TRACON - THE ROLEPLAYING AND ANIME CONVENTION IN TAMPERE
The next event is 5th-7th of September, 2025 at the Tampere Hall, Finland.
Welcome to Tracon!
Tracon is an annual convention for Japanese pop culture and roleplaying in Tampere, Finland organized by the nonprofit Tracon ry and its volunteers. With over 5500 event visitors and a big team of volunteers, it’s one of the largest non-profit conventions of its genre in Europe and the only convention in Finland to officially combine Japanese pop culture and roleplaying.
Every year, Tracon has a certain theme that influences the program, and in 2025, it is “Tracon of a thousand tales” to celebrate the 20th anniversary. The main event entertains with a variety of competitions, presentations, lectures, concerts, workshops, community meetings and shows. The vendor’s hall, flea market, artisans, and artist alley offer diverse products for all interests. Café Hanami, our very own maid café, offers a place to relax with confectionaries and friendly company.
The event caters to two main interest groups:
- Tabletop and live-action roleplaying games; board games; card games; miniature games; and strategy games.
- Japanese pop culture: anime (Japanese animation), manga (Japanese comics), cosplay, J-rock, J-pop, and other aspects of Japanese popular culture.
In addition to the day event, which is open to people of all ages, there will be an 18+ evening party on Saturday, the 6th of Sep at Tavara-asema. Dance your heart out to the beats of skillful DJs and enjoy other musical performances.
Tracon is the perfect opportunity to spend a weekend enjoying the company of friends and like-minded new acquaintances!
Opening hours: TBA
Location
The venue, Tampere Hall, is located in the city center of Tampere (Yliopistonkatu 55), within a walking distance (700 m) from the central railway station and central bus station (900 m).
The park next to Tampere Hall, Sorsapuisto, will have a designated area for Tracon which is open and free-of-charge for everyone, also non-event visitors. The park will feature, for example, the Tracon Live! -stage, boffer fighting, and artisan stalls.
The evening party venue, Tavara-asema, is also in the city center of Tampere (Ratapihankatu 33), one kilometer away from Tampere Hall and 700 m away from the main railway station.
From Helsinki-Vantaa airport, it takes less than two hours by train to Tampere. From Helsinki central railway station, it takes about two hours. A bus connection between Helsinki and Tampere is also available.
Tickets
Tickets will be sold in advance online and at pre-announced events. The date of ticket sales: TBA.
Day event prices:
- 3-day ticket 50 €
- Friday 25€
- Saturday 40 €
- Sunday 35 €
Tickets will be exchanged to wristbands in Sorsapuisto during the following hours: TBA
The coatroom in Tampere Hall and the large item coatroom in Sorsapuisto will be in use according to the event’s opening hours and is free-of-charge.
Evening party tickets will be sold separately for 23€ – only for +18-year-olds!
The program
Some of the program in Tracon is originally in English or can be translated to English when needed. Please see from this filtered program guide (2024) which program numbers are in English.
We also have a variety of program in which the Finnish language does not play a major role. Check out, for example, the concerts and performances of Tracon Live! and Small Auditorium and the program of the Main Auditorium.
Even though the day event welcomes everyone of all ages, please consider that some specific program numbers may have age limits or recommendations. Age checks will be performed before 18+ program numbers.
Cosplay and anime
The most visible part of Tracon is cosplay. Many local cosplay competitions and national qualifiers for international competitions are hosted at the event. One of the main numbers is the international preliminary for Nordic Cosplay Championship. In addition to competitions that evaluate craftsmanship, performance, and camera skills, Tracon offers educational cosplay programs, beautiful exhibitions and equipped changing rooms where visitors can change into their costumes.
For anime enthuasiasts, Tracon organizes Anime Music Video competitions, lectures about anime topics, anime karaoke and many other activities.
Questions about suitable props and cosplay cosplay[at]tracon.fi.
Roleplaying
Roleplaying in all its forms is a great part of Tracon. Walk around Tampere Hall and stumble upon multiple tabletop and Nordic larp games! Visitors can also get acquainted with tabletop roleplaying in low-threshold short scenarios with our Games on Demand team.
We have also board- and card games as well as lectures about roleplaying and games. See in the program guide, which ones are in English!
