Otakon is bringing serious star power to Washington, D.C. this summer. The convention announced its 2026 guest roster, led by voice actress Ayaka Fukuhara and Maki Terashima-Furuta, president of Production I.G. USA.

Fukuhara's resume spans major franchises—she voices Rin Shibuya in The IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls and has roles in everything from Kakegurui to Plus-Sized Elf and Azur Lane. Terashima-Furuta brings decades of industry experience to the table, having produced acclaimed projects including FLCL Alternative, Love Hina, and the recent Uzumaki adaptation.

But that's just the start. The guest list reads like a who's who of anime production. Voice actors Ryōtarō Okiayu and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka will be on hand, alongside directors Yūji Yanase and Nobuharu Kamanaka. Production I.G co-founder Takayuki Gotō is attending, along with BONES president Masahiko Minami. Crunchyroll's Final Fantasy XIV localization leads Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and Toshio Murouchi round out some of the international talent.

The roster also includes voice actress Yuka Iguchi, manga artists Mitsuru Sangō and Ichi Sayo, and several other industry veterans across production, direction, and character design roles. Otakon clearly aimed high in booking guests this year.

Otakon 2026 runs July 31–August 2 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The convention also implemented a notable policy change this year: fan art sales are no longer permitted in the dealers room. Artists who want to sell fan creations can apply for the artist alley without penalty, a move clearly designed to better support original creators at the event.

With this lineup, attendees can expect panels covering everything from voice acting and character design to industry trends and localization—making this one of the year's most stacked convention rosters.