Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026: ‘My Hero Academia’ wins Anime of the Year at milestone 10th ceremony

Tokyo turned into anime’s biggest planetary signifier connected Saturday nighttime arsenic the 10th yearly Crunchyroll Anime Awards celebrated a decennary of the medium’s explosive planetary growth, with My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON taking location the coveted Anime of the Year prize.

Held astatine the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa successful Tokyo, the day ceremonial featured a veritable melange of otaku personage appearances from astir the satellite and heaps of fond nostalgia for anime’s modern streaming-era boom. The lawsuit was hosted erstwhile again by dependable histrion Sally Amaki and seasoned presenter Jon Kabira, marking their 4th consecutive twelvemonth starring the ceremony.

The night’s biggest grant was presented by planetary popular icon The Weeknd, who handed Anime of the Year to the concluding play of Kohei Horikoshi’s long-running superhero saga. The triumph caps disconnected astir a decennary of dominance for the franchise, which has remained 1 of anime’s defining crossover hits since its 2016 debut.

Other large winners included Demon Slayer: Kimetsu nary Yaiba Infinity Castle, which secured Film of the Year and Best Score, portion Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- won Best Action and Best Animation. Studio Bones’ Gachiakuta emerged arsenic 1 of the evening’s breakout successes, winning Best New Series alongside awards for quality plan and inheritance art.

MAPPA’s Lazarus claimed Best Original Anime, ONE PIECE continued its dominance successful the Best Continuing Series category, and The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 won Best Drama. Its protagonist Maomao besides picked up Best Main Character.

Crunchyroll said this year’s ceremonial recorded a caller precocious of 73 cardinal instrumentality votes worldwide. According to the company, the astir engaged voting regions included Brazil, Germany, India, Mexico and the United States.

The 10th day solemnisation leaned heavy into anime past and legacy. The ceremonial opened with a Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra medley honouring erstwhile Anime of the Year winners earlier vocalist Dean Fujioka performed “History Maker” from Yuri!!! connected ICE, the precise archetypal bid to triumph Anime of the Year erstwhile the awards launched successful 2017.

Several philharmonic tributes highlighted landmark anniversaries crossed anime culture. The legendary Yoko Takahashi performed “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” successful solemnisation of Neon Genesis Evangelion’s 30th anniversary, portion ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION delivered “Haruka Kanata,” the iconic 2nd opening taxable from Naruto.

The ceremonial besides honoured manager Tatsuya Nagamine with the Global Impact Award for his contributions to franchises including Dragon Ball Super, ONE PIECE, Pretty Cure and Ojamajo Doremi. Crunchyroll described the designation arsenic a tribute to creators whose enactment shaped anime’s worldwide taste footprint.

The ceremony’s presenter lineup reflected conscionable however aggressively anime has expanded beyond its erstwhile niche estimation into a genuinely planetary amusement ecosystem. Japanese histrion and erstwhile Nogizaka46 subordinate Asuka Saito joined the festivities alongside Thai K-pop prima BamBam and internationally renowned cosplayer Enako. Indian histrion Rashmika Mandanna, Wu-Tang Clan, Hollywood histrion Winston Duke, Japanese stars Kasumi Arimura and Nanase Nishino, Brazilian esports big Nyvi Estephan, K-pop performer TEN, and Puerto Rican rapper Young Miko rounded retired the lineup.

The broader ceremonial besides featured appearances from a agelong process of online creators, musicians and fandom personalities including Gigguk, Lauren Moore, Tim Lyu, vocalist DANNA, pianist Ethan Bortnick, Australian instrumentalist Hannah Bahng and cosplay creator Snitchery.

Originally launched successful 2017 successful California, the Crunchyroll Anime Awards person steadily expanded into 1 of the medium’s astir disposable planetary events. The amusement permanently moved to Tokyo successful 2023 arsenic anime’s planetary commercialized and taste power continued to accelerate done streaming, theatrical releases and planetary fandom.

Here’s a implicit database of winners from the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026:

Anime of the Year - My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON

Film of the Year - Demon Slayer: Kimetsu nary 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 successful 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 nary 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 nary 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 nary Yaiba Infinity Castle

Best Voice Artist Performance (Castilian Spanish ) - Carles Teruel — Akaza — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu nary 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 nary 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 nary Yaiba Infinity Castle