Have you ever wanted to know how you would look as a cat? a ninja? a ninja cat? Do you wonder what you and your bestie would look like as anime characters or fantasize about finally getting a picture of your D&D character to show off at the next session? Sketch Drive, one of Otafest's longest-running traditions (and best kept secrets) is where these ideas come to life!
Choose your favourite style from our team of talented artists and get your dream portrait sketched for a good cause. Half the cost of the sketch will go directly to the artist, with the rest going to Otafest's chosen charity so you're supporting a local artist and giving back to the community with a single purchase!
One, Two, Three… Ready—? Come dance your heart out to not only Hatsune Miku, but other Vocaloid Hits and Project Sekai Songs in this VOCA/SEKAI Random Play Dance! This panel is sure to a M@GICAL☆CURE! (LOVE SHOT!) for a boring morning!
Feeling stiff after a few hours of walknig around the convention? Coem get a relaxing massage from the students at Mount Royal University and you'll feel better in no time!
Are you a fan of giant robots? Do you like to build model kits? Then come on down to the Otafest Gunpla Hangar in the Acadia Room of the Marriott. Feel free to come in and build an experience kit, a kit you picked up on the show floor, take in the gunpla and Gundam related panels, or just hang out and chat with fellow Gunpla builders and Gundam fans.
If you want to show off your stuff, enter the Gunpla Hangar Showcase contest! With various categories and prizes, you can compete at the level of your choice.
Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 8:00pm MDT Acadia AB
Are you a fan of giant robots? Do you like to build model kits? Then come on down to the Otafest Gunpla Hangar in the Acadia Room of the Marriott. Feel free to come in and build an experience kit, a kit you picked up on the show floor, take in the gunpla and Gundam related panels, or just hang out and chat with fellow Gunpla builders and Gundam fans.
If you want to show off your stuff, enter the Gunpla Hangar Showcase contest! With various categories and prizes, you can compete at the level of your choice.
Friday May 15, 2026 10:00am - 8:00pm MDT Hillhurst
Need a break from all the hustle & bustle of the festival? Maybe you just want to find a place to curl up with a good book? Well you're in luck. The Otafest Manga library is a comfy place for you to relax in a quiet space and pick up a book from our collection of manga and light novels.
Looking to add some flair to your badge? Are you ready to get a badge ribbon roll going? If you've got ribbons to trade then this is the spot! Come on by during ribbon swap hours to meet fellow ribbon enthusiasts and spread the fun!
Are you a fan of incredible vocal performances? Do you love watching talented singers compete for glory and recognition? The Ota Factor is where the community's best vocalists come together to showcase their skills and compete for top honours! This exciting event is the perfect opportunity to enjoy amazing live music and support local performers who are ready to give their best performance and sing their hearts out. Best of all, the qualified panel of judges aren't the only ones who get to choose the singer's fate! You also get to vote and give your favourite performer the Audience's Choice prize! So come and enjoy these brilliant performances from passionate singers that are sure to entertain and move you, as they compete for the glory of being recognized as the best.
Don’t miss a high-energy Q&A with Howard Wang, the voice behind popular characters like Himura Kenshin, Xie Lian, Wuyang, and much more! Hear behind-the-scenes stories, industry insights, and real advice straight from a pro. Got questions? He’s got answers—Let's see some sparks fly!
Tech support? Look no further than the Cyborg Seiyu, CyYu aka Alejandro Saab! Got questions for him about VTubing? About his VTuber? Or do you have questions about the characters he voiced? Come join him in this one-hour panel to talk about his roles and VTubing!
Come meet Vtuber guest PorcelainMaid! He has been streaming on twitch as a Vtuber for over 10 years. He is a Twitch Partner, variety streamer who streams games, art streams, Porcelain Parlor, and is known for his interaction with his community. Learn about Vtubing, streaming on Twitch, collaborating with others, and come say hello or ask him some questions.
Joshua started off recording both in indie and professional work from their college dorm in nursing school and has far too many tips and tricks of the trade as a result! If you have any questions about where to go for auditions, how to set up audio at home, or just questions about voice work in general, stop by and say hello.
Looking to add some flair to your badge? Are you ready to get a badge ribbon roll going? If you've got ribbons to trade then this is the spot! Come on by during ribbon swap hours to meet fellow ribbon enthusiasts and spread the fun!
How do I get sempai to notice me? What manga should I watch next? How do you hide a dead Pokémon? The 404s are here to help with any questions you may have! Bring your craziest questions to our panelists and get three hilariously different perspectives on what you should do. Disclaimer: Advice given from the Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Advice panelists is meant for entertainment purposes only, and it’s probably not the best idea to take advice from comedians in the first place...
Come meet our guest Papamutt, a variety Vtuber & Twitch Partner who is known for chaotic streams, ghost hunting, cooking streams, Cinemutt media nights, and more! Learn about streaming, Vtubing, and get a change to come up to the mic and say hello or ask any burning questions.
Do you have horrible taste in men? Women? Monsters? Don't worry, we all do. Come and present your strange and weird anime crushes as our panel of expert judges judge your tastes and rate your choices!
