If you want to cosplay at AGF2026 (Animate Girls Festival) in Ikebukuro on 7-8 November, the ticket you actually need is acosta!, not just an AGF pass. AGF’s main halls have no cosplay photo area, so all costume changing, registration and photography runs through the “acosta! AGF2026 Special Edition” event next door at Sunshine City. This guide covers both tickets, what each one gets you, and the trick for getting into AGF for free with your acosta! pass.
Dates and Venues
AGF2026: Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, around Sunshine City, Ikebukuro. Main venue open 9:00-17:00 (last new entry 16:30). Theme: “Decoration”, with 80+ exhibitor booths and 14 stage programs at the Fountain Plaza.
acosta! AGF2026 Special Edition: the same two days, 10:00-18:30. Reception is in the Conference Room, 5th floor of the World Import Mart Building at Sunshine City. Last entry 16:30; photography and socializing end at 17:30; changing rooms close at 18:30.
acosta! Tickets (for Cosplayers and Photographers)
Ticket
Entry from
Advance
Same day
Early
9:30
2,980 yen
3,500 yen
Regular
11:00
2,380 yen
2,900 yen
Discounted youth tiers also exist – see the official acosta! page. Tickets cannot be changed or refunded, and a sold-out tier is not sold on the day. Photographer tickets come with no bag storage, so use coin lockers.
AGF2026 Main Venue Tickets
AGF sells timed entry windows through Animate Ticket (a CLUB animate account is required):
Ticket
Entry window
Price
Fast
9:00-10:00
Lottery only (closed)
General
10:00-13:00
1,800 yen
Afternoon
13:00-15:00
1,000 yen
Evening
15:00-16:00
800 yen advance / 1,000 yen on the day
Every ticket except Evening uses facial recognition, so you must register a MOALA account and face photo in advance. The Evening ticket is a paper ticket printed at 7-Eleven. There are no ticket sales at the venue – if the online allocation sells out, you are not getting in that day. The halls have no coin lockers or luggage storage, and suitcases and wheeled bags are not allowed.
The Free-Entry Crossover
Show your acosta! wristband/pass from 15:35 and you get into the AGF main venue free on the same day (last new entry 16:30, re-entry until 16:50 with the wristband). If you want to see AGF earlier than that, you need a separate AGF ticket. For most cosplayers, the efficient plan is: shoot at acosta! through the day, then walk the AGF halls in the late afternoon.
Photo Areas and Shooting Rules
Photography is only allowed inside the official acosta! photo areas, and passes are checked. AGF’s own halls have no cosplay shooting space – do not stop to shoot in the aisles.
Lighting: one light per person or group; umbrellas and softboxes 100 cm or smaller.
No shooting while walking, in changing rooms or toilets, or of bystanders and the surrounding scenery.
Changing and makeup only in the official changing rooms.
The organizers have not published a list of named photo-area locations; they are announced on the acosta! site and at reception.
Quick Planning Checklist
Buy the acosta! Early ticket if you want the best light and emptiest sets.
Register MOALA + face photo now if you also want an AGF General or Afternoon ticket.
Pack light – neither event offers much bag storage.
Plan to enter AGF after 15:35 on your acosta! pass.
