What can you expect from the event?
Kotae Expo is a major event celebrating Japanese and Korean popular culture, anime and manga. It is organised entirely by volunteers, for hobbyists and fans, by hobbyists and fans!
The event is organised by Kotae Ry, a non-profit association. The event will take place at Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre on 21–22 November 2026.
Our event is a meeting place for both new and long-time fans, while also offering plenty of things to do throughout the weekend. Alongside talks and performances, our programme will feature a wide range of interactive activities, including workshops, competitions, dance sessions and other activities that you can take part in yourself. Our vendor hall, artisan area, artists’ alley and second-hand market will also offer a wide selection of products related to the themes of the event.
Our event is built around the values of safety, friendliness and a warm atmosphere. More specifically, we work to promote inclusion and prevent social exclusion, while supporting a safe and equal environment for everyone to enjoy their hobbies and keeping sustainable development in mind. Read more about our values here. We, the organisers, approach the event with a positive attitude, and we hope that positivity will spread to our volunteers, programme organisers, vendors and visitors alike!
In addition to our website, we share all event-related updates and news on our social media channels. Follow Kotae on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and TikTok!
Event Opening Hours
- Saturday 10.00* – 21.00(/02.00**)
- Sunday klo 9.00 – 17.00
*The cloakroom and ticket sales open already at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, so you can exchange your ticket and leave your coat at the cloakroom a little ahead of time.
**Once the rest of the event closes on Saturday, the programme will continue with evening activities. More information coming later!
Where does the name "Kotae" come from?
The word kotae comes from Japanese and means “answer” or “solution”. Kotae Expo aims to be an answer to the growing demand for events, providing a space where both newcomers and long-time enthusiasts can meet, share their knowledge and skills, and showcase their talents in many different ways!
Naturally, the questions and their solutions may be different in the future than they are today, and we want to be there to help answer those questions as well.
Why "Expo" instead of "Con"?
In the official sense of the terms, there is not much difference between a “con” and an “expo”. However, an event held at an exhibition centre does not quite fit the same framework as the conventions we have traditionally come to know, which is why we felt that the term “expo” suited us better this time. Around the world, expos have also traditionally been held in large spaces such as exhibition centres.
Our event does share many elements with conventions, but we admit that we are combining those elements in somewhat different ways and proportions, while also aiming to scale things up!
How are you different from conventions?
Our event consists of many elements familiar from conventions, but the balance between them may differ somewhat from what you are used to. We particularly want to bring plenty of interactive activities to our programme, such as workshops, dancing and other things to do. Since a lack of space is not our primary concern, we also want to provide plenty of room for things like hanging out and photoshoots!
Our venue gives us the opportunity to plan and build the event from a completely new perspective. This means that every active convention-goer is sure to find something familiar, as well as something new, at Kotae Expo.
