— Organisers say expanded convention exceeded expectations after one-year break

FUMACON 2026 returned bigger and better than ever on Saturday at the Marriott Hotel, surpassing organisers’ expectations as thousands of anime, gaming and pop culture enthusiasts packed the venue to experience an expanded programme of free activities, international guests and a bustling marketplace of local creative businesses.
After a one-year hiatus, the convention featured more than 15 free workshops and activities, including prop-making sessions, films and live entertainment, drawing an enthusiastic crowd that organisers said reflected the event’s growing influence among Guyana’s youth.

Co-founder and Head of Marketing and Public Relations at Seishonen Guyana, Juliana Lopes, said the overwhelming turnout underscored the demand for creative spaces where young people can express themselves, develop new skills and connect with like-minded individuals.

Beyond cosplay and entertainment, vendors also hailed the convention as an opportunity to promote their businesses, attract new customers and network with fellow entrepreneurs.
Co-founder and Head of Marketing and Public Relations at Seishonen Guyana, Juliana Lopes, said this year’s turnout exceeded expectations, particularly after the event’s one-year hiatus. She said the expanded programme, which included around 18 free activities and workshops alongside international guests, played a major role in attracting large crowds. These included costume craftsmanship experts, a circus performer and an internationally acclaimed voice actor.
Lopes said the energy inside the venue, the creativity on display through cosplay, and the strong presence of women-led small businesses highlighted the importance of the convention.
As she stated: “We expected strong attendance after taking a one-year hiatus and expanding the event with about 18 free activities and workshops, along with international guests, including costume craftsmen, a circus performer and an internationally acclaimed voice actor.”
She added that seeing “everyone’s enthusiasm, the incredible costumes and the strong support for the many businesses here, most of which are women-led, is wonderful.”
Lopes further noted that partnerships with sponsors such as Modec Guyana Inc., the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the Guyana Tourism Authority and several private sector partners were essential in sustaining and growing the event.
Among the creative entrepreneurs showcasing their work was Brianna Exeter of Hooked by Bri, who turned her passion for crochet into a small business offering handmade bouquets, hats, bags and plushies. Exeter, who is currently a University of Guyana student, said she started the business three years ago and chose to become a vendor as she prepares to migrate.
She explained that FumaCon provided a valuable opportunity to promote her work before leaving the country and expand her customer base.
As she shared: “Events like this are really important because they help promote small businesses. FumaCon is such a large annual event that it gives vendors an opportunity to showcase their work to many people. Even after the event, people continue supporting your business.”
Also exhibiting was Savers Paradise, founded by Amrita Singh, which began as a hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since expanded into a multi-service creative business offering social media management, logo design and graphic design.

Singh said this was her third year at FumaCon, noting that the event allows her not only to promote her services but also to build relationships and connect with other creatives.
Speaking on the importance of the event as an entrepreneur, Singh noted: “Events like this are important for small businesses because they increase visibility and allow people to learn about what you’re doing, especially when you’re passionate about your work.”
Also featured at the convention was Wicked Tales, an online bookstore run by Nazia Khan, which specialises in horror and mystery novels.
Khan said the business was created to fill a gap in the local market, where most bookstores focus primarily on romance genres. She added that FumaCon provides strong visibility for niche businesses, helping them introduce alternative offerings to a wider audience while receiving encouraging feedback from attendees discovering new genres.
As Khan noted: “FumaCon is a great marketing opportunity. It helps businesses get their names out there because of the large crowds, and the organisers do an excellent job of supporting and promoting small businesses.”
She added: “Even though the crowds are still building, many people have commented that they don’t usually see horror and mystery books available locally, so it’s been great introducing them to something different.”
For patrons, FumaCon was equally about community, expression and shared interests.
Natasha Singh, who attended the event to cosplay and explore the programme, said the convention brings together people who share a love for anime and pop culture, creating a welcoming environment for fans from across the country.
She added: “Events like this are important because they bring together people who enjoy anime and the wider anime culture. You can see people from all over coming together. The creativity is incredible. Everyone really put a lot of effort into their costumes, and they all look great.”
First-time attendee Navita Rafick said the event offered a space to meet new people and engage with shared interests, noting that she enjoyed the variety of workshops, activities and food offerings.
She added that, as someone without many anime friends, FumaCon provided a rare opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals.
Speaking on the experience, she noted: “This is my first time and I am really happy I got to try all the different kinds of food and activities. There are movies, workshops and plenty of activities.”
She added: “The best part is being able to meet people who share the same interests. I don’t have many friends who watch anime, so coming here allows me to meet new people and make new friends. Finding a community of people with similar interests is the biggest reason I am here.”
Elizabeth Seedhan echoed similar sentiments, describing the convention as a space for self-expression and creativity.
She said events like FumaCon are especially important in Guyana, where people are often discouraged from expressing themselves freely, and help to normalise interests that are more widely accepted in other parts of the world.
As she noted: “I really love FumaCon. It is a great experience, it’s a lot of fun, and I think everyone should come out and express themselves. The community is very important because in Guyana people are often criticised for expressing themselves.”
She added: “Events like this help normalise those interests here instead of making them seem like something that only exists overseas.”