Anime San Diego 2026
Vendor Load-In Information
Anime San Diego 2026 takes place at the San Diego Convention Center on Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, 2026.
Please read this page carefully before arriving. Anime San Diego is taking place at a union convention center, which means there are strict rules regarding loading dock access, hand-carry items, wheeled equipment, material handling, waste disposal, and vendor move-out.
We do not want any vendor to be hit with surprise fees, delays, or unexpected charges. Please be mindful of this venue’s rules and review all vendor load-in documents before arriving.
IMPORTANT: ALL VENDORS MUST WEAR CLOSED-TOE SHOES WHILE LOADING.
Children 18 and under are not permitted in the vendor hall during loading times.
Vendor Resource Folder
Important vendor documents, maps, and ordering information can be found in the Google Drive folder below:
Vendor Resource Folder:
This folder includes important documents and resources for Anime San Diego vendors.
What’s Included in the Vendor Resource Folder:
Union / Drayage One-Page Guide
This guide explains the San Diego Convention Center’s union and material handling rules, including dock load-in, hand-carry rules, cart service, material handling fees, and the restrictions on carts, wagons, dollies, rolling suitcases, and other wheeled equipment.
Please review this guide before arriving.
Updated Vendor Map
The updated vendor map shows the Anime San Diego show floor layout, booth locations, vendor check-in area, lobby access, and key load-in reference points.
Vendor check-in will be marked on the map. Once you are inside the building, you must check in at vendor check-in before proceeding to your booth.
Power / Electrical Ordering Information
This flyer includes information for ordering electrical services through Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services.
There is no guaranteed power included with vendor spaces. If you need electricity at your booth, you must order it through Edlen.
Waste Disposal / Exhibitor Cleaning Information
This guide explains San Diego Convention Center cleaning, porter service, waste disposal, and booth disposal policies.
Vendors may not leave waste, boxes, booth materials, carpet, displays, packing materials, or trash behind at their booth. Vendors who leave excessive materials behind may be charged disposal, labor, dumpster, or related venue fees.
Need Electricity at Your Space?
There is no guaranteed power included with vendor spaces.
If you need electricity at your booth, you must order it through Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services.
Vendors can order electrical services online at:
ordering.edlen.com
You may receive an email to finalize your order from:
ExhibitorServices-SanDiego@edlen.com
For questions, vendors may contact Edlen at:
Parking Garage / Hand-Carry Parking
Vendors who are hand-carrying items should park in the San Diego Convention Center parking garage.
San Diego Convention Center Parking Garage
111 W Harbor Dr.
San Diego, CA 92101
Anime San Diego does not control parking pricing, garage capacity, traffic, or parking availability. Please plan ahead and allow extra time for arrival, parking, check-in, and load-in.
From the parking garage, vendors may hand-carry merchandise and booth materials through the lobby and into the vendor hall.
Vendor Check-In and Credentials
Whether you are checking in with Heritage at the dock or loading in by hand through the lobby, once you are inside the building, you must come to vendor check-in before proceeding to your booth.
Vendor check-in will be located at the back of the vendor hall and will be marked on the vendor map.
At vendor check-in, vendors will receive their vendor badges and any final instructions before setting up their booth.
Vendor credentials are required for vendor hall access. Please do not proceed directly to your booth before checking in.
Vendor Load-In Schedule
Friday, September 4, 2026
Vendor Load-In:
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
All dock load-in must happen during the official vendor load-in window on Friday.
If you need to use the loading dock, official material handling, freight delivery, pallets, crates, skids, or large boxed shipments, that must be handled during Friday vendor load-in only.
There will be no dock load-in or dock restocking on Saturday or Sunday.
Saturday Vendor Setup / Restocking
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Vendor Setup Begins:
7:00 AM
Convention Floor Open:
9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday load-in and restocking can only be done by parking in the San Diego Convention Center parking garage and hand-carrying items through the lobby.
There is no Saturday dock load-in or dock restocking.
All aisles must be clear before 9:00 AM.
Sunday Vendor Setup / Restocking
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Vendor Setup Begins:
7:00 AM
Convention Floor Open:
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday morning restocking can only be done by parking in the San Diego Convention Center parking garage and hand-carrying items through the lobby.
There is no Sunday dock load-in or dock restocking.
All aisles must be clear before 9:00 AM.
Sunday Vendor Move-Out
Vendor breakdown may begin at:
Sunday, September 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Please do not begin breaking down before 6:00 PM while attendees are still on the show floor.
All vendor move-out must be complete by:
Sunday, September 6, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Dock access is for Heritage / official material handling only. Vendors who are not using Heritage or union material handling must load out the same way they loaded in: by parking in the San Diego Convention Center parking garage and hand-carrying items through the lobby.
All vendor materials, merchandise, displays, trash, boxes, packing materials, and booth supplies must be fully removed by the end of move-out.
