Highlights
- Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 marks its 10th anniversary with a global ceremony in Tokyo.
- The Anime Awards ceremony is scheduled for May 23, 2026.
- Live performances and programming highlight anime’s rise as a global entertainment industry.
Crunchyroll has set May 23, 2026, as the date for the 10th edition of its annual Anime Awards. The milestone ceremony will be held in Tokyo and streamed worldwide, underscoring the platform’s positioning of anime awards as a mainstream international entertainment category.
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is one of the most prestigious recognitions within the anime industry, recognizing various aspects of anime productions, including direction, animation, dubbing, and more. The 2026 edition will feature nominees across 32 categories, with voting opening on April 2.
Eligible anime titles that debuted between January 1 and December 31, 2025, will be chosen as nominees for each category. Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 will feature the hybrid selection model that combines judge panels with global fan participation.
The Anime Awards ceremony is not only famous for its recognition of cult anime, but for its programming that combines multiple performative arts. For the 10th edition, Crunchyroll has confirmed that Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra— Japan’s oldest symphony opera— will headline the ceremony.
Crunchyroll Anime Awards Program Details
The 10th anniversary edition of the Anime Awards will place strong emphasis on live music. According to the preliminary music lineup, Yoko Takahashi’s performance will include a tribute tied to the 30th anniversary of Neon Genesis Evangelion, featuring the opening theme A Cruel Angel’s Thesis.
The orchestral arrangements will be overseen by conductor Hirofumi Kurita and Composer/Arranger Kazunori Miyake. Alongside the main show, Crunchyroll has outlined a multi-segment program including a pre-show, orange carpet coverage, and more musical acts, positioning the ceremony as a large-scale entertainment showcase.
Voice actress and performer Sally Amaki (Tomo-chan Is a Girl!) and entertainer Jon Kabira will return as co-hosts for the 2026 Anime Awards, while Crunchyroll’s Lauren Moore and Tim Lyu will host the global pre-show.
The popularity and critical reception of Crunchyroll Anime Awards reflect anime’s transition from a niche category to a globally competitive entertainment segment. Over the past decade, participation has also scaled significantly, from “a few million votes” in early editions to “tens of millions” globally now, according to Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini.