Music
Music livens up Tracon: enjoy various game and anime music as well as choir concerts in the beautiful Tampere concert hall. The Anime Music Video competition is also one of the most popular programs at Tracon. Interactive music activities, like anime karaoke and rhythm games, are a fun way to test your musical skills!
Guests of Honour
Tracon invites yearly at least two guests of honor, one known in the roleplaying and the other known in the anime/cosplay communities. Guests of honour organize program too: presentations, panel discussions, roleplaying game scenarios and other activities depending on their field. These programs are suitable for international visitors, as they are held mostly in English.
2025’s Guests of Honours: TBA
Previous guests of honour:
- 2024 Hanavbara (Spain), Wynter Cosplay (Switzerland)
- 2023 Nathan Blades (UK), Shappiworkshop & Kanto (Poland), Mamoru Yokota (Japan)
- 2022 AkrCos (USA), Dave Rodgers & Kaioh (Italy)
- 2019 Jacob Budz (USA), Yoshihiro Shimizu (Japan)
- 2018 Guy Sclanders (South Africa), Enayla Cosplay (USA)
- 2017 Angel Leigh McCoy (USA) and Chris Huelsbeck (USA)
- 2016 Jennifer Brozek (USA) and Xavier ”Nostromo” Guinchard (France)
- 2015 Jun Awazu (Japan), jim pinto (USA) and Eat Your Kimchi (Canada/South Korea)
- 2014 Rino Mizuho (Japan), Darrell Hardy (USA), Jonne Valtonen and Roger Wanamo
- 2013 Ross Watson (USA)
- 2012 Yasuhiro Nakura (Japan) and Sandy Petersen (USA)
- 2011 Yoshihiro Takahashi (Japan) and Mike Pohjola
- 2010 Oscar Garza (USA) and Matthijs Holter (Norway)
Things to consider
Payment methods
Even though card and mobile payments are possible almost everywhere at Tracon and generally in Tampere, it is recommended to bring some cash. For example, cash is preferred at the very popular flea market. The closest withdrawal machine is at Tullintori (Tullikatu 6).
Streams
Arrival
Public transportation
Tampere Hall is also accessible by public transportation, like busses, trams, and city bikes. Download the Nysse Mobiili app for tickets and a route planner. The route planner is also available online. Please consider that public transport may not accept cash payments.
The nearest bus to Tampere Hall is line 2, which runs from Särkänniemi to Rauhaniemi, passing through Keskustori and the main bus station. The nearest tram stops to Tampere Hall are Tulli and Sammonaukio.
Read more about city bikes here, and for comprehensive information about public transportation visit the Nysse website.
Parking
Arriving by car? Plan your parking! There are paid parking spaces nearby at P-Tullintori, P-Tampere-talo, and P-Hämppi. The nearest parking garage, P Tampere-talo, is located about 150 m from Tampere Hall, with an entrance on Åkerlundinkatu. P Tullintori has entrances on Åkerlundinkatu and Pinninkatu.
Additional parking is available at the Sairaalankatu parking area, located across Kalevantie about 100 m away from Tampere Hall, with approximately 300 parking spaces. Parking in this area has fees from Monday to Saturday between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM, with a maximum parking time of 4 hours.
The parking area on Tampere Hall’s grounds is reserved exclusively for staff and event organizers.
Storing clothes and belongings & changing rooms
Tracon has a free coatroom located in the lobby of Tampere Hall – please leave coats, handbags, shopping bags and small backpacks here! All larger and more cumbersome items and suitcases can be taken to the large item coatroom in Sorsapuisto.
The event organisers are not responsible for any items left in the coatrooms, although the staff will do their best to ensure that items are stored correctly.
Items forgotten in the coatrooms after Tracon will be delivered to the eOmistaja service the week after the event (the link will open in a new tab).
Cosplay competitors and other visitors have separate changing rooms available. The changing rooms will be marked on a map of the venue, which will be published closer to the event.
Any questions?
Upcoming events
If Tracon 2025 does not fit into your calendar, see you in future events!
- 4.9.-6.9.2026
- 3.9.-5.9.2027
- 8.9.-10.9.2028