Costime7 Convention 2026 returns to Mid Valley Southkey in Johor Bahru on 10 and 11 October 2026, packing two days of anime, games, J-POP, and fan-made work into the mall's event floors. After five years of growth, Costime has become one of Johor's most watched ACG and J-POP conventions, and this edition is framed as a "10+4 Journey": a larger mix of cosplay showcases, interactive booths, special guests, and exclusive merchandise than previous years.
The weekend is built for people who already live in this scene as much as for first-timers. You can spend it watching stage performances, walking dealer tables, joining fan activities, or hunting limited goods. Organisers are selling the atmosphere as much as the programme: a dense, walkable community of artists, cosplayers, gamers, and J-POP fans under one roof.
What the 10+4 Journey adds
The 10+4 Journey is the headline for Costime7. In practice it means more of the things regulars already come for, stretched across more space and more hours. Cosplay showcases sit at the centre: contest stages, photo spots, and walk-around appearances rather than a single evening block. Interactive experiences sit next to that, from game-adjacent booths to hands-on fan activities that keep people on the floor instead of only in seats.
Special guests are part of the same pitch. The source does not name who is booked, so treat guest lists as unconfirmed until the official channels publish them. What is confirmed is the intent: meet-and-greet style access, artist appearances, and a chance to see J-POP culture on a mall stage rather than only through screens. Exclusive merchandise is the other hook. Limited drops, collab goods, and dealer-table exclusives typically sell fastest in the first hours of each day, so early entry is worth planning if shopping is your main reason to go.
Anime, games, music, and the floor mix
Costime's identity is ACG plus J-POP: anime, comics and games, with Japanese pop music as a live thread rather than background. That mix is why the convention has stuck in Johor. You get stage sets and artist-facing moments on one side, and a dealer and creator floor on the other. Creative arts sit in the same hall as fandom retail, which is useful if you want original prints, crafts, and small-press work without a separate trip.
Performances and booths share the same visitor flow. Expect queues at popular photo spots and at any guest table once names drop. Fan activities are listed as part of the programme, which usually means audience games, community stages, and organised meetups rather than a quiet gallery. If you are coming with a group, agree a meeting point inside the mall before the floor fills. Mid Valley Southkey is a large complex; the convention will occupy event space inside it, not a standalone hall across town.
How to use a two-day weekend
Saturday and Sunday, 10 and 11 October 2026, is a short window. People who want both stage and shopping usually split the days: one for performances and showcases, one for booths and guests, or morning for queues and afternoon for wandering. Cosplayers should budget extra time for costume changes and photos; the rest of the crowd should budget extra time for food, because mall restaurants fill when a convention is on.
The source does not list ticket prices, session times, or a guest roster. Until those go up, treat the weekend as a full-day commitment and watch the organiser pages for door hours and any paid versus free zones. Exclusive merchandise is called out specifically, so if that is your target, check restock rules and whether Sunday stock is thinner than Saturday. Interactive experiences often run on timed slots; grab those early if they appear on the floor map.
Getting to Mid Valley Southkey
Mid Valley Southkey sits in Johor Bahru, on the southern end of the city with mall parking and bus access. The nearest rail for most visitors from Singapore is via the RTS Link to Bukit Chagar once that service is running on your travel date; from there you still need a short hop by bus, taxi, or ride-hail to Southkey. From within Johor, the mall is a standard destination on local bus routes and by car. Weekend traffic around Southkey is heavy; if you drive, arrive before late morning or use the mall's parking guidance on the day.
Bring water, a portable battery, and a bag that can take merch without wrecking a costume. Photography is part of the culture here, but ask before close-up shots of cosplayers. The convention is a community event as much as a show, and the organisers have spent five years building that reputation in Johor. Costime7 is the latest step in that line, not a one-off pop-up.
Practical Details
Event: Costime7 Convention 2026 (ACG and J-POP), themed "10+4 Journey"
Dates: 10–11 October 2026
Times: Not listed in the announcement; check the organiser closer to the weekend
Prices: Not listed in the announcement
Address: Mid Valley Southkey, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Nearest transit: Local buses and taxis/ride-hail to Mid Valley Southkey; from Singapore, plan via the Johor Bahru RTS / Bukit Chagar area then a short onward trip if the link is open on your date
What to expect: Cosplay showcases, interactive experiences, special guests, exclusive merchandise, J-POP performances, booths, and fan activities
Official listing: Costime7 Convention 2026 at Mid Valley Southkey
