2026닅·2026年·FIRST TIMER
Your Complete Convention Guide

What to Expect at Your First Anime Convention

Never been to a convention before? Here is everything you need to know before attending Knox Pop Con 2026 — Knoxville's anime, K-Pop & cosplay convention on May 2 at Bridgewater Place.

May 2, 2026
Bridgewater Place
4PM–10PM

Tickets from $30 · VIP from $125

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Before You Go

Your Convention Packing Checklist

A few essentials that will make your first convention significantly more enjoyable.

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Comfortable Shoes
This is the single most important thing you can do for yourself. You will be standing, walking, and probably dancing for several hours. Leave the heels and brand-new shoes at home. Wear something broken in. Your feet will thank you around hour three.
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Cash for Vendors
Most of the 30+ vendors at Knox Pop Con accept card payments, but some smaller artists and food vendors may be cash-only. Bring $40 to $80 in small bills so you do not miss out on that perfect print or photo card. There may not be an ATM nearby.
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Charged Phone & Battery Pack
You will take more photos and videos than you expect. Between cosplay shots, concert clips, and random dance moments, your battery will drain fast. A portable charger is essential. Charge it the night before and keep it in your bag.
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Water Bottle
Convention venues get warm, especially during dance performances and concerts. Bring a reusable water bottle and stay hydrated throughout the evening. This is easy to forget and hard to fix once you are dehydrated and the energy starts dropping.
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A Bag for Merch
You will buy things. It happens to everyone. A small backpack or tote bag saves you from juggling prints, plushies, and photo cards while trying to watch a concert. Keep your bag compact so it does not block other attendees in crowded areas.
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Cosplay Repair Kit
If you are cosplaying, pack safety pins, fashion tape, bobby pins, a small sewing kit, and super glue. Costumes break. Wigs shift. Props fall apart. A five-minute fix at the convention beats a ruined costume for the whole night.

Everything included with one ticket — from $30

The Experience

What Happens at an Anime Convention

If you have never been, here is what a night at Knox Pop Con 2026 actually looks like.

An anime convention is part concert, part dance party, part cosplay showcase, part shopping spree, and part community gathering. It is a place where thousands of people who love the same things come together in one building for a night that feels entirely different from everyday life. There is no dress code, no prerequisite knowledge, and no wrong way to participate.

Live Concerts & Performances

Knox Pop Con 2026 features three headlining performers. Shihori is a J-Pop singer-songwriter whose voice you have heard in Fairy Tail, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, NieR:Automata, and Macross Frontier. She has over 100 songs and 13 Gold Disc certifications. This is her first-ever Tennessee performance — a full J-Pop concert that is genuinely historic for Knoxville. None Like Joshua is your MC for the night — an anime rapper with 200 million+ YouTube views and 48+ convention appearances. He performs live anime rap and keeps the crowd energy high from start to finish. And NINJ3FF3C7 closes out the night with an anime rave DJ set that blends anime openings, J-Core, VTuber culture, and raw crowd energy.

K-Pop Dance & Random Play Dance

Four K-Pop dance crews — TNT-K, Knox K-Pop Group, starstrucK, and EquiKnox — perform choreographed showcases throughout the evening. Then comes the Random Play Dance: a playlist of 200+ K-Pop songs plays, and anyone who knows the choreography can jump in. No sign-up, no audition. If you know even one dance, you are welcome on the floor. If you do not know any, standing on the sidelines cheering is just as fun. There is also a survival round with prizes for the last dancers standing.

Cosplay

Cosplay is one of the best parts of any convention, and Knox Pop Con is no exception. You will see costumes ranging from casual closet cosplays to elaborate competition-level builds. YAMA-CON (established 2012) hosts an ICG-standard cosplay contest with six categories and cash prizes. But you do not need to compete or even dress up — plenty of people attend in street clothes. If you see a cosplay you love, ask before taking a photo (more on that below).

Vendors & Artist Alley

The vendor hall is where your wallet gets a workout. Over 30 vendors sell everything from anime prints and K-Pop photo cards to handmade jewelry, plushies, stickers, enamel pins, and cosplay accessories. There are also Asian cuisine food vendors. Arrive early for the best selection — limited-edition items sell out fast.

JDM Car Show & Community

Subie Crew Knoxville hosts a JDM and itasha car show featuring modified Japanese builds and anime-wrapped vehicles. It is a great way to start your evening before the indoor performances begin. Beyond the scheduled programming, the real magic of a convention is the community — meeting people who share your interests, discovering new series through vendor recommendations, and being in a space where everyone is unapologetically enthusiastic about the things they love.

See Shihori, None Like Joshua & NINJ3FF3C7 live — tickets from $30

Convention Etiquette

How to Be a Great Convention Attendee

A few unwritten rules that make the experience better for everyone.

