- All 18+ panels, screenings, and some events require a wristband.
- Obtaining a wristband is NOT an entry guarantee to age-restricted programming.
- Attendees only need to get a Wristband once and they are good for the entire weekend.
- To obtain a wristband, you must provide Naka-Kon ID Check staff with your valid, government issued photo-ID (such as a driver’s license, passport or military ID), as well as your valid Naka-Kon badge for the current convention.
- The ID Check is located in the Access Control office, Willow in Sheraton. The Office will be open from: 12pm - 9pm Friday and 10am - 9pm Saturday.
- At 9pm each night, the Cottonwood pre-function area of the Sheraton will be cleared out and accessible only to 18+ wristband holders. Lines for any panels or programming will not be allowed in this area.
In expanding on the success of 2018’s new 18+ wristbands, and in response to the ever growing crowds and the confusion they can cause, Naka-Kon has decided to move to a mandatory wristband for the 18+ panels in 2019 and onward.
At this time these wristbands will not be necessary to obtain for any other age restricted ticketed events such as the 18+ screenings or to enter an admission into an 18+ contest. You will still need a wristband to attend the 18+ AMV contest and Cos-lesque, but the other items mentioned will simply require valid, government issued, photo ID at the door.
Wristbands are free to acquire. Starting in 2026 We are going to a new wristband where Attendees will only need to get one for the entire weekend. You can pick one up Friday or Saturday in the Access Control office in Willow Sheraton. Wristbands will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and do not guarantee entrance into any specific panel. To get a wristband, you must provide a valid, non-expired, government-issued, photo ID (such as a passport or a driver’s license) and a valid Naka-Kon badge for that day or for the full weekend.
You will not be permitted into the 18+ area/panels without a wristband, even with a valid, non-expired, government issued, photo ID shown at the door. You will not be able to pick up a wristband for someone else.
The Access Control Office will be open 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Friday, and 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Saturday. Wristbands are valid for the entire weekend.
If you lose your wristband, or if it breaks, please try to return the damaged wristband to the Access Control office when requesting a replacement. You will have to show identification to receive your replacement.
Once inside the 18+ area you will be free to jump between ongoing panels, but you may not start lining up for a panel that has not started yet.
Lines will have a limited number of spots according to the seating allowance in the Cottonwood room.
- Cottonwood 1: 300
- Cottonwood 2: 480
- Cottonwood 3: 450
Please do not try to enter any panel rooms after panels have started without first speaking to the staff at the door.
If you need accessible entry to any 18+ panels, feel free to speak with the Access Control staffer handling line-up about how we can assist you.
If Naka-Kon staff believe you have been wrongly given a wristband, they may stop you in line and ask to see identification, so remember to carry ID with you to your panel! If you are caught giving or selling your wristband to another person, both parties will be removed from Naka-Kon and your membership will be revoked, regardless of the underage status of the receiving party.
Naka-Kon reserves the right to deny entrance of 18+ panels or to deny a wristband. If we believe your identification is fake, it will be confiscated by the Access Control director. If you believe your identification has been wrongly confiscated, Kon Ops and Access Control will work with you to make sure the situation is resolved properly.