Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2025 returned to Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre from 28–30 November, and even with a short stint on our end, the JioPlayGame team found plenty to take in. As one of Southeast Asia’s largest celebrations of anime and Japanese pop culture, AFA SG 2025 once again delivered a dense mix of merch hunting, music, anime showcases, and community energy. 
Akiba Town at Its Biggest Yet
The exhibition hall (better known as Akiba Town) felt massive this year, packed wall to wall with commercial exhibitors and licensed merchandise. Big names like Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia, TOHO animation, KADOKAWA, Medialink, Muse, and Crunchyroll dominated the floor with elaborate booths and exclusives clearly aimed at collectors.
Special pop-up concepts such as the Ado 5th Anniversary Store, a dedicated SPY×FAMILY collaboration merchandise corner, and the LAM Art Exhibition added extra visual flair. Interactive experience areas themed around Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Lord of Mysteries helped break up the rows of booths, offering fans something a little more immersive beyond shopping.
Games, IPs, and What’s Next
On the gaming front, Bandai Namco remained a central pillar of AFA’s presence. Titles showcased or promoted included Once Upon A Katamari, SWORD ART ONLINE: Fractured Daydream, Digimon Story Time Stranger, CODE VEIN II, MY HERO ACADEMIA: All’s Justice, and Little Nightmares III, alongside teasers and previews looking toward 2026.
While many of these were already announced, AFA continues to serve as a convenient place to get a pulse on upcoming anime-adjacent games, especially for fans who prefer seeing titles represented physically and interactively rather than through online trailers alone.
Anime Spotlights and Day Stage Moments
Beyond the exhibition floor, AFA SG 2025’s day-stage programming highlighted a wide range of anime and IP showcases. Titles like SPY×FAMILY, The Apothecary Diaries, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, Chibi Godzilla Raids Again, LABYRINTH, and Bâan -The Boundary of Adulthood- appeared through talk segments, premiere screenings, and staff or cast showcases.
These sessions remain one of AFA’s quieter highlights: short, focused windows into upcoming or ongoing series that reward fans willing to step away from the bustle of Akiba Town.
Anisong, Idols, and Late-Night Energy
Music once again played a major role at AFA SG 2025. Across the I LOVE ANISONG concert nights: SPARKLE, GLOW, and BLAZE, as well as the refreshed Next Stage, the lineup was stacked. Artists such as SPYAIR, ClariS, Yoko Takahashi, May’n, ALI, asmi, fhána, NOMELON NOLEMON, and Wednesday Campanella shared the spotlight with virtual acts like HIMEHINA and regional performers including Just Cosplay Sings and STARKIDS.
For many attendees, these short but rare chances to catch Japanese artists live remain one of AFA’s strongest draws, and tickets selling fast year after year prove just how central music has become to the festival’s identity.
Cosplayers, Creators, and Community
The Cosplay Hub and Creators Hub continued to be some of the most lively spaces at AFA. With dozens of regional cosplayers—such as Chocolat, Ojigi, and Thames Malerose—and a long list of independent artists and circles, the area was constantly buzzing.
Initiatives like Asia Creators Cross, featuring names such as LAM, Terada Tera, and tamimoon, reinforced AFA’s role as a meeting point between fans and creators across the region. Whether you were there to snap photos, buy prints, or simply chat, you can feel the shared enthusiasm around.
Even with just a brief visit, AFA Singapore 2025 reminded us why it remains a staple on the regional convention calendar. It’s a place to stock up on anime merchandise, catch rare live performances, discover new titles, and reconnect with a passionate, ever-growing community.
