Katsucon 2026
Trinket and ribbon swap meetup Friday morning
What is Katsucon?
Katsucon is an annual 3-day convention held in the D.C. metro area during Valentine’s weekend. It is one of the larger east coast conventions and held Feb 13-15,2026. It is known for photography, gowns cosplay, and the Gazebo. With Katsucon 2027 occurring on February 12th – 14th, 2027.
The best thing about Katsucon is the relationship of Gaylord staff and Katsucon. Katsucon has been at the National Harbor Gaylord Inn since 2010 and has a positive relationship with the Gaylord Staff. One female Gaylord staff we spoke to was looking forward to working that weekend and informing people staying at the Gaylord not attending the convention that all the cosplayer were millionaires.
The Changes
The biggest change to Katsucon this year was moving registration to the Riverview Ballroom building outside to help maintain a closed profile event, which also allowed more room for artist alley and a cosplay meet up area. In the past the building was used for tabletop games. When entering the Gaylord or in the Gazebo level, staff will check your badge with a UV light to verify that you were in fact an attendee. Some people felt that it was less crowded this year than previous year but also felt like they did not have much to do at the con, since less crowds equal less friends to interact with.
Due to a typo the badges stated that the con was going from Feb13-25. It was comical and led to people returning to the Gaylord on the 25th asking where the con was at.
The closed profile was a success as well. Security and staff really were on top of their game checking badges. This enforcement will lead to less ghosting in the future but the constant barrier change on the Gazebo level did lead to many pockets in the system. There was a midnight barrier change so EMT teams could egress quickly which was understandable on Saturday night as well.
Honestly just checking badges at the doors into the Gaylord would suffice and checking on the gazebo level was kind of overkill. The staff were fast enough to check badges that it did not impede traffic but the constant alertness staff had to have on the Gazebo level due to traffic volume can be nerve wreaking.
Parking can also be paid at Katsucon at a reduced rate for the garage to the right of the Gaylord. Normally the rate is $45 a day but Katsucon had it at $35 a day. We do miss parking in the grass behind the Gaylord which happened back in 2019 but saving anywhere is always a plus.
Instagram @starordinary(Cota) giving a presentation on adhesives at Katsucon
Panels “This to That!! A cosplayer guide to adhesives”
Panels are always great to sit in on, learn lesson from such as the dance practice, or take part of such as the workshops. For the first time in a long time, we decided to sit in on a panel hosted by Cota on adhesives. Cota explained to everyone that she has years of experience and she sure did show it when she was answering specific question for the last 30mins. She also stated that today’s cosplay was also constructed by adhesives vice seams to include the prop as well.
The presentation started off with what everyone dreads. Safety. Some glues have specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to wear when using and it is important not only to wear the correct PPE but also understand what the PPE is rated to and if it provided adequate protection against vapors or fumes. To increase the awareness of the harm of not wearing PPE, Cota explained that it is equivalent to smoking a specific number (which eludes us currently) of pack of cigarettes a day.
The presentation continues to which glues are toxic, semi-, and non-toxic, to when and where to use specific glues, to leaving the floor for specific questions.
The biggest take away for me personally was cleaning the garments if it has a glue holding it in place and libraries. It was explained that an alcohol spray was your best bet and outfits from Uwowocosplay with finer details are also better to clean with an alcohol spray as well. Libraries were brought up because Cota works at a library and knows what kind of craftsmen supplies and safety they have for crafting. In the future Cota hopes to make a YouTube video/list of which libraries in the New England area that have ventilation rooms that people can use to craft. She continues to explain that libraries are more than just for renting books and that there are rooms people can use to craft in.
The Fashion Show
Pictures cannot replace the cheers that erupted during the fashion show. Normally fashion shows are strobes lights constantly shooting off as a model walks down the runway but at Katsucon’s fashion show it was about cheers as friends and attendees walked the stage for local DMV vendor to vendors traveling the nation to show off their brand inspired by nerd and Japanese culture.
The fashion show was held at 7pm on Saturday and the front six rows were full by the time I sat down. It consisted of Japanese inspired fashion created by original designers such as; A Gato Designs, Belladonna, DYKEMINT, Golden Rose Cemetery, John Vincent Salvino, Kitty Kaya, Pocket Bean, Sweet Mildred.
The catchy show was exhilarating as the crowd cheered for fashion and friend alike. All models walking the runway were also attendees of the convention, who had put in their time the day before for rehearsal and to walk the fashion. It added an appeal to the show as experience and body types varied. My favorite part was the clown core fashion, due to nearby viewers were discussing about a friend's phobia of clowns. The friend puffs up his chest and said, "I can deal with these clowns!"
Please check out the gallery below to see all attire and model alike. Also, quick shout out to Katsucon first aid team for having ear plug at their booth which came in clutch when I was found sitting infront of the speaker for the fashion show
The Cherry Blossom Stage Shines
With both doors open anyone walking by can see the energy emitted by the performers on stage. It caught my attention twice as Umamusume and idols alike dance onstage for fans. The cherry blossom stage was added several years ago and now I am starting to see it shine. Hopefully it will draw attendees to sit in during breaks and cheer for the performers.