Japanese streaming platform ABEMA has confirmed that its flagship anime awards event, “日本アニメトレンド大賞2026” (Japan Anime Trend Taisho 2026), will be held on Saturday, December 26, 2026, starting at 7:00 p.m. JST. The show will be broadcast live and completely free of charge on ABEMA’s “アニメSPECIALチャンネル” (Anime SPECIAL Channel).

Japan’s Largest Anime Awards, Now in Its Fourth Year

Now entering its fourth edition, the Japan Anime Trend Taisho recognizes the anime titles that generated the most buzz online and within the industry throughout the year. The selection process draws on a comprehensive analysis of data from X (formerly Twitter), anime media outlet “Anime! Anime!”, and ABEMA’s own viewership figures — spanning new releases, isekai titles, and beloved classics alike. User votes are also factored in to ensure a well-rounded, multi-perspective verdict for each award category.

In addition to the ABEMA livestream, the event will also be simulcast on X, allowing viewers to watch live directly from the X Trending tab.

MC Lineup for 2026

Comedian Iwai Yuki of Haraichi returns as main MC for the fourth consecutive year. Joining him as new co-hosts are voice actresses Uesaka Sumire and Tokui Sora, both making their debut on the program.

Comments from the MC Trio

Iwai Yuki (Haraichi): “Japan Anime Trend Taisho is already in its fourth year. Past winners and nominees have gone on to become even greater classics, helping to build the history of this award. This year I feel like revival titles have increased noticeably — the clash between brand-new anime and classics making a comeback in the modern era is something I’m really looking forward to. I’ll do my best to make the show a blast, so please enjoy it!”

Uesaka Sumire: “I’m so excited to be joining 『Japan Anime Trend Taisho 2026』 as an MC for the first time! I’m looking forward to looking back on all the buzzworthy anime that defined 2026 and spending a fun end-of-year moment together with everyone!”

Tokui Sora: “I’m really nervous since this is my first time as an MC, but getting to talk about 2026’s anime with everyone is such a precious opportunity — as an otaku, I couldn’t be more excited! There were some theatrical films that caused a huge stir this year, so I’m very curious to see which titles take home awards. Don’t miss the live performance segment and other special features either — let’s have a great time together!”

What to Expect on the Night

Beyond the award presentations, the show will feature a Special Live corner showcasing performances by artists who made waves in 2026, as well as songs from anime celebrating milestone anniversaries this year — a musical retrospective of the year in anime. A lineup of anime-loving celebrity guests will also appear throughout the broadcast. Further guest announcements and details on special segments are to be revealed at a later date.

Previous Grand Prize Winners

Past recipients of the top “Japan Anime Trend Taisho” honor include 『ダンダダン』 (Dandadan) in 2024 and 『機動戦士Gundam GQuuuuuuX』 in 2025. Fan voting for this year’s grand prize is currently open via ABEMA Anime’s official X account and will close on November 18, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. JST.

Broadcast Details

• Date & Time: Saturday, December 26, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. JST
• Channel: Anime SPECIAL Channel on ABEMA (free, no subscription required)
• Main MCs: Iwai Yuki (Haraichi), Uesaka Sumire, Tokui Sora
• Guests: To be announced