Anime Expo wrapped up its 35th anniversary celebration with record-breaking numbers. The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) announced that this year's four-day event drew more than 422,000 turnstile attendees, surpassing last year's 410,000.

The event, held July 2-5 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and surrounding venues including Crypto.com Arena and L.A. LIVE, attracted fans from more than 65 countries. The turnstile count—which adds up attendance for each day separately—reflects the massive daily crowds that packed the convention throughout the weekend.

Beyond attendance figures, the economic impact tells an even bigger story. This year's expo generated an estimated $115 million for Los Angeles, up from $110 million the previous year. That includes hotel bookings, food, merchandise, and other spending across the city.

"Turnstile attendance" might sound like an odd metric if you're not familiar with convention math. Unlike unique attendee counts, turnstile numbers count repeat visitors multiple times—so someone with a four-day pass gets counted four times. It's a standard way conventions measure foot traffic, and the number keeps climbing year after year.

The SPJA is already looking ahead. Anime Expo 2027 will return to the Los Angeles Convention Center July 2-5, falling on a Friday through Monday next year. Credentials will go on sale early 2027.

For context, Anime Expo remains one of North America's largest anime conventions and a major gathering point for fans, creators, and industry professionals. The event consistently hosts premiere announcements, panel discussions, artist alleys, and vendor halls that draw international crowds.

These numbers reflect anime's continued growth in mainstream popularity across the region, particularly in Southern California where the convention has called home for over three decades.