Anime Detour 2027: On My Way to an Anime Convention I Took an Unexpected Detour, and Now I Have to Fight the Final Boss

Anime Detour Date: March 26-28, 2027
Application Deadline: September 30, 2026

Payment Due: December 12, 2026
Address: Hyatt Regency Hotel (Minneapolis)
Contact: exhibithall@animedetour.com
 
Anime Detour Exhibit Hall Application will be open through September 30, 2026. Please note that Eventeny will "approve" your application, but that does not mean that you have yet been selected for a space. You must pay for your booth in order for a space(s) to be reserved and assigned. Payment request will be emailed around Thanksgiving. These booths are intended for vendors of  branded products that relate to the art and culture surrounding anime and mange, which can include Japanese/Korean/Chinese cultural products. 
In selecting vendors, our jury staff will choose applications that relate to our attendees' interests and that guarantee a variety of products to choose from. We do not allow the sale of unlicensed products or knock-offs. New for this year, we are also not allowing 3D printed items to be sold within Exhibit Hall. They can be provided as free giveaways or incentives. You will automatically be placed on the waiting list if not initially accepted.
All applicants will receive an email regarding their application status before Thanksgiving.

Anime Detour Dates: March 26–28, 2027

Application Open Dates: August 17–31, 2026

Address: Hyatt Regency Hotel (Minneapolis)

Contact: artistalley@animedetour.com

 Anime Detour's Artist Alley Application will be open for about two weeks (August 17–31, 2026). Please note that an application approval does not guarantee a space. Payment will only be processed upon acceptance.

Acceptance status will be released Nov./Dec. 2026. These booths are intended for artists of original and branded products that relate to the culture of anime, art, and Japan/Korea/China.

Anime Detour's Artist Alley acceptance process: Since there are so many wonderful and amazing artist applications, our jury staff will always select more artists than there are available spaces. We will first choose applications that fit our criteria of anime, art, originality, style, manga, manhwa, and so on. Then, to ensure fairness, artists will be chosen at random from our preapproved artist list. You will automatically be placed on the waiting list if not accepted. All applicants will receive an email regarding their acceptance status by early December, 2026. By applying to Anime Detour's Artist Alley, you are accepting the terms and conditions and the attached contract.

Thank you for your interest in sponsoring Anime Detour! If you’re looking to get your brand activated with a community of highly engaged fans, Anime Detour is the event for you!

Anime Detour is Minnesota's largest and longest-running anime convention. Presented by Anime Twin Cities, Inc., and established in 2004, we are a nonprofit, 3-day cultural, educational, and entertainment convention, dedicated to the promotion of Japanese culture, including anime and manga.

Anime Detour Sponsor Applications will be open through January 15, 2027. We offer several different levels of sponsorship as detailed below:

Platinum ($5,000): The largest and most central booths in our Exhibit Hall, promotion in our social media, programming book, and website, and the most hotel rooms and badges for your staff

Gold ($3,500): Multiple booths in premium placement in our Exhibit Hall, promotion in our social media, programming book, and website, and multiple hotel rooms and badges for your staff

Silver ($1,750): Our most popular option; includes a corner booth in our Exhibit Hall, promotion in our social media, programming book, and website, and one hotel room plus badges for your staff

Bronze ($500): Promotion in our social media, programming book, and website

This is also the application used for partners who have arranged an exchange of goods or services with Anime Detour. Contact exhibithall@animedetour.com with any questions

Advertisement space in our program book will be reviewed by our Executive and Marketing teams based on ad content from those submitted. Please fill out the form completely so we can better handle your request. All advertisement graphics and payments must be submitted no later than February 15th. All ads will be printed with full bleed. Please allow a 0.25″ “safety margin” (part of the image, but with no essential graphics or text) on all four sides of your ad. All ads must be submitted at 300dpi in a format compatible with Adobe Creative Suite.