Animaga Melbourne 2026: Community Panel Applications Are Open!

Have you ever wanted to host a panel about your absolute favorite series, share your cosplay crafting secrets, or lead a deep dive into a creative hobby? If you have a passion you’ve been dying to share with the community, this is your official invitation to jump on the microphone.

We are excited to announce that Community Panel Applications are officially open for Animaga Melbourne 2026! The Panel Stage will run from 11:00 AM until close each day at the MCEC this August 29 and 30, and we want to fill our schedule with the voices, knowledge, and fun discussions that come straight from you.

What We Are Looking For

Operated by the Animaga Cosplay Team, we are seeking a wide variety of panels that connect with our core areas: anime, gaming, and manga/illustration. We especially encourage our incredible cosplay community to step up and share their unique skills and knowledge!

We welcome panels covering topics such as:

• Cosplay & Crafting: Prop making, sewing, makeup, and performance tips.

• Gaming & Development: Indie game design, retro gaming, or competitive culture.

• Art & Photography: Illustration techniques, cosplay photography, and editing.

• Niche Hobbies: Tabletop gaming, Itasha culture, and fandom discussions.

Please note: Animaga is a family-friendly event, so all panel content must be suitable for all ages. We cannot accept any 18+ panel content.

Important Panel Guidelines & Technical Info

To help us keep the schedule running perfectly on the day, please make sure your concept fits within our event criteria:

• Durations: We offer two panel lengths—25 minutes or 55 minutes. There is a strict 5-minute changeover time between sessions. To be fair to everyone, we will cut off sessions exactly when the time limits elapse.

• Presentation Slides: You are welcome to use slides, but they must be emailed to us (cosplay@animaga.com.au) ahead of time in .pptx format only. (Slides made in Canva or Google Slides can easily be exported to .pptx).

• No Internet Reliance: There will be limited to no internet access in the venue. If your panel relies on videos from YouTube or other online sources, they will not work. All videos must be downloaded and embedded directly into your presentation file.

Perks & Key Dates

This is an expression of interest form, and spots are highly competitive. As a thank you for contributing to the event, all accepted panelists will receive a complimentary single-day pass to Animaga for the specific day they are presenting.

• 📅 Application Deadline: Friday, 7th August 2026 at 11:59 PM

• 📣 Outcomes Announced: Friday, 14th August 2026

(Once accepted, we will reach out to collect further information, such as your panelist bios and preferred presentation times.)

Ready to lock in your idea? Hit the link below to pitch us your perfect panel setup today!

✍️ Official Submission Form: Apply to Host a Community Panel Here