Otakon 2020 Canceled
Washington, D.C. (April 27, 2020) – After conferring with partners in Washington D.C., Otakorp Inc. has come to the difficult decision to cancel Otakon 2020. This decision was made inevitable by the upcoming use of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center into a field hospital.
On Friday, April 17, the Army Corps of Engineers announced it will be converting the Walter E. Washington Convention Center into a field hospital for COVID-19 patients. The timing and expected duration of this endeavor means that the facility will be unavailable to the convention during the scheduled Otakon 2020 dates. Otakorp has looked at every possibility, including alternate dates and a reduced-size event, but the reality is that it will not be possible to hold a successful, fun, and most importantly, safe event in 2020.
Otakorp is an all-volunteer organization, and as the senior staff have been trying to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, they have also continued planning, holding out hope that Otakon 2020 would still happen. Despite the severe disappointment at the need for this decision, the staff have turned their focus to Otakon 2021, which will be held August 6-8, 2021, in the Walter Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
All registrations for 2020 will automatically be registered for 2021. No additional action will be needed. For those unable to attend in 2021, or who need to request a refund for other reasons, Otakorp is making an exception to the standard no-refunds policy for this year. Please fill out the Refund Request form on the Otakon website before May 31.
Dealers and artists will have the option to transfer their registrations to next year, or to request a refund. Hotel reservations made through Experient (Otakon's official housing provider) will automatically be cancelled, and any deposits made will automatically be refunded. Those who booked outside Otakon's housing portal will need to contact their hotels directly. Please allow the hotels time (at least 30 days) to process refunds.
Otakorp's senior staff would like to say thank you to their partners at Destination D.C., Events D.C., Experient, Hargrove, DSL, Simmons Security, and more for being supportive during this difficult time. In addition, they'd like to thank all of the industry partners and guests, both foreign and domestic, as well as the artists and dealers.
ABOUT OTAKON AND OTAKORP, INC.: Now entering its twenty-seventh year, Otakon is an annual celebration of Japanese and East Asian popular culture, and also one of the largest gatherings of fans in the United States. Otakon celebrates popular culture as a gateway to deeper understanding of Asian culture, and has grown along with the enthusiasm for anime, manga, video games, and music from the Far East. Historically, Otakon has drawn up to 34,000 people for three days each year (for a paid attendance of over 100,000 turnstile attendees). Otakon is a membership based convention sponsored by Otakorp, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based, 501(c)3 educational non- profit whose mission is to promote the appreciation of Asian culture, primarily through its media and entertainment. Otakorp, Inc. is directed by an all-volunteer, unpaid staff – we are run by fans, for fans.