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Ask Before Taking Photos
If someone is in cosplay, always ask before taking their photo. A simple “Can I get a photo?” is all it takes. Most cosplayers will happily pose. Never touch someone's costume or props without asking. This is the single most important rule of convention etiquette.
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Respect Personal Space
Conventions can get crowded, especially near the stage during performances. Be mindful of the people around you. Do not push to the front. Do not block walkways with large bags or props. If someone looks uncomfortable, give them space.
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Stay Hydrated & Eat
It is easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget basic needs. Drink water regularly, eat before or during the event, and take breaks if you feel tired. The event runs six hours — pace yourself so you have energy for the headline concert later in the evening.
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Keep Your Bag Small
Large backpacks and oversized bags make it difficult to navigate crowded vendor aisles and performance areas. Bring a compact bag and check any large items or prop weapons at the door. Prop weapons must be peace-bonded at check-in.
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Be Kind & Inclusive
Conventions attract fans of all experience levels. Never gatekeep or quiz someone on their fandom knowledge. Compliment cosplays. Support small vendors. Cheer for performers. Knox Pop Con has a strict anti-harassment policy — everyone deserves to feel welcome.
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Join In
The best convention experiences come from participating. Jump into the Random Play Dance even if you only know one song. Talk to a vendor about their art. Cheer during the cosplay contest. The more you put in, the more you get out.
Getting There

Location & Parking

Knox Pop Con 2026 takes place at Bridgewater Place, 205 Bridgewater Road, Knoxville, TN 37923. The venue is easily accessible from I-40 and I-75 and offers free on-site parking.

Doors open at 4:00 PM and the event runs until 10:00 PM on Saturday, May 2, 2026. We recommend arriving early to explore the vendor hall and JDM car show before the evening performances begin. The parking lot can fill up, so plan accordingly.

Knoxville is centrally located in the Southeast, making it a reasonable drive from many major cities: roughly 2.5 hours from Nashville and Atlanta, 2 hours from Asheville, 1.5 hours from Chattanooga, and about 4 hours from Charlotte. For those traveling from farther away, McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is approximately 20 minutes from the venue.

For full venue details and directions, visit the KPC 2026 event page.

One ticket. One night. Everything included.

Tickets & Pricing

One Ticket Gets You Everything

No separate passes, no add-ons, no surprises. Every ticket includes access to all activities.

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General Admission — $30
Full access to everything: live J-Pop concert by Shihori, anime rap by None Like Joshua, DJ set by NINJ3FF3C7, all K-Pop dance showcases, the Random Play Dance, YAMA-CON cosplay contest, JDM car show, and 30+ vendor booths. Children under 10 are free with a ticketed adult.
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VIP Pass — $125
Everything in General Admission plus exclusive meet-and-greet sessions with Shihori, None Like Joshua, and NINJ3FF3C7. Get autographs, photos, and face time with the artists. VIP badge includes priority entry and reserved viewing area.
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Daesang Pass — $225
The ultimate experience. Everything in VIP plus an exclusive dinner with Shihori and backstage access. Extremely limited availability. If you want a once-in-a-lifetime evening with a J-Pop legend, this is it.
Learn More

Explore Knox Pop Con 2026

Anime Convention Knoxville
Full event overview — lineup, schedule, and everything included.
First-Timer's Guide
Step-by-step walkthrough of your first Knox Pop Con experience.
K-Pop Convention
The Southeast's dedicated K-Pop festival — dance crews, vendors, and more.
KPC 2026 Event Page
Full schedule, performer details, and ticket options.
501(c)(3) NonprofitCandid Verified
Secure Checkout

First-Timer Questions

Expect a high-energy mix of live music, cosplay, vendor shopping, dance performances, and community. At Knox Pop Con 2026, you will see a live J-Pop concert by Shihori, anime rap by None Like Joshua, a VTuber DJ set by NINJ3FF3C7, K-Pop dance showcases, a cosplay contest, a JDM car show, and 30+ vendors. Everything is included with one ticket.
Absolutely. Many first-time attendees come solo and leave with new friends. Conventions are some of the most welcoming environments you will find. At Knox Pop Con, the Random Play Dance is a great icebreaker — no partner or sign-up needed. Vendors and cosplayers are always happy to chat. You will not feel out of place.
Anything you are comfortable in. Cosplay is encouraged but completely optional — plenty of people attend in regular clothes. The most important thing is comfortable shoes, since you will be on your feet for several hours. If you do cosplay, bring a small repair kit with safety pins, tape, and bobby pins.
General Admission to Knox Pop Con 2026 is $30. For vendor shopping, budget $20 to $100 depending on how much merch you want. Most vendors accept cards, but bring some cash as a backup. Food vendors will also be on-site. There are no hidden fees — one ticket covers every activity.
Not at all. Knox Pop Con welcomes fans at every level, including total newcomers. You do not need to know any choreography for the Random Play Dance (watching is just as fun), you do not need to recognize every series in the vendor hall, and you do not need to cosplay. Many attendees discover new fandoms at the event.
Yes. Knox Pop Con is specifically designed to be approachable. It is a single-evening event (4 PM to 10 PM) so it is not overwhelming, it is run by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with trained volunteer staff, and everything is in one building. It is the perfect first convention.
Knox Pop Con is an all-ages, family-friendly event. Children under 10 get in free with a ticketed adult. All performances and vendor content are age-appropriate. The event has a strict anti-harassment policy and prioritizes safety for attendees of all ages.
Doors open at 4 PM. Arriving early gives you the best vendor selection, time to explore the JDM car show, and a chance to settle in before the evening performances begin. The headline concert and major performances happen later in the evening.
Ready?

Your First Convention Starts Here.

  • Live J-Pop concert by Shihori — first ever in Knoxville
  • Anime rap & MC by None Like Joshua — 200M+ views
  • Anime rave DJ set by NINJ3FF3C7
  • K-Pop Random Play Dance — 200+ songs, no sign-up
  • YAMA-CON cosplay contest — cash prizes
  • JDM car show by Subie Crew Knoxville
  • 30+ vendors — merch, art, food
  • All ages — 501(c)(3) community event
Get TicketsFull Event Details
Tickets from $30