Guide · Akihabara

Part of: Gundam Base Tokyo, and the Statue That Left

GUNDAM-Con 2027: Dates, How the Ticket Lottery Works, and What Is On

GUNDAM-Con2027 SIDE MAKUHARI is the first of the Gundam series' 50th-anniversary celebration events, on 9, 10 and 11 January 2027 at Makuhari Messe Halls 1 to 3 in Chiba. Entry is paid and by advance lottery, with timed entry slots: 5,000 yen for ages 16 and over and 3,000 yen for primary and junior-high pupils, plus fees. The second draw is open until 23:59 on 12 October 2026, and a third draw runs from 30 October to 8 November. You need a free Bandai Namco ID and a smartphone for the e-ticket. I run private anime tours in Akihabara most weeks, and this is the GUNDAM-Con summary I give Gundam fans planning a January trip.

The official site says the world championships for Gunpla, the card game and the video games, usually held separately, all come together here.

When and where is GUNDAM-Con 2027?

Saturday 9 to Monday 11 January 2027 (a national holiday), at Makuhari Messe Halls 1–3, 2-1 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba. The organisers enlarged the venue to three halls after strong demand. It is the first GUNDAM-Con; the series reaches its 50th anniversary in 2029.

For Gundam in Tokyo the rest of the year, The Gundam Base Tokyo covers the official store; for Gunpla in Akihabara, my Akihabara anime tour covers the hobby floors.

How do you get GUNDAM-Con tickets?

Register a free Bandai Namco ID, apply in a lottery for the day and entry slot you want, then pay by the deadline if you win; the e-ticket is issued once you pay. You can apply once per day, for up to all three days, and up to two tickets per account. Unpaid wins are cancelled.

Every visitor of primary-school age and up needs a ticket, and children of primary-school age and under must come with an adult.

What should you know before applying?

Bring a smartphone with data: the e-ticket must be shown on your phone, not as a screenshot or printout, and tablets are not recommended. Staff may check photo ID for the ticket holder and the companion, so apply in the names of the people who will actually attend. Tickets cannot be refunded, changed or reissued.

This is the honest section. Seated stage viewing needs a separate numbered ticket, details to come, on top of entry. Creator-illustration sales, which come with a signing, are by a separate lottery at the Sunrise booth. If you are travelling from abroad, the third draw is the last scheduled one, so put 30 October to 8 November 2026 in your calendar.

What is on at GUNDAM-Con 2027?

Stages each day, including a SD Gundam G Generation Eternal stage, home-console Gundam game stages, Gundam Assemble stages and a Gundam-song DJ set; exhibitions and hands-on areas made with Gundam creators; the combined world championships; and event-exclusive and early-release goods. Each ticket also comes with visitor gifts, including a shopper bag and an Eco-Pla RX-78-2 kit.

The goods list on the official site includes Gundam Base-exclusive Gunpla and METAL BUILD items. If you shop tax-free on your trip, from 1 November 2026 you pay the tax at the till and get it back after a customs check at the airport. For the other big events around the New Year, see anime events in Tokyo.

Frequently asked questions

When is GUNDAM-Con 2027? 9 to 11 January 2027, at Makuhari Messe Halls 1–3 in Chiba.

How much are GUNDAM-Con tickets? 5,000 yen for ages 16 and over, 3,000 yen for primary and junior-high pupils, plus fees; under-school-age children free with an adult.

How do I get GUNDAM-Con tickets? Through a lottery with a Bandai Namco ID. The third draw runs from 30 October to 8 November 2026.

Do I need a smartphone for GUNDAM-Con? Yes. The e-ticket must be shown on your own smartphone; screenshots and printouts are not accepted.

Is there a Gundam event in Tokyo in 2027? Yes. GUNDAM-Con2027 SIDE MAKUHARI is at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, near Tokyo, on 9 to 11 January 2027.

GUNDAM-Con in January, Akihabara any day

If you would like Akihabara's Gunpla and anime floors chosen around what you build, Adventure in Akihabara with Anime is my private half-day walk, three to four hours, never shared with other guests. The price is on the tour page.

About the author. I am Yuuki, a Japanese teacher and Akihabara anime tour guide based in Tokyo. I run private anime tours here most weeks, rated 4.96★ on Airbnb across 171 reviews. I have watched over 1,500 anime series, which is either a qualification or a warning depending on your point of view.

See the Akihabara anime tour →

Sources: GUNDAM Official Website, GUNDAM-Con official page (concept; first event; venue enlarged to Halls 1–3; dates; prices and fees; children; draw schedule; Bandai Namco ID; two tickets per account; e-ticket on smartphone; ID checks; no refunds; visitor gifts; stage line-up and stage tickets; creator illustrations and signings; goods; combined world championships; news of 2 October 2026); Bandai Namco Filmworks, V-STORAGE article (event outline). All checked 4 October 2026. Event hours are deliberately not given.