Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 Celebrates Anime’s Biggest Year Yet
The 2026 edition of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards proved once again why anime continues to dominate global entertainment. Held in Tokyo for the award show’s 10th anniversary, this year’s ceremony brought together fans, creators, voice actors, musicians, and celebrities from around the world to celebrate the best anime released throughout 2025.
A Huge Celebration for Anime Fans Worldwide
This year’s Anime Awards took place on May 23, 2026, at the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan. Hosts Sally Amaki and Jon Kabira returned once again, continuing their tradition as the faces of anime’s biggest night.
The ceremony also highlighted just how massive anime has become internationally. According to reports, fans submitted more than 73 million votes during the voting period, showing incredible support for their favorite series and characters.
Big-name presenters helped make the night even more memorable. Celebrities including The Weeknd, Winston Duke, Young Miko, and RZA joined the celebration alongside major anime industry guests.
The Biggest Anime Competing in 2026
The Anime of the Year category featured one of the strongest lineups in recent memory. Nominees included:
- DAN DA DAN
- The Apothecary Diaries
- My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
- The Summer Hikaru Died
- Takopi’s Original Sin
- Gachiakuta
Meanwhile, films such as Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle competed for Film of the Year in one of the event’s most competitive categories.
Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia Dominate the Night
According to early reports from the ceremony, major winners included Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and My Hero Academia, both of which earned multiple awards during the event.
Fans online also continued debating several surprising nominations and omissions. One of the biggest discussions centered around Solo Leveling not appearing in the Anime of the Year category after winning the top prize in 2025. Anime communities across Reddit and social media shared mixed reactions about the voting system and nominee selections.
Why the Crunchyroll Anime Awards Matter
Since launching in 2017, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards have grown into one of the most important global celebrations of anime culture. The event recognizes not only popular series, but also voice acting, animation, music, directing, and storytelling across dozens of categories.
The 2026 ceremony showed how anime continues reaching new audiences worldwide through streaming platforms, social media, music collaborations, and international fan communities. With huge franchises continuing to expand and new series gaining global attention every season, anime’s popularity has never looked stronger.
