Anime Arizona returns to Phoenix this weekend. How to get tickets

The three-day event will feature Christopher Sabat and Sean Schemmel from "Dragon Ball Z" and other voice actors.

March 19, 2025

Image: A local cosplayer during Anime Arizona in 2023.

A local cosplayer during Anime Arizona in 2023. Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0/Flickr

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Anime fandom in Arizona is at an all-time high. For proof, look no further than the sheer number of conventions and fandom events that have spawned since the pandemic (spoiler: it’s a lot.)

One of the newer local conventions to emerge during the Japanese-born art form’s recent surge in popularity is Anime Arizona, a weekend-long event featuring three days of voice actor appearances, vendors, cosplay and more.

Originally launched in 2022 at the Mesa Convention Center, the con took an unexpected hiatus last year due to unspecified reasons. It’s set to return this weekend at a new location with a sizeable lineup of vendors and guests.

Anime Arizona 2025 takes place from Friday to Sunday at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel. Multiple voice actors from “Dragon Ball Z” will appear, including Christopher Sabat, Patrick Seitz and Sean Schemmel. Here’s everything to know about the event.

click to enlarge

A sign outside of Anime Arizona in 2023.

Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0/Flickr

What day is Anime Arizona?

Anime Arizona is from Friday, March 21, to Sunday, March 23

Anime Arizona hours

Here are the official hours of Anime Arizona 2025. VIP ticketholders can enter one hour prior:

Friday, March 21: 2 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 22: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 23: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where is the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel?

The hotel is at 9495 W. Entertainment Blvd. in Glendale. It’s located next to Westgate Entertainment District near Maryland and 95th avenues.

How much is Anime Arizona?

Anime Arizona tickets are available at animearizona.com.

Single-day general admission is $29.99 for Friday, $44.99 for Saturday $34.99 for Sunday. A three-day full event badge is $64.99 per person. VIP passes for Anime Arizona are sold out.

click to enlarge

"Dragon Ball Z" voice actor Christopher Sabat at Anime Arizona in 2023.

Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0/Flickr

Anime Arizona 2025 guests

More than 30 voice actors from popular anime series and films are set to appear at this year’s event. Here’s the full guest lineup:

Zach Aguilar
Alex Brightman
Griffin Burns
Ray Chase
Luci Christian
Justin Cook
Robbie Daymond
Chris Edgerly
Kellen Goff
Richard Horvitz
Aleks Le
Cherami Leigh
E. Jason Liebrecht
Erica Lindbeck
Elizabeth Maxwell
Daman Mills
Max Mittelman
Xander Mobus
Trina Nishimura
Vivian Nixon-Williams
Bryce Papenbrook
Kyle Phillips
Bryce Pinkham
Brandon Rogers
Christopher Sabat
Sean Schemmel
Patrick Seitz
Stephanie Sheh
Ian Sinclair
Sonny Strait
Eric Vale
Cristina Vee
Dave Wittenberg

click to enlarge

A glimpse at the vendor hall at Anime Arizona in 2023.

Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0/Flickr

Vendors

Anime Arizona will showcase a selection of more than 100 vendors. The lineup will include retailers like Samurai Comics, creators, anime-focused vendors and more. An artist alley will feature 100 different artists from Arizona and elsewhere.

Anime Arizona security

Attendees will pass through metal detectors and undergo prop and bag checks by security at the entrance.

Anime Arizona bag policy

Oversized bags and backpacks are not allowed. All other bags will be subject to search by event security.

What isn’t allowed at Anime Arizona?

Drugs or illegal substances
Hoverboards, skateboards, drones, carts, wagons
Laser pointers
Fireworks, sparklers or other incendiary devices or flammable liquids
Helium or Mylar balloons
Confetti or glitter

Benjamin Leatherman is a staff writer for Phoenix New Times where he focuses primarily on arts, culture, music and nightlife. He joined New Times in 2003. Prior to that, he contributed to magazines such as Tips & Tricks and The Wrestler. Benjamin has earned multiple awards from the Arizona Press Club including an award for sports enterprise reporting in 2009 and an award for statewide arts reporting in 2014. He holds a bachelor’s of arts in journalism from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

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