Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026: Every Nominee, Every Star, and Why This Is the Most Exciting Edition Yet

Crunchyroll has officially unveiled the full nominee list and celebrity presenter lineup for the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards — the 10th anniversary edition and arguably the most stacked one yet. Here’s everything you need to know.

Crunchyroll Anime Key Dates Overview

For the first time ever, fans can vote directly on MyAnimeList — right from individual show pages. Voting resets daily, so bookmark it.

Anime of the Year — The Six Contenders

These six titles are fighting for anime’s biggest crown:

DAN DA DAN Season 2 — The supernatural action-comedy powerhouse returns with even wilder alien encounters, sharper comedy, and emotionally resonant storytelling. A fan favourite going in.

Gachiakuta — A gritty, visceral action series set in a world where outcasts are thrown into a trash-filled abyss. Raw, unfiltered, and visually stunning.

My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON — The end of an era. MHA’s swan song brings the decades-long battle between heroes and villains to its emotional conclusion. Nostalgia and heart in every frame.

Takopi’s Original Sin — Possibly the darkest and most emotionally devastating entry. A story about a cheerful alien who tries to help a lonely, bullied girl — with devastating consequences. Not what it looks like on the surface.

The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2) — The beloved mystery-drama set in an imperial Chinese-inspired court continues. Maomao remains one of anime’s best protagonists — sharp, curious, and endlessly watchable.

The Summer Hikaru Died — A haunting supernatural drama about a boy who returns from the mountains changed — and his best friend who knows something is terribly wrong. Eerie, beautiful, and deeply unsettling.

Film of the Year — Blockbusters vs Art

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is the clear crowd favourite, but don’t sleep on the arthouse entries.

Star-Studded Presenter Lineup

The presenter list spans continents and industries:

• 🇮🇳 Rashmika Mandanna — Bollywood’s pan-India superstar and self-confessed anime fan
• 🇺🇸 Winston Duke — Black Panther actor and cultural powerhouse
• 🎵 RZA — Wu-Tang Clan founder, filmmaker, and longtime anime advocate
• 🇯🇵 Asuka Saito — Award-winning Japanese actress with a devoted following
• 🇲🇽 DANNA — International pop star and actress
• 🎮 Nyvi Estephan — Brazil’s most prominent esports host
• 🎨 Enako & Snitchery — Two of the world’s most celebrated cosplayers
• 🎶 hannah bahng — Australian singer-songwriter and visual artist

Rashmika’s inclusion is a genuine milestone — it signals just how significant India’s anime fanbase has become on the global stage.

Musical Performances You Cannot Miss

The ceremony doubles as a concert for anime history:

• DEAN FUJIOKA opens with History Maker from Yuri!!! on ICE — the very first Anime of the Year winner
• ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION performs Haruka Kanata, the iconic second opening of Naruto
• PORNOGRAFFITTI tributes My Hero Academia on its 10th anniversary and finale
• Yoko Takahashi performs a Neon Genesis Evangelion 30th anniversary tribute, with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

This lineup alone is worth watching the ceremony for.

Other Major Category Nominees

Best New Series: Gachiakuta, SAKAMOTO DAYS, Takopi’s Original Sin, The Summer Hikaru Died, Clevatess, The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity

Best Action: DAN DA DAN S2, Gachiakuta, Kaiju No. 8, MHA Final Season, ONE PIECE, Solo Leveling S2

Best Romance: DAN DA DAN S2, Blue Box, My Dress-Up Darling S2, Honey Lemon Soda, Ranma ½ S2, The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity

Best Isekai: Re:ZERO S3, KONOSUBA 3, ZENSHU, Campfire Cooking S2, Disney Twisted-Wonderland, From Bureaucrat to Villainess

Best Comedy: SPY x FAMILY S3, DAN DA DAN S2, WITCH WATCH, My Dress-Up Darling S2, Ranma ½ S2, CITY THE ANIMATION

Best Drama: Takopi’s Original Sin, The Summer Hikaru Died, The Apothecary Diaries S2, Blue Box, Anne Shirley, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth

Why This Year Feels Different

The 2026 edition spans nearly 50 unique series and films — chosen by the fans, not committees. As Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini noted, the past decade of Anime Awards has covered over 110 animation studios, 290 unique titles, and 220 voice actors. This year’s show is a love letter to all of it.

To understand why anime has become this globally significant, the anime Wikipedia page offers great context on its cultural journey.

For more anime coverage, streaming guides, and entertainment news, explore our anime and entertainment section at TechnoSports and check our latest anime news.

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