The outdoor photography and night sessions at 2026 ChinaJoy were definitely major highlights of this year's expo. It was fantastic to finally capture outdoor natural light during the day and utilize night illuminations around the venue alongside dynamic stage lighting in the evening. This year, I focused primarily on recording video footage, taking fewer static photos; however, these few unedited, raw snapshot shots still convey the vibrant atmosphere of the expo and everyone's top-notch condition.
Let's first talk about the outdoor photography experience. From the vicinity of Meeting Room M51 to the lawn outside, this year's venue layout was exceptionally friendly to both photographers and cosplayers. Natural light combined with reflections from the glass curtain walls created fantastic portrait conditions. In the lawn positions shown in the photos, many photographers carried telephoto lenses and reflectors, with everyone seeking ideal angles. Being surrounded by a crowd of photographers certainly demands a strong camera presence, but fortunately, everyone was orderly, and the cascading sound of shutters and flashbulbs became the unique ambient white noise of an anime convention daily life experience. Outdoor shooting is actually tougher than indoor work—without proper reflector control under direct sunlight, harsh shadows easily split facial tones—yet the faces in this photo set remain exceptionally clean, with lighter summer outfits fitting the seasonal vibe perfectly.
This year's night stage exhibits were another major feature. In terms of stage lighting effects, colors and color temperatures were far richer than daytime, especially when neon gradient light hit the outfits, giving facial makeup a more three-dimensional look. Girls on stage in small black wings and uniforms, highlighted by stage spotlights, instantly captivated the audience. Nighttime stage performances offered a stronger sense of interaction; crowds of audience members raised phones and cameras below, while performers on stage brought the atmosphere to a peak in an instant—a level of presence rarely felt during daytime events.
Speaking of styling, I experienced different outfit feelings across the outdoor and night sessions. Because the duration spanning outdoor photography and night sessions was long this year, it posed a significant test on cosplayers' endurance and stamina. For instance, wearing high-heeled sandals and a black stocking outfit while standing under the blazing sun or on stage all day causes very real soreness in feet and legs; complex costumes with capes, long tails, or heavy materials require real perseverance to pull through. Yet seeing everyone maintain bright smiles and full energy before the camera makes all the hard work feel completely worthwhile—that's probably what makes anime convention cosplay so addictive.
Although I was busy running around and took many of these photos casually with no time for heavy editing, everyone's condition looked remarkably authentic and natural. Whether it was Hanfu, black dresses, fox tails, or fantasy costumes, the overall texture was quite impressive this year. With both outdoor photography and night sessions, the shooting scenes became far richer; although running back and forth between different halls was tiring, it broke the previous limitations of indoor queuing and indoor shooting, adding diverse layers to the photos.
As a cosplayer, every anime convention daily life trip is a brief escape from reality and a joyful plunge into roleplay. From makeup to hairstyles down to every small accessory, everything is the result of careful preparation. Raw photos straight from the camera without post-filters actually test live lighting and environment much more, yet looking at the overall visual outcome, one can feel that professional photographers' technical skills were spot on, with deliberate lighting and composition.
After wrapping up this 2026 ChinaJoy experience, although my memory card is packed with video footage, keeping these few static frames is deeply rewarding. The bustle of the night session and the twilight glow of the outdoor grounds left a multi-dimensional memory for 2026 ChinaJoy. I look forward to next year's event featuring even more fun ideas, with upgraded outdoor setups and stage effects.