{"id":53149,"date":"2025-05-01T15:35:26","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T22:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoversantaclara.org\/?p=53149"},"modified":"2026-04-02T13:02:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T20:02:08","slug":"impulse-universe-santa-clara","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.discoversantaclara.org\/zh-hk\/blog\/impulse-universe-santa-clara\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside IMPULSE UNIVERSE: The Pop Culture Phenomenon That Called Santa Clara Home"},"content":{"rendered":"
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IMPULSE UNIVERSE Returns to Santa Clara in 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pop culture fans showed up \u2014 and showed out. IMPULSE UNIVERSE descended on the Santa Clara Convention Center on July 26 and 27, 2025, bringing three powerhouse events under one roof: ANIME Impulse<\/a>, K-PLAY! FEST<\/a>\uff0c \u548c Collectors Expo.<\/a> From anime and K-pop to trading cards and collectibles, the weekend delivered one of the most diverse and energetic fan experiences the Bay Area has seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We sat down with event founder Gorden Kao ahead of the debut to learn more about the vision behind IMPULSE UNIVERSE<\/a>, how it all began, and what made Santa Clara the right home for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With IMPULSE UNIVERSE set to return on July 18\u201319, 2026, this conversation offers a look at what fans can expect when the event comes back.
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The Origin Story: How IMPULSE UNIVERSE Came to Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

IMPULSE UNIVERSE began in 2016 with a mission: to create an anime event that felt fun, casual, and inclusive, moving away from the more traditional, industry-heavy conventions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the time, fans didn\u2019t want to be boxed in,\u201d says Gorden. \u201cWe saw a trend: people loved anime, but didn\u2019t identify as \u2018hardcore\u2019 fans. They just wanted a space to vibe, connect, and explore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, Gorden and his team created ANIME Impulse<\/strong> <\/a>\u2014 a fresh, laid-back convention format. Over time, they began working on creating other events like K-PLAY! FEST<\/strong> <\/a>(for K-pop and Korean culture) and Collectors Expo<\/a><\/strong> (for fans of trading cards, toys, and niche collectibles).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, the team brought everything together under the banner of IMPULSE UNIVERSE \u2014 creating a multi-event experience that celebrates pop culture across multiple genres.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Why Santa Clara?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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While ANIME Impulse, K-PLAY! FEST, and Collectors Expo are no strangers to the Bay Area, 2025 marked their debut at the Santa Clara Convention Center. After outgrowing their previous home in San Mateo, the team explored several locations before choosing Santa Clara for its central location, larger capacity, and room for continued growth. The move reflects a long-term plan to establish Santa Clara as the Bay Area home for IMPULSE UNIVERSE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following perspective, shared ahead of the 2025 event, highlights that vision:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur goal this year is to really promote this event and make Santa Clara the long-term spot,\u201d says Gorden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As IMPULSE UNIVERSE plans its next Bay Area event on July 18\u201319, Santa Clara remains a key part of the conversation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Three Events, One Universe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each event within IMPULSE UNIVERSE brings something unique to the table. It\u2019s totally up to you how you want to experience this activation \u2014 whether you spend time in just one area or branch out and explore them all. It\u2019s the perfect opportunity for those laser-focused on a single fandom to be immersed in that genre or those with a wide range of interests to dive into multiple universes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n