Have you ever wanted to know how you would look as a cat? a ninja? a ninja cat? Do you wonder what you and your bestie would look like as anime characters or fantasize about finally getting a picture of your D&D character to show off at the next session? Sketch Drive, one of Otafest's longest-running traditions (and best kept secrets) is where these ideas come to life!
Choose your favourite style from our team of talented artists and get your dream portrait sketched for a good cause. Half the cost of the sketch will go directly to the artist, with the rest going to Otafest's chosen charity so you're supporting a local artist and giving back to the community with a single purchase!
Join voice actor Howard Wang for an engaging Q&A session as he shares insights from his career in anime and gaming. From stories behind the mic to advice for aspiring performers, Howard offers a candid look at the craft of voice acting and what it takes to succeed in the industry. Bring your questions and get ready for an informative and entertaining discussion!
Feeling stiff after a few hours of walknig around the convention? Coem get a relaxing massage from the students at Mount Royal University and you'll feel better in no time!
Are you a fan of giant robots? Do you like to build model kits? Then come on down to the Otafest Gunpla Hangar in the Acadia Room of the Marriott. Feel free to come in and build an experience kit, a kit you picked up on the show floor, take in the gunpla and Gundam related panels, or just hang out and chat with fellow Gunpla builders and Gundam fans.
If you want to show off your stuff, enter the Gunpla Hangar Showcase contest! With various categories and prizes, you can compete at the level of your choice.
Saturday May 16, 2026 10:00am - 8:00pm MDT Acadia AB
Are you a fan of giant robots? Do you like to build model kits? Then come on down to the Otafest Gunpla Hangar in the Acadia Room of the Marriott. Feel free to come in and build an experience kit, a kit you picked up on the show floor, take in the gunpla and Gundam related panels, or just hang out and chat with fellow Gunpla builders and Gundam fans.
If you want to show off your stuff, enter the Gunpla Hangar Showcase contest! With various categories and prizes, you can compete at the level of your choice.
Saturday May 16, 2026 10:00am - 8:00pm MDT Hillhurst
Need a break from all the hustle & bustle of the festival? Maybe you just want to find a place to curl up with a good book? Well you're in luck. The Otafest Manga library is a comfy place for you to relax in a quiet space and pick up a book from our collection of manga and light novels.
Looking to add some flair to your badge? Are you ready to get a badge ribbon roll going? If you've got ribbons to trade then this is the spot! Come on by during ribbon swap hours to meet fellow ribbon enthusiasts and spread the fun!
Come meet voice actor Kyle McCarley, most known for his work in Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, Mob Psycho 100, NieR: Automata, and Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia. Chat about voice acting in anime and video games, and get to know Kyle in this one hour panel.
Think you know anime openings? What if it was only the drums? Only the drums and bass? Maybe everything but the vocals? Test your knowledge in a game to guess anime openings from increasingly complete versions in a 1-on-1 song-recognizing competition against your anime peers!
Jing Yuan? Cyno? Anton Ivanov? The voice behind these wonderful characters is here to answer your questions! Come join him in this one-hour panel to dive into not only his Hoyoverse roles, but all of his other characters too!
Join Kira Buckland—the voice behind Jolyne Cujoh (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure), and Mitsuri Kanroji (Kimetsu no Yaiba/Demon Slayer), and 2B (NieR Automata)—for a behind-the-scenes look at voice acting, her career journey, and fan-favorite roles.
Actors learn improv... And Nerds learn NERDPROV! Join the The 404s in this interactive workshop, where you will look behind the curtains of the comedy they bring to events around the country - and how the fandoms we all love power their shows. Learn some improv exercises, practice some stage games, and create a brand-new comedy team where YOU will lead the laughter!
Join voice actor Joshua Waters, known for voicing in LGBTQ+ projects like Sasaki and Miyano, Given, Twilight Out of Focus, and more in a discussion about our favorite queer media, authentic queer representation, how to approach characters in LGBTQ+ projects, and more!
Looking to add some flair to your badge? Are you ready to get a badge ribbon roll going? If you've got ribbons to trade then this is the spot! Come on by during ribbon swap hours to meet fellow ribbon enthusiasts and spread the fun!
Come meet Vtuber guest Froggyloch, a fairy who is a bundle of whimsy and chaos. She is a skilled indie Vartist and Twitch Partner who does variety streams, cover songs, and art streams. Learn about streaming, Vtubing, and get a change to come up to the mic and say hello or ask any burning questions.
Introducing the Otafest Lounge, a new addition to our late night programming! Grab a seat and enjoy open mic karaoke all night, with trivia, and name that tune sprinkled in for extra fun (and prizes!)
Lend me thine ears for the topic of: if villain so bad, why so hot? Who sits at the intersection of villainy and rizz? Who's the villain you hate to love? Only attendees will get the sizzling answers to these burning questions. Rated M for Mature.
I'm sure you've heard tale of the masterpieces we've created before. Come join us, relive our 2025 masterpiece, and help us make something better. Or worse, maybe? Bring your most cursed ideas and help write something horrible, together!
