As the year comes to a wrap, tradition beckons for anime, comics, and games (ACG) fans in Singapore and the region. Returning to the familiar premises of Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre is the annual Anime Festival Asia (AFA), set to take place from 28 to 30 November 2025 and boasting an expanded roster of celebratory fare that regular attendees have come to expect.
This year’s event features 16 performing artists, 13 stage showcases with 21 special guests, and over 100 exhibitor booths across all three dates, bringing diverse offerings that cater to different preferences and interests. For music and concert enthusiasts, the “I Love Anisong” festival kicks off with asmi, NOMELON NO LEMON, Sakurazaka 46, and SPYAIR on Friday, 28 November. fhána, HIMEHINA, nonoc, Sally Amaki (22/7), Shouta Aoi, and Yoko Takahashi will take over the stage for the following evening, before ALI, ClariS, Hachioji-P, Isekaijoucho, May’n, and Wednesday Campanella step in as the closing acts on Sunday.
While 3-Day Cat 1 VIP tickets are sold out, single-day tickets are still available at S$198 (Cat 1 Seated), S$178 (Cat 2 Seated), and S$158 (Cat 3 Seated) per day. The perks for each category vary, but all three come with fast lane access, alongside an additional ballot chance for a signed poster for the first two tiers. Meanwhile, early bird prices for general admission tickets start from S$22 (exhibition only) and S$35 (Day Stage + Exhibition), which can be purchased on Ticketmaster.
Over on the show floor, fans can look forward to guest talk shows with industry insiders, premiere screenings of new anime, and more special events at the Day Stage. Featured titles include Lord of Mysteries, Spy X Family, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, The Apothecary Diaries, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and more, with the full schedule as follows:
- Friday (28 November)
- Special talk show featuring baan, with content creator Gigguk
- Lord of Mysteries featuring director Xiong Ke and screenwriter Liu Xing
- Special screening of Noble Reincarnation – Born Blessed, So I’ll Obtain Ultimate Power –
- Spy X Family featuring online appearances by Atsumi Tanezaki (voice of Anya Forger), Kenichiro Matsuda (Bond Forger), and Emiri Kato (Becky Blackbell)
- Saturday (29 November)
- Chibi Godzilla Raids Again featuring Akari Kito (voice of Shobijin)
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End featuring Kana Ichinose (voice of Fern) and Chiaki Kobayashi (Stark)
- Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX featuring Simba Tsuchiya (voice of Shuji Ito) and NOMELON NO LEMON
- The Apothecary Diaries featuring Aoi Yuki (voice of Maomao) and Asami Seto (Shisui)
- The Holy Grail of Eris featuring Kana Ichinose (voice of Constance Grail) and Sayumi Suzushiro (Scarlett Castie)
- Sunday (30 November)
- Fire Force featuring Yusuke Kobayashi (voice of Arthur Boyle)
- LABYRINTH featuring director Shoji Kawamori
- Special guest showcase featuring V-tuber Otsuka Ray and Reika-chan
- The Beginning After the End at the bilibili panel, featuring Natsumi Fujiwara (voice of Arthur Leywin), Chiaki Omigawa (Jasmine), and programme emcee Sally Amaki
Guest Cosplayers & Meet & Greet Lineup
For those seeking some cosplay action, or even to get up close and personal with their favourite cosplayers, four guest stars from the region are set to answer their wishes: Chocolat, Hiroto Kuramasu, and Ojigi from Japan, as well as one of Thailand’s leading cosplayers, Thames Malerose.
Adding to the enthusiasm is the Cosplay Hub roster, comprising close to 50 cosplayers in the region, from first-timers to established names like Amelia Khor, Hikarin, Kiyo, Momoko Pigsfly, XIAOYUKIKO, YingTze, and more.
Thames Malerose will also host a separate meet-and-greet session, treating his fans to a closed-door talk show and Q&A session, a signed poster, a 90-second interaction, and a group photo, joined by Gigguk, Simba Tsuchiya, Kana Ichinose, Sayumi Sazushiro, and Sally Amaki in the lineup. Each experience is priced at an additional S$70, except for the Ichinose-Sazushiro pair (S$100), with the details as listed:
- Friday, 28 November: Gigguk (11am), Thames Malerose (5pm)
- Saturday, 29 November: Simba Tsuchiya (11am), Kana Ichinose + Sayumi Sazushiro (4pm)
- Sunday, 30 November: Sally Amaki (4.45pm)
Gaming, Tabletop & TCG Showcase
AFA SG is levelling up its entertainment offerings for 2025, and Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia is here to lead the charge. The publisher’s booth invites visitors to trial demos of its upcoming and newly released titles, including Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream, Digimon Story: Time Stranger, Little Nightmares III, Once Upon a Katamari, Code Vein II, My Hero Academia: All’s Justice, and The Blood of Dawnwalker.
Trading card game (TCG) enthusiasts won’t be left out of the fun, as Grand Archive TCG lifts the curtain on its soon-to-be-released “Phantom Monarchs” Expansion set. Bandai Cards Game, presented by Maxsoft, offers a choice between the Gundam Card Game, the Digimon Card Game, the One Piece Card Game, and the Union Arena TCG, while Yu-Gi-Oh! returns with a hands-on area and a token card customisation experience that turns players into a card to call their own.
Exhibition & Stage Highlights
Making its way to Asia for the first time, Toho Animation’s experiential showcase will feature interactive elements and photo opportunities, spotlighting fan favourites like Spy X Family, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, The Apothecary Diaries, and Chibi Godzilla Raids Again. Alongside event-exclusive anime memorabilia, fans can also expect various voice actors to appear on stage and interact with the crowd.
Universal Music Singapore, meanwhile, shows how it’s done with a KPop Demon Hunters experience booth, where fans can snap a shot with their favourite characters and score official CDs, an exclusive NFC keychain, and photocard giveaways.
Over at the AFA Stage, powered by Dwango, a brand-new layout will play host to three days of performances, ranging from the Cho-Bon Dance, bringing a modern spin on the bon odori tradition, to set pieces by performers from the region and the digital world.
Exclusive Merchandise
In addition to its own concert and official merchandise, the expanded catalogue of AFA SG 2025 exclusives now includes Spy X Family collaboration goods, held in partnership with Toho Entertainment Asia, and Singapore-exclusive offerings from Ado’s 5th Anniversary pop-up store. Prolific Japanese illustrator LAM is also marking his return with a special merchandise drop and a signing session for those who purchase his book or other collaboration goods during the event.
AFA SG 25 takes place from 28 to 30 November 2025 at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
