The Weeknd to present Anime of the Year at 2026 Crunchyroll Awards

The 10th annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards is set to take place on May 23, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan.

A major highlight of the ceremony will be the appearance of global music superstar The Weeknd, who is slated to present the most prestigious award of the night: Anime of the Year.

For Abel Tesfaye, the singer behind The Weeknd, this role is deeply personal.

He has frequently stated that anime is a core component of his artistic identity, citing influential directors like Satoshi Kon and Mamoru Oshii as inspirations for his storytelling.

Notably, his early work was heavily influenced by the music of the late producer Nujabes, whose work on the series Samurai Champloo helped shape the singer's unique creative style.

As the ceremony celebrates its landmark 10th anniversary, it will feature performances from the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and host a global audience via livestream.