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

Grammy-winning artist Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye will present the Anime of the Year award at the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. The 10th iteration of the annual ceremony takes place on May 23, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan.

The multi-platinum singer will announce the winner of the evening’s most prestigious category. Nominees for Anime of the Year include DAN DA DAN Season 2, Gachiakuta, My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON, Takopi’s Original Sin, The Apothecary Diaries Season 2, and The Summer Hikaru Died.

The Weeknd And His Deep Anime Roots

Fans of anime news know The Weeknd for his deep appreciation of Japanese media. The artist recently shared his lifelong connection to the medium. He explained that shows like Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball influenced his childhood. Daft Punk’s “One More Time” music video also left a lasting impression on him.

During his teenage years, the anime Samurai Champloo changed his artistic trajectory. The series by Shinichiro Watanabe blended anime with hip hop. This fusion heavily impacted the creation of his 2011 debut mixtape, House of Balloons. The Weeknd revealed that he wrote songs like “The Morning,” “Glass Table Girls,” and “Loft Music” over instrumentals from Nujabes. Nujabes was a key music contributor for Samurai Champloo.

His visual style draws inspiration from legendary anime creators. The Weeknd cites the works of Satoshi Kon, Mamoru Oshii, and Katsuhiro Otomo as foundational to his aesthetic.

Gaming And Anime Samples In His Music

The connection The Weeknd has to anime goes beyond visual inspiration. The original release of his song “Coming Down” featured a direct sample from the Fate/stay night series. Listeners could hear the voice of Ayako Kawasumi, who plays the character Saber, at the 3:15 mark. This sample was later removed from the remastered Trilogy version.

The artist also engages heavily with the video game community. He recently posted Instagram stories showing himself playing NieR: Automata and NieR: Replicant. These posts led to a FaceTime call with the series creator Yoko Taro. His most recent gaming update shows him diving into Persona 5.

What To Expect At The 2026 Awards

The Tokyo ceremony will feature performances from several iconic acts. Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Dean Fujioka, and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra are scheduled to perform.

Fans can participate in the event by voting across 24 different categories. Voting remains open on the official Crunchyroll website until April 15. The event continues to bridge the gap between global pop culture and entertainment, bringing massive names like The Weeknd to celebrate the medium.