Welcome to Panel Programming!
Ever wanted to share something you're passionate about? Present with friends while cosplaying your favorite characters? Perform live on stage? Or maybe… all of the above? Then panel programming is perfect for you!
Panels are fan-led sessions that cover everything from anime, manga, and video games to webtoons, pop culture, and more. Some are fun discussions, while others feature games, quizzes, how-tos, performances, or hands-on workshops.
From Friday through Sunday, Panel Programming brings the energy with a full schedule of events: from deep dives into your favorite series to creative workshops and interactive fan experiences. Whether you're hosting or attending, there's something for everyone!
Panel Registration
Our forms and schedules are built on these principles. They are mandatory for all groups and individuals running a panel. Applications are due no later than 11:59pm (CT), September 30, 2026. After the deadline has passed, all applications will be reviewed and applicants will be notified via email on Eventeny. This goes for whether your submission was accepted, waitlisted, or declined. Submitting an application does not automatically approve your panel. Your panel is only final if and when you receive written approval from the Panels Department Managers or Programming Directors. Please keep an eye out for an email from Eventeny about your applications.
Panel applications are NOT first-come first-served. We do our best to provide a variety of content, so take the time to make sure your panel submissions are unique and well thought out!
Before submitting a panel application form, please read the rules and guidelines below.
If you have any questions after reviewing the rules and guidelines, please contact our Panels Department Heads at panels@animemilwaukee.org for additional assistance. Please give our team at least 72 hours to answer any questions.
Panel Rules
No outside food or drink is allowed in panel rooms! The convention center must cater any and all food in panel rooms. This can get very expensive. Panelists serving food will be banned from running panels in the future and may be subject to legal liability.
Panelist Badge Memberships. Badge rollover memberships are non-transferable and may only be used by individuals who participated in the associated panel. Transfers to non-participants are prohibited without prior approval from the AMKE Panels Department and AMKE Member Services.
No Stickers! Stickers may not be used or distributed per convention center policy. The only exception is for badge ribbons, which are allowed.
Stay within your rating. Please remember that we are a family-friendly convention and there are people of all ages who attend panels (including children). Unless you specify in your application that you are an 18+ event, you will be expected to be age appropriate. If you wish to host an 18+ panel, they must be held after 9:00 PM. Our form also includes space to include any content warnings for your panel. Please include the warnings you want attendees to be aware of in advance. Failure to warn about sensitive subjects presented may result in your panels being declined in the future.
Treat equipment with care and respect. If the equipment is not yours, DO NOT TOUCH IT! Our equipment is there to enhance your panel. Please contact us in advance with non-standard equipment requirements. Should we believe that you have been tampering with equipment not belonging to you, it can result in cancellation of your panels and the confiscation of your badge.
Do not remove equipment from the room. We have a dedicated tech team that will take down/set up any equipment. We will have 30 minute breaks in between panels to accommodate panelist set ups and room clear out. If equipment needs to be moved, our teams will take care of it. Please let us know in advance.
All persons in the room must have a badge (for all panels) and wristband (for 18+ Panels)! All attendees and panelists must have a badge for the convention in accordance with our policies. Even if someone is there just to help or see just your panel, you MUST have a badge to be in the convention space.You must also have a wristband for any of our 18+ paneling to be admitted to 18+ spaces.
Do not rearrange the furniture in the panel rooms. The convention center is in charge of setting up the chairs, stages, tables, etc in the rooms. The rooms are scheduled to have specific setups depending on the panels happening in the rooms. You can request your preferred room setup in the application form.
Please do not post any panel advertisements within the Hyatt, Hilton, or Baird Center spaces. The Baird Center has asked us not to allow attendees or staff to tape up advertisements of panels, local events, or food spaces due to not allowing stickers/tape. If you are caught taping up advertisements of panels, you will be asked to take them down and could face repercussions as dictated by the Convention Management.
Agree to prioritize the safety and well-being of all attendees, staff, and the venue. Please do not engage in any reckless, dangerous, or destructive behavior that could endanger yourself, others, or venue property. This includes, but is not limited to: Smashing or breaking objects, Introducing hazardous or ingestible items (e.g., hot sauces, unknown substances), Using weapons or realistic props without prior approval, performing unsafe stunts or demonstrations, and forcing audience participation without consent.
There will be no rollover badge memberships provided if you fail to show up to the panel at the time given to you and if you do not check in with the panels management team at con.
Failure to follow these guidelines may result in removal from the convention, badge confiscation of this year's badges, removal of your rollover membership badges for the following year, and/or liability for damages by Convention Management.
Information for Panel Application Process
Once panel submissions close on September 30th, it takes several weeks to review all panel submissions, schedule panels, and finalize information before Panel Programming sends out Acceptance, Waitlist, and Declined notifications. Panels will be scheduled around finalized Cosplay Meetups, guest panels, and main events to the best of the convention's ability.
Emails will be sent out for approval/rejections along with scheduling times by November 30th. Check your spam or junk mail folder if you have not received an email by the end of November 2026. Anime Milwaukee will be posting a panel update on our social media channels.
If your panel is accepted, the confirmation email will include the tentative time and date for your panel. You will haveuntil December 13th, 2026 to let us know if this time will not work. Dates and times are subject to change leading up to the convention. Every effort will be made to schedule panels as close to the requested time as possible.
Panel Acceptance
Accepted - the panel will be included on the convention schedule and you will be able to receive your comped badges. If you need to cancel your panel for any reason, email panels@animemilwaukee.org ASAP so another panel can take your place.
Declined - the panel was not accepted for the convention.
Waitlist - the panel is pending, meaning we cannot include it in the schedule at this time. Waitlisted panels may be moved onto the schedule if other panels get canceled.
How do I get a membership as a panelist? See the details below.
Panelist Badges - Important Information
Please read carefully. In past years, Anime Milwaukee offered badge reimbursement for panelists who completed their obligations and were signed off by the Panels team. This process has changed since 2023.
Updated Badge System:
Purchase your Anime Milwaukee badge membership.
This step is required for all panelists who are new to submitting a panel and do not have a rollover badge membership from the previous year.Submit your panel using your legal name, along with the legal names and email addresses of up to three co-panelists, on the appropriate lines of the panel submission form. Legal names and emails are used only for registration purposes and will not be shared outside of Eventeny. This is to make sure that you receive your earned badge membership rollover.
Badge Rollover Benefit: Each named panelist on one approved panel (maximum of 4 panelists total) will receive one rollover badge for the following year’s convention regardless of how many panels are approved. This rollover is granted after all panel obligations are completed and confirmed by the Panels team.
There will be no rollover badge memberships provided if you fail to show up to the panel at the time given to you and if you do not check in with the panels management team at con.
What does this mean?
Instead of receiving reimbursement for your current badge, your completed panel earns you a free badge membership for next year’s Anime Milwaukee (AMKE).
Still have questions?
Please see our Panelists FAQs. Any other questions, please contact panels@animemilwaukee.org and we will be happy to help!