2026 American Manga Awards Nominees Announced
2026 American Manga Awards Reveals Nominees
Third annual awards spotlight leading manga releases as U.S. readership continues to expand.
Highlights
- Anime NYC and Japan Society have revealed the nominees for the 2026 American Manga Awards.
- Several titles earned recognition in multiple categories, including Ashita no Joe and Mushishi, highlighting both classic manga reprints and contemporary releases.
- The third American Manga Awards winners will be announced on Aug 20.
Anime NYC and Japan Society announced nominees for the third annual American Manga Awards (AMAs) on June 15, with 35 nominations across seven categories. The winners will be announced during Anime NYC in New York City on Aug 20, 2026, bringing together publishers, creators, and industry professionals.
Launched in 2024 by Anime NYC creator LeftField Media, the American Manga Awards recognize excellence in manga released in English and celebrate the publishers, translators, and editors who help bring Japanese manga to U.S. readers. The Hall of Fame winners are selected based on “contributions to manga’s introduction, growth, and creative influence in North America.”
2026 American Manga Awards Nominees: All Nominations Details
2026 American Manga Awards feature nominees across numerous creative, publishing, and production categories. The 2026 nominees in manga-related categories are selected by a panel of five judges, including manga creators, journalists, graphic designers, and comics critics.
Ashita no Joe manga is continuing their streak from 2025’s winners’ list. The previous two-category winner Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow (Vol. 3-5) is again nominated in two categories, Best New Edition of Classic Manga and Best Translation. Three more titles, including Mushishi Collectors Edition (Vols. 1-2) have also been nominated in two different categories.
The Manga Categories Nominees at AMAs 2026 are:
Category | Manga Title | Author / Craftsperson |
Best Translation | Magica, Vol. 1 | Jan Mitsuko Cash (trans.) |
Miss Ruki | Alexa Frank (trans.) | |
Mushishi Collector's Edition Vols. 1-2 | Andres Oliver (trans.) | |
A Starlit Darkness, Vol. 1 | Kiki Piatkowska (trans.) | |
Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow Vols. 3-5 | Asa Yoneda (trans.) | |
Best Lettering | Cyberpunk: Edgerunners MADNESS Vol. 1 | Brendon Hull (lettering) |
Maid to Skate | Madeleine Jose (lettering) | |
Don't Feed the Trolls | Vadim K. (lettering) | |
Sweet and Spicy | Vladyslav L. (lettering) | |
One Piece Vol. 112 | Vanessa Satone (lettering) | |
Best Publication Design | Fruits Basket: The Complete Box Set | Wendy Chan (design) |
Magica, Vol. 1 | chichols (design) | |
A Cat is a Cat in Any Life | Ti Collier (design) | |
Stop!! Hibari-kun! Vol. 1 | Patrick Crotty (design) | |
Baku-chan | emuh ruh (design) |
AMA’s other three categories tied to publication, including Best Translation and Best Publication Design segments, were overseen by veterans in respective fields. Award-winning seasoned manga experts Andrea Horbinski and Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere selected the Translation category nominees.
On the other hand, Taylor Esposito and Patrick Brosseau handled the Lettering category. The veteran duo with experience in comic lettering across renowned publishers, including DC and Marvel. Publication Design nominees were chosen by Andres Juarez and Amanda Chung, a duo with years of expertise in visual arts and creative industries.
2026 American Manga Awards Publication Categories Nominees are:
Category | Manga Title | Author / Craftsperson |
Best Translation | Magica, Vol. 1 | Jan Mitsuko Cash (trans.) |
Miss Ruki | Alexa Frank (trans.) | |
Mushishi Collector's Edition Vols. 1-2 | Andres Oliver (trans.) | |
A Starlit Darkness, Vol. 1 | Kiki Piatkowska (trans.) | |
Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow Vols. 3-5 | Asa Yoneda (trans.) | |
Best Lettering | Cyberpunk: Edgerunners MADNESS Vol. 1 | Brendon Hull (lettering) |
Maid to Skate | Madeleine Jose (lettering) | |
Don't Feed the Trolls | Vadim K. (lettering) | |
Sweet and Spicy | Vladyslav L. (lettering) | |
One Piece Vol. 112 | Vanessa Satone (lettering) | |
Best Publication Design | Fruits Basket: The Complete Box Set | Wendy Chan (design) |
Magica, Vol. 1 | chichols (design) | |
A Cat is a Cat in Any Life | Ti Collier (design) | |
Stop!! Hibari-kun! Vol. 1 | Patrick Crotty (design) | |
Baku-chan | emuh ruh (design) |
The growing prominence of the manga-related awards outside the home country reflects manga’s expanding cultural influence beyond Japan. The 2025 Hall of Fame recognition went to Studio Proteus, a pioneering manga translation company that helped introduce Ghost in the Shell, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and Blade of the Immortal to English-language readers.
The 2026 nominations also extend AMAs’ pattern of placing commercial titles alongside critical indie releases in the same competitive pool. The nominees span major publishers like VIZ Media, Dark Horse, and Kodansha, along with lesser-known publications such as Peow2. Rintaro’s One-Shot Manga nominee My Life in 24 Frames Per Second, is also nominated for Eisner Award 2026.
Author
Kamalikaa Biswas is a content writer at Outlook Respawn specializing in pop culture. She holds a Master's in English Literature from University of Delhi and leverages her media industry experience to deliver insightful content on the latest youth culture trends.
