Overview:
Mississippi Anime Fest brought anime fans to Jackson for a two-day celebration featuring celebrity voice actors, cosplay, fan panels, artists, and vendors at the Mississippi Trade Mart.
By William Barber | Presence News
JACKSON, Miss. —On March 14–15, the Mississippi Anime Fest, an anime festival celebrating anime, animation, comic books, and general fandom culture, took place in Jackson, Mississippi. Fans of anime, cosplay, and pop culture converged at the Mississippi Trade Mart this weekend for a full weekend of anime, cosplay, and pop culture fun that included celebrity guests from various genres of entertainment; fan panels; artists; vendors; and lots of other fun activities for everyone to enjoy.
Photo: William Barber / Presence News
Throughout the weekend, the convention floor was filled with fans browsing vendor booths, meeting voice actors, and participating in panels dedicated to anime, cosplay, and storytelling.
Celebrity Guests Draw Fans
Mississippi Anime Fest was an unforgettable experience where people got to meet famous voice actors and entertainers who have worked on some of today’s most exciting anime series and other animated shows.
One, among many, of Mississippi Anime Fest’s celebrity guests was Tia Ballard, a professional voice actor with credits in multiple anime series. Her credits include Zero Two in Darling in the Franxx, Nanami in Kamisama Kiss, and Happy in both Fairy Tail and Edens Zero.
Also appearing was Billy West, a veteran voice actor and radio personality known for his work in numerous animated series. West has voiced characters in well-known productions such as Doug, The Ren & Stimpy Show, and the character Philip J. Fry in Futurama.
Photo: Photo Courtesy of Presence News
Colleen O’Shaughnessey, a guest who has done a lot of voice acting for animation and video games, has performed numerous roles across several series, such as Sora Takenouchi (Digimon), Jazz Fenton (Danny Phantom), and Wasp (The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes).
Throughout the convention, fans had opportunities to meet the guests.
The chance for attendees to get autographs from their favorite actors, take pictures with them, and ask them questions was all part of the experience. There were also different types of panels with discussions and demonstrations about different topics like anime, cosplay, and writing, along with many special guest celebrities.
Fan Panels and Workshops
In addition to the celebrity guests, there were numerous types of panels featuring discussions and demonstrations on varying subjects such as anime culture, cosplay, and creative writing.
The panels allowed attendees a chance to acquire new skills through hands-on learning as well as being involved in interactively discussing these subjects. Some examples of the panels offered during the weekend were:
- “How to Wig Style for Beginners”
- “Introduction to Writing Fiction”
- “Cosplay Bingo”
- “80s and 90s Cartoon Trivia”
These sessions allowed fans to share knowledge and experiences with others in the community. Panels ranged from practical tutorials for cosplayers to trivia contests and discussions celebrating classic animation from previous decades.
Fan panels are a common feature of conventions like Mississippi Anime Fest, giving attendees a chance to become active participants in the event rather than simply spectators.
Cosplay and Community
Cosplay was a major highlight of Mississippi Anime Fest, 2026, as attendees showcased costumes inspired by anime, video games, and animation.
Cosplayers generally create their costumes well in advance of the event, and events like Mississippi Anime Fest give them a chance to show off their creative work.
A costume contest was held at the event, with competitors being able to compete for prizes in several different categories, including children’s cosplay and craftsmanship.
Cosplayers and others set up events around the Mississippi Anime Fest so fans dressed as characters from the same series can get together for group photographs at cosplay-related meetups and celebrate their common interests.
Vendors and Artists
A large draw of the Mississippi Anime Fest was the vendor/artists’ area, where attendees could browse for merchandise and/or pieces of art inspired by anime or pop culture.
Independent artists displayed original illustrations, original prints, handmade crafts, as well as vendors selling collectible items, clothing, manga, and fandom-related merchandise in the booth area. This provided fans with the opportunity to buy unique products and support independent artists/creators at the same time.
Anime-related fan groups throughout the region also participated by having their own booths representing their respective franchises or communities that exist within anime fandom.
A Weekend Celebration of Anime Culture
The Mississippi Anime Fest offered a multi-day celebration of anime culture for attendees from all over the U.S., with guests from anime series, panels hosted by fans, cosplay activities, and a busy vendor hall.
Mississippi Anime Fest and conventions like it continue to grow in popularity as the popularity and reach of anime and animated media continue to expand in North America. For a number of convention attendees, conventions provide a very friendly and inclusive place to celebrate the characteristics and stories that motivate them as anime fans.
By the end of the weekend, Mississippi Anime Fest 2026 had brought together fans, creators, and artists for two days dedicated to creativity, fandom, and community.
Sources:
Mississippi Anime Fest — “Official Website”
Editor’s Disclaimer: This article is based on on-site reporting by Presence News at Mississippi Anime Fest held March 14–15, 2026, at the Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson, Mississippi. Event details, guest appearances, and programming referenced in this article reflect activities observed during the convention and publicly available information provided by Mississippi Anime Fest at the time of publication.
