EXCLUSIVE: Mark your calendars for a special event: The Crunchyroll Anime Awards will be celebrating its 10th anniversary on Saturday, May 23, in Tokyo. Hosts Sally Amaki and Jon Kabira are set to return for their fourth consecutive year, and fans around the globe can tune in to the livestream of the ceremony.
The nominees for the 2026 Anime Awards across all 32 categories will be announced on Thursday, April 2. This announcement will also kick off the period for fan voting.
For the ceremony, Crunchyroll has arranged an exciting preliminary lineup of musical performances. Japanese vocalist Yoko Takahashi will headline a tribute to the iconic 1995 anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, celebrating its 30th anniversary with the performance of “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis.” Additionally, the event will showcase symphonic suites conducted by Hirofumi Kurita and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, with arrangements by Kazunori Miyake.
Crunchyroll/Project Eva
Lauren Moore and Tim Lyu from Crunchyroll will be hosting the orange carpet pre-show.
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“Over the past ten years, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards has evolved significantly, driven by the passionate participation of fans who gather annually to honor their favorite stories and creators,” stated Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini. “From a humble beginning with a few million votes in 2017, the event now captures the voices of tens of millions globally, showcasing anime’s profound influence in our culture. Returning to Japan is a tribute to the origins of these narratives and the global community of fans who cherish them.”
Last year’s Anime Awards highlighted Solo Leveling as Anime of the Year and Attack on Titan received the Inaugural Global Impact Award. The ninth iteration of the event also attracted a record-breaking 51 million fan votes worldwide.
The 2026 awards are set to celebrate an exceptional year in anime. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle topped the charts, amassing approximately $723.8 million worldwide. Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc brought in $160.5 million globally, while Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback earned $166 million.
Netflix’s Oscar-nominated hit KPop Demon Hunters, inspired by Japanese animation, has become the platform’s most viewed title to date.
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Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
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