On the first weekend of February Cardiff will become a blaze of pageantry as the Welsh hordes do battle with the likes of Zelda, Deadpool, Thor and Mystique to see who will be the first to get to the bar.

A day after the Dragons take on Les Tricolores in Paris on the opening night of rugby's Six Nations, Cardiff becomes a 'fandom zone' as thousands of cosplay idols, manga-mites and anime artists descend on the Mercure Holland Hotel for the Cardiff Anime and Gaming Con.

An event for children from five to 50, the event features exhibitors, performers, gamers, tournaments, talks and many more activities including cosplay contests, with nearly £1,000 worth of prizes.

Situated just two minutes from Queen Street station, the event runs from 2-3 February and is organised by Animeleague, who will be staging 10 more events across the UK in 2019.

There'll be dozens of guest speakers, cosplay guests, DJs, artists and performers at all the conventions. Check out the Animeleague website for more information.

2019 ANIME AND GAMING CONS
2-3 February, Cardiff Anime & Gaming Con
15-17 February, London Anime & Gaming Con
13-14 April Manchester Anime & Gaming Con
27-28 April, Bristol Anime & Gaming Con
4-5 May, Birmingham Anime & Gaming Con
8-9 June, Liverpool Anime & Gaming Con
28-30 June, London Anime & Gaming Con
3-4 August, Norwich Anime & Gaming Con
17-18 August, Cardiff Anime & Gaming Con
5-8 September, Alcon 2019, Leicester
5-6 October, Bristol Anime & Gaming Con