Get Ready for the 2026 Anime Awards: What to Know and How to Catch the Show!

This weekend marks the 10th installment of the annual Anime Awards, hosted by Crunchyroll, and it’s shaping up to be quite the spectacle! Leading the nominations is Dan Da Dan for the second consecutive year, vying for the prestigious Anime of the Year title. Meanwhile, anime films are represented by Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc, and fans will notice that last year’s controversial winner, Solo Leveling, has only snagged a few nominations for its second season. Here’s everything you need to know to join in on the fun.

When and Where to Catch the Anime Awards? This exciting ceremony will unfold on May 23. After being held in California previously, this year’s event takes place at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa in Tokyo. For our friends in North America, keep in mind that the timing will align with Japan’s local clock. Here’s a quick rundown of when the festivities kick off in various time zones:

• 5 PM JST
• 8 AM UTC
• 1 AM PST
• 4 AM EST
• 10 AM BST

To avoid any confusion, Crunchyroll offers a handy feature to add the event to your Google or Apple Calendar, ensuring you’re all set for the three-hour show!

How to Tune In? If you’re eager to watch, the good news is that the ceremony will be live-streamed on Crunchyroll’s channels on YouTube and TikTok, meaning you won’t need a subscription to join the festivities.

For those thinking about subscribing, there’s a fantastic deal going on: you can snag an ad-free plan for just $1.99/month for the first three months, but act fast since the offer expires tonight!

Voting Insights A panel of anime experts picked six nominees in each category from series and films released throughout 2025. Among the judges is Mike Mamon from IGN, known for his anime expertise. Voting was open to fans from April 2 to 15, and it’s impressive to note that over 73 million votes were cast, setting a new record! The winners will be determined by a mix of fan votes and those from the judging panel.

Who’s Taking the Stage? Returning for their fourth year as hosts are Sally Amaki and Jon Kabira, ensuring a fun and engaging atmosphere. Plus, music fans will be thrilled to hear that The Weeknd will present the Anime of the Year award!

Performances to Look Forward To The event promises exciting performances, including tributes marking the 30th anniversary of Neon Genesis Evangelion and the 10th anniversary of My Hero Academia. It sounds like a celebration you won’t want to miss!

Major Categories and Nominees This year, the Anime Awards will feature 32 categories. While new categories aren’t being introduced, some from last year stick around, like Best Background Art and Best Isekai Anime. Here are the nominees for the biggest categories:

Anime of the Year:

• Dan Da Dan Season 2
• Gachiakuta
• My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON
• Takopi’s Original Sin
• The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
• The Summer Hikaru Died

Film of the Year:

• 100 Meters
• Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle
• Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II – The Ashes of Rage
• Scarlet
• The Rose of Versailles

Stay tuned for the full list of nominees in all the categories, including Best Continuing Series, Best New Series, and many more.

And if you’re craving more anime-related content, it’s officially Anime Week, so keep your eyes peeled for some fantastic recommendations and deep dives into current favorites like Witch Hat Atelier!