Conference season 2026 has lastly begun, and which means Kotaku‘s intrepid images buddies Mineralblu awaken from their hibernation and return to the halls of cosplay. First up for 2026 is that this 12 months’s Katsucon, the three-day occasion that takes place close to Washington, DC, celebrating followers, leisure and Japanese tradition. And a brand new 12 months brings a complete new vary of cosplay themes.
Katsucon, which describes itself as “for multicultural fans,” takes place every year within the Gaylord Nationwide Resort & Conference Heart in Nationwide Harbor, Maryland, simply exterior of DC, and has been operating in some kind since 1995. It’s one of many smaller, extra intimate occasions on the cosplay calendar, however nonetheless pulls in company like My Hero Academia‘s Justin Briner and Date a Dwell‘s Michelle Rojas. And naturally the cosplayers, with a big Saturday Masquerade on the primary night time of the occasion, and a lower-key occasion for many who would really like their suits judged with out having to parade on stage.
2025 was filled with outfits primarily based on Marvel Rivals, Overwatch, Arcane, and all the time Elden Ring, however these are all pushed apart for our first outing of 2026. They make means for Dispatch, Expedition 33, and It Takes Two. Oh, and even Peak! However fear not, we’re positive the others will inevitably return, and previous faithfuls like Naruto, Zelda and League of Legends make their customary appearances. Scroll on for Mineralblu’s picks of the very best pics, beginning out with two unbelievable suits from Dispatch.
Blonde Blazer – Dispatch
Malevola – Dispatch
Aliens
Turbo Granny – Dandadan
Expedition 33
Doomslayer – Doom
Rodimus Prime – Transformers
Lux – League of Legends
Hyperlink – The Legend of Zelda
Hinata, Sakura & Ino – Naruto
Naruto – Naruto
Hyaku Shiki – Gundam Zeta
Riyo – Gachiakuta
KPop Demon Hunters
Predator
Could & Cody – It Takes Two
Peak
