AVCon

AVCon began in 2002 as a small joint convention supported by volunteers from the University of South Australia's Adelaide Japanese Animation Society (AJAS) and the Adelaide University Video Gamers Association (AUVGA, now known as EVAC). Originally known as the AV CONnection, the event was held annually at the University of Adelaide in the Union building. In 2008, the event outgrew its convention status and became a festival due to continued attendance growth. During this growth, the registered not-for-profit charity Team AVCon was founded. This was to continue running the AVCon Festival each year, but their mission has increased to further culture with both the Festival weekend and mini events.

The year after, in 2009, AVCon reached new heights by moving to a larger venue at the Adelaide Convention Center. This venue change resulted in double the previous year's ticket sales, with an attendance of just over 4,000 people. In 2010, the festival was again held at the Adelaide Convention Centre with 8,000 attendees, and the numbers increased once more to over 14,000 in 2011.[3][4]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the 2020 AVCon festival was cancelled.[5] The 2021 AVCon festival was scheduled to be held at the Morphettville Racecourse from 9–11 July. An official statement was released on the 30th of June 2021 stating the festival would be postponed due to lockdown in South Australia. On the 24th of July, Team AVCon announced that the 2021 festival had been cancelled. The cancellation was due to restrictions on gatherings likely persisting even after lockdown ends and the venue already being booked through the remainder of the year for other events. Team AVCon stated that "the possibility that we can run a large-scale event for thousands of people at any time in the near future has all but disappeared. Even when things are under control, it is likely tough restrictions will remain that will make large-scale gatherings for months to come next to impossible."[6]

On the 16th of March 2022, an official statement was released on Team AVCon's social media and website announcing that AVCon: Adelaide's Anime and Video Games Festival will not be going ahead in 2022 as a large event. This decision was due to the risk of cancellation due to fluctuating COVID restrictions leading to a negative financial impact on Team AVCon's future and the safety of staff, attendees, volunteers and guests.[7]

After a three-year hiatus, AVCon was held again as a large event at the Convention Centre on 21-23 July 2023.

In 2022, Team AVCon announced that 2022 would see smaller events and reconnecting with the community in anticipation of the return of the festival in 2023.[7]