Wonder Festival to Hold Its First-Ever U.S. Event! In Collaboration with MomoCon, Coming to Atlanta in May 2026

[IBJamon]

Wonder Festival to Hold Its First-Ever U.S. Event!

In Collaboration with MomoCon, Coming to Atlanta in May 2026

KAIYODO Co., Ltd. and the Wonder Festival Executive Committee are pleased to announce the first-ever North American edition of the world-renowned figure and modeling event, Wonder Festival, to be held in collaboration with MomoCon, one of North America’s largest pop culture events focused on anime, gaming, and comics. The event is scheduled for May 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Wonder Festival Expands to a New Stage Overseas

“Wonder Festival,” one of the world’s largest figure and garage kit conventions, began as an event where both professionals and amateurs could exhibit and sell their own handmade kits, showcasing their creativity and craftsmanship to the world. What started as a small, hand-crafted gathering has now grown into a major event attracting over 30,000 visitors in a single day.

Following successful international events — such as Wonder Festival 2024 in Bangkok (Thailand), Wonder Festival 2025 in Korea, and Wonder Festival 2025 in Shanghai (China) — the event continues to expand globally, connecting creators and fans from around the world.

Now, for the first time in its history, Wonder Festival will arrive in the United States. “Wonder Festival at MomoCon” in Atlanta will serve as a new creative bridge between Japan and the U.S., connecting fans and creators across cultures through the shared passion for figure and model artistry.

Why Partner with MomoCon

MomoCon celebrates its 21st anniversary in 2026 and is one of the largest fan conventions in the U.S., drawing over 60,000 unique attendees and 150,000 total entries annually. The event covers approximately 65,000 square meters, generating over $43 million in economic impact for the city of Atlanta, with an exhibitor return rate of 90%.


Originating from an anime and gaming club at the Georgia Institute of Technology, MomoCon has retained a strong community of independent and fan exhibitors — a spirit that resonates with Wonder Festival’s origins and mission, leading to this collaboration.

Atlanta, located in the southeastern United States, serves as a major transportation hub with convenient international access. Its comparatively low logistics costs also make it an appealing location for participating companies.

Comments from the Organizers

(Left) Jessica Merriman, Founder & Executive Director of MomoCon

(Right) Chris Stuckey, Director of MomoCon

Jessica Merriman (Founder & Executive Director of MomoCon)

Chris Stuckey (Director of MomoCon)

“Wonder Festival represents the pinnacle of figure and modeling culture. We are honored to introduce its spirit to North America. At MomoCon 2026, we will create a unique experience where Japanese and American creators and fans can connect and share their passion under one roof.”

Comment from the Wonder Festival Executive Committee

Shuichi Miyawaki, Representative, Wonder Festival Executive Committee

“Wonder Festival was first launched in 1985 as an event centered on garage kit figures. Over the past 40 years, the world of figure and model creation has continued to expand — and now, we are thrilled to see Wonder Festival being held in the United States. We look forward to watching the garage kit culture spread even further across the globe, connecting creators and fans worldwide.”

Event Overview — Wonder Festival at MomoCon

Dates: May 21 (Thu) – 24 (Sun), 2026

Venue: Georgia World Congress Center (within MomoCon)

285 Andrew Young International Blvd, Atlanta, GA

A dedicated Wonder Festival Pavilion (approx. 4,600–9,300 m²) will be established within MomoCon.

Planned Exhibits and Activities:

• Exhibitions by leading Japanese and international figure and model manufacturers

• Sales and showcases by garage kit and artisan toy creators

• Exclusive collections and cultural exhibits

About MomoCon

Founded in 2005 at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Anime and Gaming Club, MomoCon has evolved into a major convention celebrating anime, gaming, comics, cosplay, and pop culture. Young audiences form the core demographic, with approximately 39% aged 25–34 and 36% aged 18–24. Online, the MomoCon hashtag has surpassed 312 million views on TikTok, underscoring its strong digital presence.

Official Website: https://www.momocon.com/

About Wonder Festival

Launched in 1985 by the sci-fi specialty store General Products and organized by KAIYODO since 1992, Wonder Festival has grown into Japan’s largest figure and model event, leading the global creative culture surrounding garage kits. The event brings together professional manufacturers and independent sculptors alike and is highly regarded around the world.

The next domestic event, Wonder Festival 2026 [Winter], is scheduled for February 8, 2026 (Sun).

Official Website: https://wonfes.jp/
Official X (Twitter): @WF_officialinfo

Wonder Festival at MomoCon — U.S. Official Channels

Website: https://wonfes.us
X (Twitter): @WonderFestUS
Instagram: @WonderFestUS

About MomoCon

Founded in 2004 by Jessica Merriman and Chris Stuckey, then students at Georgia Tech, MomoCon has grown from a 700-person on-campus event to the largest event in the southeast United States for fans of video games, animation, cosplay, comics, and tabletop games.