Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 Voting Launches as RZA and Winston Duke Confirmed for May Award Ceremony
Crunchyroll has officially opened global voting for the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards as of April 2, 2026.
Fans can cast their ballots through the official Anime Awards website, Crunchyroll, or, for the first time in the event’s history, via MyAnimeList.
The announcement includes the full reveal of nominees across all categories, highlighting top honors such as Anime of the Year and Film of the Year.
The live ceremony is scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, May 23, 2026, with the pre-show starting at 5 pm JST followed by the main event at 6 pm JST.
Voice actress Sally Amaki and entertainer Jon Kabira will return to co-host the festivities for their fourth consecutive year.
The 2026 event marks the 10th anniversary of the awards and will feature a special tribute to My Hero Academia by the band PORNOGRAFFITI to celebrate the series’ conclusion.
Additional musical performances include DEAN FUJIOKA performing History Maker from Yuri!!! on ICE and ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION playing Haruka Kanata from NARUTO.
The musical lineup also features Yoko Takahashi performing a 30th anniversary tribute to Neon Genesis Evangelion alongside symphonic suites by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
A diverse group of global presenters will join the stage, including actors Winston Duke, Kasumi Arimura, and Nanase Nishino.
The presenter list also features musical artists such as RZA, hannah bahng, and DANNA, alongside popular creators like cosplayers Enako and Snitchery.
Other notable presenters helping to honor the year’s best anime include the comedy duo Mitorizu, esports host Nyvi Estephan, and Indian film star Rashmika Mandanna.
Lauren Moore and Tim Lyu are set to host the global pre-show, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the event for fans streaming worldwide.
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