Events at AFO 2025

Our Main Events list for AFO 2025 is still being finalized, but you can expect to see your old favorites and some new events we’ve never hosted before!

Cosplay Contests

The Happy Happy Cosplay GO GO GO Cosplay Contest will be returning once again to AFO. Watch as cosplayers show off their crafting and performing skills on the Main Events stage! Prepare to be impressed by Central Florida’s best cosplayers, and see who wins all the awards for their cosplay craftmanship and more.

The 18+ Cosplay Contest is sure to dazzle and thrill our adult AFO audience. With prizes like Best Ass, Best Thirst Trap and Breast in Show, this is a contest our adult fans won’t want to miss.

Want to showcase your cosplay on the stage and just have fun with it? Come and strut your stuff on the Cosplay Catwalk. No need to sign up- just come to Game Show Theater on Sunday afternoon and get the chance to walk down the catwalk to showcase your cosplay. First time in costume or already have award-winning costumes? All are welcome on the Game Show Theater stage!

Tales of Orlandia

Tales of Orlandia is a Live Action Convention Experience (LACE) exclusive to Anime Festival Orlando. You can watch the story unfold on the Main Events and Game Show Theater stages, and you can even be part of the tale yourself by joining the Orlandia NPCs in the tavern throughout the weekend.

Game Show Theater

One of AFO’s great traditions is an all-weekend long Game Show Theater! Show off your anime knowledge and game show skills at one of many shows. 

Charity Auctions

Live Auction

It’s that time of the year again for giving and for getting too! We’re gearing up for the AFO Charity Auction, once more benefitting the Zebra Youth and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Central Florida. This year we’re including The Center Orlando! They promote and empower the LGBT+ community and its allies through information, education, advocacy, and support.

That’s right, you can help out people and critters in need as well by coming to bid on some of the wildest and most ridiculous things you can imagine. There are items worth hundreds of dollars going for pennies, there’s nearly worthless junk that ignites a bidding war. You can expect the unexpected! 100% of what we raise goes to help out organizations right here in Orlando. We’ll be accepting cash and electronic payments so there’s no reason to worry that we won’t be able to take the funds you want to give in order to help out our community friends.

The AFO Charity auction has been a part of donating more than $50,000 to deserving charities since its inception and this year promises to be our biggest auction yet! We’d love to see you there taking home all the trash and treasures for three very good causes.
 
 

Silent Auction

 
AFO is bigger than ever so what say you…to a second charity auction?!?! That’s right, this year we’re pulling out several of the stops. We’re not sure it’ll be all the stops just yet but this will be something special indeed: a higher-end silent auction to join our already sound and successful Sunday live charity one. Come and see what treasures await as you and your fellow attendees get down to it. The “it” being putting up lots of cold hard cash in the name of helping out your very own Central Florida Community.
 
Like the live version, proceeds will be split between the Zebra Youth, The Center Orlando, and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Central Florida. The highest bidders take home some truly unique items while two of our local charities will receive much needed donations, everybody wins!

AMV Contest

Every year, we host an AMV Contest featuring anime music videos made by creators from near and faraway places. We showcase the best ones and award prizes to the winners! You can find the AMV Contest application here.

Idol Fest

Grab your light sticks and get ready to cheer as Florida’s idol groups take the stage and show off their dancing skills at Idol Fest! (Hosted by Project AppleVerse)

Video Gaming

The Video Game Room at AFO is the place to be for hardcore and casual gamers alike! There will be video game tournaments throughout the weekend and free play available for old classics and new favorite video games. 

Tabletop Gaming

The Tabletop Game Room at AFO is a place where fans of traditional games can come together to play one-off games, longer games and even participate in tournaments.

The Cursed Cotillion

Welcome to The Cursed Cotillion, Anime Festival Orlando’s gothic horror prom  — where elegance drips in darkness and every soul is summoned to dance. where lace meets leather, and live performances by Nerdcore artists Azazus and Mac Ro and spinning from DJ gg fallenstar, this is your invitation to a night of haunting beauty and high energy.  Find more info about The Cursed Cotillion here.

Ongaku All Night (18+)

Get ready for Ongaku All Night: a Celebration of Video Game and Anime Music at AFO 2025! This event is a brand new offering in 3NINE, Rosen Plaza’s premiere nightclub venue. Brought to AFO by our friends at Ongaku Overdrive, this event will feature acts from Orlando and from far away places. This show will be headlined by Mega Ran and Lacey Johnson. Click here to see the full lineup of performers.

CosplayRavia with Tiny Waves (18+)

The only thing necessary for AFO to triumph…is for Tiny Waves’ CosRave to be resurrected and transformed into the all-powerful CosplayRavia! Raise your spirits and unleash your true might on the dancefloor, as our enigmatic lineup of the fiercest masters of musical mysticism ignite the soul of AFO with fiery beats and electrifying performances that are sure to get even Dracula’s heart pumping! Click here to see the full lineup of performers

AFO Presents: Breakdancing Kakashi's Dance Battle

Show us your moves! Get ready for Breakdancing Kakashi Presents: Dance Battle in Orlandia at Anime Festival Orlando 2025! Applications are now live for dancers who want to participate in this year’s battle. Click here to apply today.

Sweet Tooth Maid Cafe

Sweet Tooth Maid Cafe is a Florida based Maid Cafe and we’re honored to be a part of this year’s AFO! Join us for an enchanting show and delightful moments with our charming butlers and adorable maids while we guarantee the sweetest experience possible! We’re proud to showcase many types of people within our staff, in every size, shape and color of the rainbow! With multiple shows daily, we extend a warm invitation to our cozy realm of sugar, tailored just for our esteemed guests!