I’ve been going to Katsucon since 2015. In the 10 years I’ve been attending, I’ve
only missed 2: 2021 was cancelled by the Pandemic and I skipped 2022 cause I
was still being cautious about attending a full weekend con even with lifted
restrictions (Otakon 2022, no way I wasn’t missing that). As much as I do enjoy the location and the
nightlife of the con in particular, Katsu’s felt kind of different for me since
coming back in 2023. It’s hard to
describe but it’s not the same winter con I started going to back in 2015 and
I’m not the only one to share those sentiments.
I was actually thinking about skipping Katsu 2025 but ended up going
cause it was the 10th Anniversary of my first one and it was ok,
still had its problems but it was ok.
But yeah, I wont be attending Katsucon 2026 and might even be giving the
con a longer break even past that.
Why? Well on todays Top 5
Wednesday I’m sharing my Top 5 Reasons Why I’m Skipping Katsucon in 2026 (and
Maybe 2027 too).
So here’s the big question always asked of me year after
year: Which do I like better-Otakon or Katsucon.
I always say it depends on the year but
looking at it beyond personal feelings: Otakon is the better con right now
between the two.
Otakon has made huge
leaps in the last decade including moving from Baltimore to Washington DC.
It’s been able to spread out in its new home
and feels more welcoming for Otaku of all kinds who aren’t just there to get
their cosplay photo taken at a single iconic spot.
It’s easier to get around.
There’s more to do.
And it feels more welcoming than Katsu has
the last few years overall.
Katsu feels
like a vacation get away.
Otakon, 16
years later, still feels like home to me.
#4-The Crowds
Anyone who loves Katsucon can all agree on this: It’s way
to damn crowded.
Thursday is fine.
Friday is tolerable.
But Saturday, holy crap it’s next to
impossible to move around without getting into a traffic jam, from the Gazebo
to the Fountains.
It makes hard to get a
good spot at photoshoots in advance, especially at the Gazebo where they’re
trying to squeeze in multiple shoots at once.
And while you might be able to manage moving through the Dealers Room,
the Artist Alley is packed tighter than a can of sardines.
If you’re a cosplayer with a heavy armor or
bulky build I cant imagine what kind of a nightmare it is to go anywhere in a
short amount of time.
It kind of leads
to a possible truth I don’t think Katsu is ready to accept yet but I’ll voice
it anyway…
#3-It’s time to leave the Gaylord
Look, we all love the Gaylord.
It’s basically become the definitive location
of Katsucon since it moved there in 2010.
But the numbers have swelled since then and given the difficulty to get
from spot to spot in the Atrium especially, there’s one solution I doubt
Katsucon wants to consider: moving on from the Gaylord.
Look, I get it.
I had the same reaction when Otakon left
Baltimore.
That was a special place with
special memories.
But Otakon moving to
DC was smart and has flourished at the Walter E Washington and still has
potential to move deeper into the facility.
The Gaylord feels like its ready to burst open and shouting volunteers
in over their heads aren’t helping with crowd control (honestly they feel like
a whole other matter but I wont get into that).
Point is: Katsucon needs to accept change and grow if it wants to make
it in the future and staying at the Gaylord ignoring the problems isnt the
solution.
#2-Magfest?
Magfest is a video game centric convention that is also
held at the Gaylond Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, usually in
January, so weeks before Katsucon.
It’s
the first big convention of the year for many and I still cant fathom how some
are able to attend it and Katsucon so close to each other.
Anyway, I’ve been hearing good things about
Magfest from it’s overall vibe to the better usage of space to the lack of
crowds holding a battle royale for who wants to get their cosplay photo taken at
the Convention Center.
It’s a con that’s
been on my radar for a bit and it’s popularity has risen so much it sold out
well before the convention began.
With
Katsucon wavering with me but still wanting a winter con, it might be time to
give Magfest a try and see if it can surpass Katsu and maybe become the new go
to winter destination to kick off a new year.
#1-Other Obligations
While I was already strongly considering not going to
Katsu this year, something else popped up late last year: a personal obligation
I’m going to fulfill instead.
Cryptic I
know but the point is this: were this Otakon, I admit I might have some
reservations about missing it.
However,
this event I’m attending takes place the week after Katsucon.
Time and money are tight for all of us and if
I could swing both, honestly I might.
Be
that as it may, I’m deciding to opt out of Katsucon to help friends celebrate a
special occasion.
Even without anything
currently in the works for the same time period for 2027, I’ll still likely not
be going back to Katsu in 2027 either.
A
break is needed to explore other/new opportunities for journeys like Magfest or
a spring con.
Shouldn’t be afraid to
change up the routine every now and then and that’s, at the end of the day, the
lesson I hope Katsucon finally decides to listen to and learn from.
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