Anime Expo Ticket Guide

    The next part of my Anime Expo Guides. I have written about the new gates, the new autograph process, and a variety of other guides on attending conventions. Anime Expo recently sent out an email telling fans to get ready for AX 2025, and this guide's purpose is to help you get familiar with how to buy a badge, what to expect, and the subsequent hotel registration.

Money

    These were the badge prices last year in USD: 

• 4-Day: $150
• 1-Day Thursday: $75
• 1-Day Friday: $80
• 1-Day Saturday: $85
• 1-Day Sunday: $70
• Child Pass (6-13 years): $40

    AX tends to increase badge prices every year, so expect a $5-$10 dollar increase for 2025 badges. You need to add tax at 9.5% and shipping which is only available in the US and Canada. I suggest buying the 4-Day badge and buying your badge as early that is convenient to you. I'll explain later. 

    The second Monday, 8th of January 2025 is when I believe official information goes out via email, sign up to their newsletter if you haven't already. That email should have the Showclix link. Tickets will go on sale either the 21st of January or the 28th of January at 12pm. That means you have about a month to save up. Tickets always go on sale late January on a Tuesday. 

    If you are a veteran or active duty they do give you a discount through their Verification Application for Special Military Badge Offer which remains active until the day of the convention.

Showclix

    Anime Expo uses Showclix for their badge sales. The link will be available through the newsletter, their AX blog, and all of their social media posts. Here is Anime Expo's 2024 link for reference: https://www.showclix.com/event/ax24-ga-reg_sc24-r01 You do not need an account to purchase tickets as the website only makes you an account until after you have purchase something from them. Once the 2025 link is live you will be able to look around the page  but not will not be able to purchase a badge until it is active. 

An hour before the link is live it will change to a queu page instead, pictured below:

When you have this page you are good, refreshing your browser won't change anything. As it states you will be placed in a Random spot in line once the time runs out. Pictured below:

The bar will fill up the closer it gets to your registration time. It'll notify you when you're next by making a loud chime. Once you are able to purchase the ticket you will have about 15 minutes to complete your transaction. You can purchase up to 8 per badge type in a single purchase, if you live near your friends I suggest buying them together to save on shipping costs. 

Registration Tips

    I suggest buying the badges as early as you can because Anime Expo does badge price increases at certain intervals sales and times intervals. Make sure all of the contact and shipping information is correct, and make sure you transfer your badges to your friends and family if you are buying multiple. By transferring the badges and them accepting them they will create a Showclix account for themselves. 

    You can transfer/sell your badge pretty easily if you choose not to attend or can no longer attend. The longer you wait the more expensive the badge will be. You cannot ask for a refund or downgrade your badge. You can upgrade your badge from a single day to a 4-day by messaging AX. 

Purchase your badge before the end of June! AX will "sell out" of four day badges sometime before Day 1. I believe they do this because they don't have the bandwidth and staff to sell badges onsite. Regardless of the reason make sure to buy one before they sell out as they have in the previous 4 Anime Expos. 

Shipping?

    You have to choose the shipping option if you live in the United States or Canada. Badges purchased from January to Early June will be shipping out using UPS. AX will send you multiple reminders to update and confirm your shipping address before Mid April. If you do not respond they will use the address you used at checkout. 

    Badges will start shipping in early May. All badges purchased together will ship together. The tracking number will be on your Showclix account. Badges are shipped in batches not by order time. That means if you bought a badge in January does not guarantee you will get your badge shipped to you first. AX uses a third party shipping service that does shipping in batched so the shipping time can also vary. 

    If you missed the shipping window you will have to pick up your badge on site. They allow you to pick up your badge as early as 2 days before the convention starts. 

Thank you

Thank you for reading my blog. You can support me by buying me a KOFI: thejimmycan

 I will update this page as new information for badge registration becomes available.  

 Read some of my other blogs:

• Budgeting for a Convention Part 1
  
• Avoiding Con Crud
• Convention Attendee Check List