Important Union / Material Handling Rules
Anime San Diego takes place at the San Diego Convention Center, which is a union convention center. The union and Heritage have provided the following important material handling information for vendors.
If you have any questions about union rules, carts, dock usage, material handling, or Heritage procedures, please contact:
Anissia May
anissia.may@heritagesvs.com
Dock Load-In / Heritage Check-In
If you plan on unloading at the dock, you must check in at the guard shack.
The guard shack is located at the main entrance on Harbor Drive, near the Hilton San Diego Bayfront and the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina.
Please tell the guard you are checking in for:
ANIME c/o Heritage
You will need to provide:
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Show name
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Exhibitor name
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Booth number
Once you arrive at the dock, the Heritage team will assist with the appropriate unloading process.
Cart Service and Material Handling
If you plan on unloading at the dock, there may be a cart service fee or material handling fee depending on your materials and the weight of your items.
Current information provided by Heritage:
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Cart Service: $85 per cart, one way
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Material Handling: $324 minimum, round trip
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If items are under 200 lbs and fit on a Heritage cart, the fee is typically $85 per cart for one-way service
Fees are handled through Heritage / the appropriate service provider. Anime San Diego cannot waive or absorb union, cart service, material handling, or venue-related fees.
Hand-Carry / Personally Owned Vehicle
Exhibitors may hand-carry merchandise from a personally owned vehicle, such as a car, van, or SUV.
To hand-carry, vendors should park in the San Diego Convention Center parking garage and carry materials into the facility by hand.
Hand-carry means hand-carry only.
Vendors may take multiple trips if needed, as long as all items are carried by hand and no prohibited equipment is used.
No Wagons, Dollies, Carts, Rolling Suitcases, or Wheeled Items
No wagons, dollies, carts, rolling suitcases, hand trucks, rolling racks, pallet jacks, or other wheeled items will be permitted onto the show floor through hand-carry routes.
Nothing may be dragged, rolled, pushed, or transported on wheels through hand-carry routes.
If your setup requires wheeled equipment, freight delivery, pallets, crates, skids, or dock access, you should plan to use official material handling during Friday vendor load-in.
Saturday and Sunday Restocking Rules
Saturday and Sunday restocking may only be done by parking in the parking garage and hand-carrying items through the lobby.
All Saturday and Sunday restocking must follow the same hand-carry rules:
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Items must be carried by hand
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No carts, wagons, dollies, hand trucks, rolling suitcases, rolling racks, pallet jacks, or wheeled equipment
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Nothing may be dragged or rolled
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Nothing may block aisles, doorways, elevators, escalators, lobby areas, or emergency exits
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Once inside, vendors must check in before proceeding to their booth
Table Linens
Table linens will not be provided.
Vendors must bring their own table covering if they would like one. Tables may also be left uncovered if preferred.
Tables and Chairs
Please review your confirmed booth information for what is included with your space.
If you do not need a table or chairs at your space, please let vendor check-in staff know when you arrive.
Waste Disposal Warning
Vendors are responsible for cleaning up their booth area and disposing of trash properly.
Please do not leave trash, cardboard, packing materials, boxes, displays, carpet, pallets, signage, merchandise, or booth materials behind at your booth.
Vendors who leave excessive materials behind may be charged disposal, labor, dumpster, or related venue fees.
Booths that generate large amounts of cardboard, retail packaging, giveaways, or trash may be required to order porter service directly through the San Diego Convention Center.
Excessive cardboard or trash may not be discarded in aisle trash cans or left anywhere that blocks walkways, aisles, doors, or emergency exits.
Cleaning and Porter Service
Cleaning services at the San Diego Convention Center are handled by the venue.
Vendors should review the Exhibitor Services Ordering Guide in the Vendor Resource Folder for information on booth cleaning, porter service, booth disposal, carpet disposal, and related services.
Vendors with booths that generate a large amount of cardboard, trash, giveaways, retail packaging, or other waste may need to order porter service directly through the San Diego Convention Center.
Aisles Must Stay Clear
All aisles, walkways, doors, emergency exits, and shared spaces must remain clear.
No boxes, merchandise, displays, signage, trash, or personal items may be left in the aisles.
Vendor setups must stay fully within the assigned booth space.
All aisles must be clear before 9:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday.
Recommended Setup Timing
It is highly recommended that vendors load in and complete setup on Friday.
Saturday and Sunday morning access should be used only for small hand-carried restocking or final booth adjustments.
Event Hours
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Convention Floor Open: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Convention Floor Open: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Questions
If you have questions about Anime San Diego vendor check-in, booth placement, or event details, please contact:
If you have questions about union rules, carts, dock usage, material handling, or Heritage procedures, please contact:
Anissia May
anissia.may@heritagesvs.com