Have you ever wanted to know how you would look as a cat? a ninja? a ninja cat? Do you wonder what you and your bestie would look like as anime characters or fantasize about finally getting a picture of your D&D character to show off at the next session? Sketch Drive, one of Otafest's longest-running traditions (and best kept secrets) is where these ideas come to life!
Choose your favourite style from our team of talented artists and get your dream portrait sketched for a good cause. Half the cost of the sketch will go directly to the artist, with the rest going to Otafest's chosen charity so you're supporting a local artist and giving back to the community with a single purchase!
Are you a fan of giant robots? Do you like to build model kits? Then come on down to the Otafest Gunpla Hangar in the Acadia Room of the Marriott. Feel free to come in and build an experience kit, a kit you picked up on the show floor, take in the gunpla and Gundam related panels, or just hang out and chat with fellow Gunpla builders and Gundam fans.
If you want to show off your stuff, enter the Gunpla Hangar Showcase contest! With various categories and prizes, you can compete at the level of your choice.
Sunday May 17, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm MDT Hillhurst
Feeling stiff after a few hours of walknig around the convention? Coem get a relaxing massage from the students at Mount Royal University and you'll feel better in no time!
Are you a fan of giant robots? Do you like to build model kits? Then come on down to the Otafest Gunpla Hangar in the Acadia Room of the Marriott. Feel free to come in and build an experience kit, a kit you picked up on the show floor, take in the gunpla and Gundam related panels, or just hang out and chat with fellow Gunpla builders and Gundam fans.
If you want to show off your stuff, enter the Gunpla Hangar Showcase contest! With various categories and prizes, you can compete at the level of your choice.
Sunday May 17, 2026 10:00am - 7:00pm MDT Acadia AB
Need a break from all the hustle & bustle of the festival? Maybe you just want to find a place to curl up with a good book? Well you're in luck. The Otafest Manga library is a comfy place for you to relax in a quiet space and pick up a book from our collection of manga and light novels.
Looking to add some flair to your badge? Are you ready to get a badge ribbon roll going? If you've got ribbons to trade then this is the spot! Come on by during ribbon swap hours to meet fellow ribbon enthusiasts and spread the fun!
Come on down to our main events room, where we spend some time chatting with this year's North American voice acting guests: Bryson Baugus, Kira Buckland, Kyle McCarley, Alejandro Saab, Howard Wang and Joshua Waters!
Join The 404s for a live, off-the-cuff TTRPG session set in our ongoing G.I. Joe and Transformers crossover universe, featuring characters from our Neon Knights and Prairie Protocol games! With audience participation helping shape the enemies, the stakes, and the direction of the story, no two shows are ever the same. Everything created at the table becomes canon and carries forward into our shared Twitch campaign. Step in and help decide what happens next!
How well can you improv a funny bit? We think most would flounder if put on the spot but it might be funny to watch nonetheless! So we kidnapped a few internet mascots to see how well they could do it in front of a live audience! Join us for the Impromptuber Gameshow!
Our annual charity auction is back! Looking for the perfect way to blend your love of Japanese culture AND donate to a good cause? There is a way to do just that!
Our local moustachioed voice actor Brendan Hunter returns to helm the charity auction. Come on by and bid for your favourite items such as donated artwork, games, figurines, and more; all proceeds will be donated to Canadian Cancer Society. There's nothing like helping those in need, and this is sure to help you add one good deed to your bucket list!
Are you a fan of giant robots? Do you like to build model kits? Then come on down to the Otafest Gunpla Hangar in the Acadia Room of the Marriott. Feel free to come in and build an experience kit, a kit you picked up on the show floor, take in the gunpla and Gundam related panels, or just hang out and chat with fellow Gunpla builders and Gundam fans.
If you want to show off your stuff, enter the Gunpla Hangar Showcase contest! With various categories and prizes, you can compete at the level of your choice.
Join us once again for a perfect evening of singing along to your favourite Disney Songs. From new to old, popular to niche, "that was Disney?"-- we have a little bit of it all! (But don't worry, it's mostly the catchy ones)
Want to extend the Otafest fun? Gather your crew to join THE REBELLION rave!Once the sun sets, the textbooks are burned, and the daytime students have fled... that's when THE MIDNIGHT CLASSROOM starts! Join other delinquents at the Otafest's Official 2026 After Party where the night is young, vibrant and ripe for the taking! From Tokyo Revengers to classic anime rebels, we’re bringing the aesthetic to life at The Palace Theatre. This isn’t just a party, it’s a full experience!
✨ THE EXPERIENCE ✨ 🔥 Top Anime Hits and Remixes All Night Long! 🔥 "Mugshot" Photobooth Station - Capture "Wanted" Photos with Friends! 🔥 Underground Club - Score Anime Merch and Exclusive Gear! 🔥 Immersive Real-Time Animation Visuals! 🔥 Idol Uprising - Live J-Pop Idol group performances!
⚡SCHEDULE TO BE ANNOUNCED...
🕘 Doors open at 9PM 🔞 ID required (18+) 🎫 Secure Your Spot Now - Tickets are Limited
Sunday May 17, 2026 9:00pm - Monday May 18, 2026 2:00am MDT The Palace Theatre219 8 Ave SW, Calgary
