It was a star-studded event honoring the creators, musicians, and performers powering the global love of anime.
Streamer Crunchyroll has revealed the winners of the tenth annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards, which happened on Saturday (May 23) at Grand Prince Hotel in Shin Takanawa in Tokyo, Japan.
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is the leading yearly awards program honoring the creators, musicians, and performers powering the global love of anime.
Proving that, in 2026, a record 73 million votes were cast by fans worldwide to celebrate their favorite series, films, and actors. In alphabetical order, the top most engaged countries this year were Brazil, Germany, India, Mexico, and the United States.
The landmark event was again hosted by renowned voice actress Sally Amaki and popular entertainer Jon Kabira, who returned for their fourth year to celebrate a decade of excellence in Japanese animation and anime’s biggest night.
The night began with an elegant visual journey honoring nearly a decade of Anime of the Year winners underlined by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra — arranged by Kazunori Miyake and conducted by Hirofumi Kurita.
Upon reaching the 2017 winner, DEAN FUJIOKA punctuated the moment with a performance of History Maker from Yuri!!! on ICE—the very first Crunchyroll Anime Awards’ Anime of the Year recipient.
During the ceremony, visionary director Tatsuya Nagamine was honored with the Global Impact Award — a recognition of his groundbreaking works that have left an indelible mark on culture, history, and the hearts of audiences around the world.
The tenth annual Anime Awards also paid a tribute to Nagamine’s storied career that preceded the presentation of the Global Impact Award by hosts Jon Kabira and Sally Amaki.
Nagamine’s directorial contributions had an unforgettable, long-lasting impact on beloved and globally influential series. From Ojamajo Doremi and PreCure to Dragon Ball Super and ONE PIECE, he played a role in how anime reaches global audiences, exemplifying the medium’s ability to transcend geographic borders and generations.
Masayuki Sato — an animator who worked closely with Director Nagamine on numerous projects, including Happiness Charge PreCure! and ONE PIECE, and with whom he shared a deep personal friendship — accepted the award on his behalf.
Meanwhile, on behalf of fans worldwide, the top prize of the evening, Anime of the Year, was awarded by global music icon and long-time anime fan The Weeknd to winner My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON.
The winners were revealed by a global slate of celebrity anime fan presenters including admired actor and generational voice Asuka Saito; K-pop artist BamBam, globally celebrated cosplayer Enako; award-winning Japanese actor Kasumi Arimura; electric comedic duo Mitorizu; acclaimed Japanese actor Nanase Nishino.
Also present during the evening were leading Brazilian esports and gaming host Nyvi Estephan; prominent pan-India star Rashmika Mandanna; founding architect of Wu-Tang Clan RZA; K-pop singer and dancer TEN; globally acclaimed actor Winston Duke; and GRAMMY-nominated Recording Artist Young Miko.
The night also included electrifying music performances and tributes to anime’s enduring impact on popular culture.
Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi performed a 30th anniversary tribute to 1995’s seminal anime Neon Genesis Evangelion featuring the renowned theme A Cruel Angel’s Thesis.
PORNOGRAFFITTI performed in honor of My Hero Academia’s 10th anniversary and the show’s conclusion, while thebegendary rock band ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION performed their beloved hit Haruka Kanata—the second opening theme for the seminal shounen series NARUTO.
Here now is the full list of winners of the 2026 edition.
- Anime of the Year – My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
- Film of the Year – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
- Best Original Anime –Lazarus
- Best Continuing Series –ONE PIECE
- Best New Series – Gachiakuta
- Best Opening Sequence – On The Way – AiNA THE END – DAN DA DAN Season 2
- Best Ending Sequence –I — BUMP OF CHICKEN — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
- Best Action – Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
- Best Comedy – DAN DA DAN Season 2
- Best Drama – The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
- Best Isekai Anime – Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
- Best Romance – The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
- Best Slice of Life – SPY x FAMILY Season 3
- Best Animation – Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-
- Best Background Art – Gachiakuta
- Best Character Design – Gachiakuta
- Best Director – Akinori Fudesaka, Norihiro Naganuma — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
- Best Main Character – Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
- Best Supporting Character – Katsuki Bakugo — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
- “Must Protect At All Cost” Character – Anya Forger — SPY x FAMILY Season 3
- Best Anime Song – IRIS OUT — Kenshi Yonezu — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
- Best Score – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle — Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina
- Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese) – Aoi Yuki — Maomao — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
- Best Voice Artist Performance (English) – Lucien Dodge — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
- Best Voice Artist Performance (Arabic) – Tariq Obaid — Taro Sakamoto — SAKAMOTO DAYS
- Best Voice Artist Performance (Brazilian Portuguese) – Charles Emmanuel — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
- Best Voice Artist Performance (Castilian Spanish ) – Carles Teruel — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
- Best Voice Artist Performance (French)- Bastien Bourlé — Izuku Midoriya — My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
- Best Voice Artist Performance (German) – Gerrit Schmidt—Foß — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
- Best Voice Artist Performance (Hindi) – Abhishek Sharma — Jinshi — The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)
- Best Voice Artist Performance (Italian) – Mosè Singh — Denji — Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
- Best Voice Artist Performance (Latin Spanish) – Jose Antonio Toledano — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
The Anime Awards also held a pre-show, which was broadcast live from the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa and was co-hosted by Crunchyroll hosts Lauren Moore and Tim Lyu alongside prolific YouTube creator Gigguk.
The show featured awards presented by acclaimed singer DANNA; contemporary musician Ethan Bortnick; Australian singer-songwriter hannah bahng;and creative cosplayer Snitchery.
The tenth annual Anime Awards was executed by Sony Music Solutions Inc., part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Dempsey Productions, which supported Crunchyroll.
The tenth annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards video-on-demand version and exclusive content are available to stream on Crunchyroll and Crunchyroll’s YouTube Channel, along with Sony Group Corp Global and Japan YouTube Channels.