Anime Expo is regularly hosted at the Los Angeles Convention Center but has also been held in other cities such as Anaheim, San Jose, New York, and Tokyo.

Anime Expo has events and activities during the convention for attendees to take part in such as guest panels, tabletop gaming, competitions, an arcade, and concerts.

In 1994, Anime Expo made a strategic relocation to the Southern California area and all subsequent conventions have taken place there since.

[4] In March 2009, chief executive officer Trulee Karahashi, who had been a part of Anime Expo and SPJA in various capacities for 11 years, left the organization.

[7][8] In January 2010, eight members of Anime Expo's upper management team (ConCom) publicly resigned because of disagreements over the organization's new direction set forth by Lattanzio.

The article also stated that one of the creditors, IDG World Expo, will be taking over several aspects of the organization, with guest selection and programming remaining under SPJA control.

[16] On June 30, 2017, the first Pre-Show Night was added to the Anime Expo, which included the Neon District, hosting the World Cosplay Summit U.S. Finals, and premieres.

[17] In the months leading to the 2020 event, a global coronavirus outbreak created concerns related to large gatherings, such as Anime Expo.

On March 3, 2021, the SPJA canceled the 2021 live convention, and announced that the Anime Expo Lite would instead be held on the 2021 schedule, citing "continued uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic."

Although Anime Expo Tokyo did not go on to a second year, JASFIC was ultimately successful in attracting the 65th World Science Fiction Convention to Japan in 2007.

Anime Expo Tokyo had a list of over 40 guests such as manga artist Ken Akamatsu, MiQ, Under17, Hiroshi Aro, and many others, although a small handful had to make last-minute cancellations.

[78][79][80] The programming has an arcade, cosplay contest, karaoke, live music, Maid Cafe, manga lounge, tabletop gaming, and workshops.