Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 Winners: The One Historic Win [Full Breakdown]

My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON just took Anime of the Year, but the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards delivered more than just predictable wins. A record 73 million votes reshuffled the board, and one specific trophy is making waves across India.  

Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026 Breakdown

The 10th annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards took over Tokyo's Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa last night, with My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON securing the night's biggest prize, presented by global icon The Weeknd. However, the real story for AltBollywood readers is Abhishek Sharma securing the Best Voice Artist Performance (Hindi) for his role as Jinshi in The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2).  

The event also officially highlighted India as one of the top five most engaged countries globally, cementing the region's massive anime footprint alongside high-profile presenters like pan-India star Rashmika Mandanna. (If you want to understand how we got here, read our My Hero Academia ending explained piece to see why the final season carried so much emotional weight).

Full Winners Breakdown

Let's break down the night's biggest victories by category.

The Major Categories

My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer predictably dominated the top-tier awards, but newcomers made serious noise.  

• Anime of the Year: My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON  

• Film of the Year: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle  

• Best Continuing Series: ONE PIECE  

• Best New Series: Gachiakuta  

• Best Original Anime: Lazarus  

Technical & Art Achievements

Solo Leveling and Gachiakuta split the technical honors, proving that visual ambition pays off. (For a deeper dive into the animation studio shifts, read our Solo Leveling Season 2 release date guide).

• 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)  

Genre Awards

• 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 in Another World- Season 3  

• Best Romance: The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity  

• Best Slice of Life: SPY x FAMILY Season 3  

Characters & Music

• 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 Opening Sequence: "On The Way" by AiNA THE END (DAN DA DAN Season 2)  

• Best Ending Sequence: "I" by BUMP OF CHICKEN (My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON)  

• Best Anime Song: "IRIS OUT" by Kenshi Yonezu (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc)  

• Best Score: Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle)  

Global Voice Acting Honors

• Best Voice Artist Performance (Hindi): Abhishek Sharma as Jinshi (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)  

• Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese): Aoi Yuki as Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)  

• Best Voice Artist Performance (English): Lucien Dodge as Akaza (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle)  

What's Next for Anime in 2026

With My Hero Academia concluding its decade-long run, the Anime of the Year crown is officially up for grabs next year. The massive push behind Gachiakuta (Best New Series) and the continued technical dominance of Solo Leveling signal a shifting guard in shōnen anime. Furthermore, visionary director Tatsuya Nagamine taking home the Global Impact Award points toward an industry that is actively honoring its foundational creators while heavily pivoting to a truly borderless global audience.  

Quick Facts

• Event Date: May 23, 2026  

• Location: Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa, Tokyo  

• Top Winner: My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON  

• Total Votes: 73 Million Globally  

• Key Presenters: The Weeknd, Rashmika Mandanna, Kasumi Arimura

• Status: Streaming on Crunchyroll in India. Available internationally via the global Crunchyroll app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won Anime of the Year 2026?

My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON took home Anime of the Year. It was a fitting, if safe, conclusion to a decade-defining series, officially crowned by presenter The Weeknd.  

Did any Indian actors win at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards?

Yes, Abhishek Sharma won Best Voice Artist Performance (Hindi) for his work as Jinshi in The Apothecary Diaries (Season 2). This highlights the growing investment in high-quality localized dubs for the Indian market.  

Where can I watch the 2026 Anime Awards replay?

The full video-on-demand version is available on Crunchyroll's official YouTube channel. The pre-show and main event were broadcast live globally and are archived for free streaming.

Which series had the most surprising wins?

Gachiakuta walked away with Best New Series, Best Background Art, and Best Character Design. While Demon Slayer taking Film of the Year was expected (read our Demon Slayer Infinity Castle release date breakdown to see why the hype is real), Gachiakuta's near-sweep of the art categories proves it is the new aesthetic standard to beat.