Germany's Biggest Volunteer-Run Anime Convention, Connichi, Opens This Weekend in Wiesbaden

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Connichi 2026 runs September 4-6, 2026 at the RheinMain CongressCenter in Wiesbaden, Germany — an event the convention itself describes as Germany's largest volunteer-organized anime and manga convention.

This weekend's gathering is a real look at how Japanese pop-culture fandom operates outside Japan: an entirely volunteer-run event, still substantial enough to draw real industry guests from Japan.

Confirmed Japanese Guests

Munehisa Sakai, director of the One Piece film "Strong World," is confirmed to attend. Also confirmed is FATE GEAR, a steampunk metal duo (performers Mina and Hime), who will perform as part of the convention's live show program.

What's Actually Happening

The program spans a Guest of Honor track, live show acts, lectures and workshops, competitions, a shopping area, and "Matsuri" — a section built around Japanese food, traditional games, and a summer-festival atmosphere. Cosplay is a major part of the event, with dedicated photo spots around Wiesbaden itself, not just inside the venue.

The convention closes Saturday night with the Connichi Party at the Schlachthof Cultural Center, mixing anime, J-rock, J-pop, and K-pop music.

What To Know

This is a real, tangible look at how far Japanese pop culture fandom actually travels — a convention entirely run by volunteers, in a mid-sized German city, still large enough to bring over an actual anime film director from Japan.

Connichi's own "Matsuri" program deliberately recreates a Japanese summer festival atmosphere — food, traditional games — inside a German convention center, which is a useful, concrete example of how Japanese cultural elements get reinterpreted for an overseas fan audience rather than simply imported wholesale.

What Fans Are Saying

Original Japanese

Easy Japanese

ドイツのアニメイベント「Connichi 2026」が、9月4日から始まります。