Frieren: Beyond the Journey’s End, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX!, The Holy Grail of Eris, and The Apothecary Diaries. The voice of Shobijin, Akari Rito, was also on stage for Chibi Godzilla.

Nighttime brings the highly anticipated I LOVE ANISONG Music Festival, sponsored by Crunchyroll, featuring three themed stages. Fans also have the chance to get close to renowned anime voice actors, creators, cosplayers, and performers at the exclusive Meet & Greet Sessions.

The festival, organized by SOZO and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, is a major highlight on Singapore’s leisure events calendar, drawing in younger travelers like Gen Zs and millennials seeking unique experiences.

Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2025 is running until Sunday, 30 November.

With an extensive line-up and special showcases, limited tickets are still available, starting from $22 for Exhibition only or $35 for Day Stage + Exhibition access.

Don’t miss this massive celebration of Japanese pop culture!