Ecchi Expo in Denver, Colorado, Blends Anime, Adult Entertainment and Geek Culture

With anime exploding in appeal in the 21st century, and the genre surpassing the popularity of major U.S. sports, including American Football, among GenZ according to Screen Rant, it’s not a surprise that adult sub genres of anime such as Ecchi and Hentai, have developed a devoted fan base. Ecchi is a form of anime that is suggestive, playful, or risqué but not X-rated as compared to Hentai. All About Anime and Manga, says early signs of Ecchi started to appear in the 1970s and became a recognized genre in the 90s to 2000s, culminating in its global reach with sub genres from ecchi horror to ecchi sports.

For myself, it’s a world that I’m not deeply familiar with but interested to know more about. So when I heard about the Ecchi Expo coming to Denver, it was an opportunity that I wasn’t going to pass on. Taking place on August 8-10 at the Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver, the expo did a wonderful job of creating the environment of anime with cars donned with different notable anime shows outside of the hotel.

Before entering, attendees were greeted with a video about the expo’s code of conduct that prohibited physical or verbal harassment of the attendees, guests, vendors, staff, or volunteers. This created a safe environment and a first that I’ve experienced entering an expo. When stepping into the “Artist Alley and Cosplay Row” that features cosplayers such as Winterfire, NebulaNeko, and Cindrella, it was apparent the effort that goes into creating their costumes. The exhibit hall was one of the most diverse show floors I’ve ever been to, featuring exhibitors selling adult toys and movies, tattoo artists, and vanilla toy manufacturers who sell action figures from anime to fan favorite cartoons like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The majority of the adult toys I saw were creature cocks, fantasy & sci-fi dildos, and blowjob candy, along with movies and magazines featuring adult stars from Japan.

Fans also had the chance to meet anime voice actors, including Jessica Calvello, known for her roles in “Pokémon,” “One Piece,” and “Attack on Titan.”

Ecchi Expo encouraged interaction with attendees through its “Main Stage” with different interactive events such as “Karaoke After Party”, a cosplay contest, and “Strip Jan, Ken, Pon” (Rock, Paper, Scissors) Ecchi Expo’s spicy take on the classic game of Jan, Ken, Pon.

However, the most memorable parts of the Expo were the panels, as they had engaging hosts. They ranged from talking about the history of Hentai to getting a crash course in learning about the porn industry in Japan.

The Ecchi Expo blended geek culture, adult entertainment, and anime for a weekend event. Organizer Fandom Events said the expo will return to Denver and Dallas in 2026.