The Press Release:
This spring, Brooklyn will once again become ground zero for giant monster fandom. Kaiju Brooklyn, the East Coast’s fastest-growing convention devoted entirely to kaiju and tokusatsu culture, returns to Industry City in Sunset Park from Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31, 2026.
Created through a collaboration between artist and designer John Bellotti Jr. — known internationally in the art world as Robo7 — and brooklynONE productions, the convention has quickly grown into one of the most distinctive genre events in the region, bringing together performers, toy designers, illustrators, cosplayers, collectors, and fans who share a passion for the larger-than-life world of giant monsters.
What began as a gathering centered around collectors of Japanese sofubi vinyl toys has expanded into a full cultural celebration of kaiju storytelling across film, television, art, sculpture, comics, cosplay, and collectible design. Over the course of three days, Industry City’s Event Space 52A will transform into a hub for monster fans, featuring more than 60 vendors, artists, and creators from across the country.
Adding to the spectacle this year is a special Choose Your Own Adventure® immersive activation, transforming parts of Industry City into an interactive monster story experience. In partnership with Chooseco, the company behind the legendary Choose Your Own Adventure book series, attendees will be able to step inside a live-action branching narrative experience inspired by giant monster storytelling.
Participants will follow clues, make choices, and navigate their way through a series of story paths across the campus, turning the convention into a real-world adventure where fans help determine how the kaiju story unfolds.
Alongside the interactive experience, Kaiju Brooklyn 2026 brings together an impressive cross-section of performers and artists who have helped shape modern monster culture.
Among them is TJ Storm, the motion-capture performer who physically embodied Godzilla in Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla (2014) and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), bringing the King of the Monsters to life through martial artistry and performance capture.
Fans of animation and voice acting will recognize Wayne Grayson, whose work includes Joey Wheeler in Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters and Michelangelo in the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, as well as Ultraman Tiga in the English-language dub.
Veteran screen actor Keone Young, whose career spans more than five decades across film, television, and animation, will also appear, with credits including Deadwood, Ultraman: Rising, and Godzilla: Singular Point.
The visual arts of kaiju culture will also be strongly represented throughout the weekend. Illustrator Tom Whalen, known for his bold poster work for Disney, Marvel, Mondo, Lucasfilm, Warner Bros., and Universal, joins legendary sculptor and toy designer James Groman, whose creations like King Corpse and Rotten Rex have become cult favorites among collectors.
Creature designer and sculptor Paul Komoda, whose work spans film creature design, collectible sculpture, and collaborations with the late H.R. Giger, will also be part of the weekend’s programming.
Rounding out the lineup is Nautilus Cosplay, the internationally recognized tokusatsu costume fabricator known for building screen-accurate Godzilla suits seen everywhere from New York Comic Con and G-Fest to appearances with the San Francisco Giants.
Beyond the guest appearances, Kaiju Brooklyn offers a full weekend experience designed specifically for monster and Japanese superhero fans. Attendees can explore a curated vendor hall filled with vintage sofubi toys, imported collectibles, custom figures, and original artwork, alongside an artist alley showcasing some of the most exciting kaiju-inspired artists working today.
Panels, Q&A sessions, screenings, a cosplay contest, and a custom Kaiju Brooklyn beer release round out the programming, creating an environment that welcomes longtime collectors, families, cosplayers, and newcomers alike.
For John Bellotti, the convention was always meant to be something different from the typical pop-culture expo.
“Kaiju Brooklyn exists because this fandom deserves its own stage,” says Bellotti. “We’re not a corner of a bigger convention. Every artist, vendor, and guest here is part of this world and deeply connected to the community that keeps kaiju culture alive.”
That sense of community is central to the partnership between John Bellotti and brooklynONE productions, the Brooklyn-based arts organization that produces the event at Industry City.
Together, the collaborators have built an event that celebrates not just the spectacle of giant monsters, but the artists, designers, and fans who have kept the genre thriving for generations.
Kaiju Brooklyn will take place inside Event Space 52A at Industry City, located at 33 35th Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, with discounted hotel accommodations available nearby at the Wyndham Garden Brooklyn for convention attendees.
Tickets for the 2026 convention are on sale now at www.kaijubrooklyn.com (linked below).
About Kaiju Brooklyn:
Kaiju Brooklyn is an annual convention celebrating kaiju, tokusatsu, and giant monster culture, created through a collaboration between Robo7 (John Bellotti Jr.) and brooklynONE productions. Held at Industry City in Brooklyn, New York, the event brings together collectors, artists, performers, designers, and fans from across the country for a unique celebration of giant monster storytelling.
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Official: https://www.kaijubrooklyn.com