Anime NYC 2026 Schedule: Crunchyroll Panels & Re:ZERO Anniversary

Anime NYC 2026 kicks off this week at New York's Javits Center, running August 20-23 with four days of panels, screenings, and industry announcements. For manga readers, the convention offers a front-row seat to upcoming adaptations, licensing news, and anniversary celebrations—including a special Re:ZERO 10th anniversary event and extensive Crunchyroll programming.

Here's what to watch for if you're attending or following coverage online.

Re:ZERO 10th Anniversary Celebration

Friday afternoon features a Re:ZERO 10th Anniversary Celebration panel, marking a decade since the light novel series that spawned both a beloved anime adaptation and ongoing manga versions. The panel is part of Friday's packed afternoon lineup alongside other anniversary events, including a Bungo Stray Dogs 10th anniversary panel with voice actor Yuto Uemura and producer Chiaki Kurakane scheduled for Saturday, August 21.

Anniversary panels typically include creator interviews, retrospectives, and—for active franchises—hints at future seasons or projects. With Re:ZERO Season 4 recently announced, fans attending or watching for news should keep an eye out for production updates or new visual reveals.

Crunchyroll's Convention Presence

Crunchyroll is doubling down on its in-person fan engagement at Anime NYC 2026, with multiple panels, a convention booth, exclusive screenings, and special guests from Japan. The streaming giant—which holds the largest anime library globally—views conventions as critical touchpoints with its Gen Z and Gen Alpha audience, 54% and 60% of whom watch anime daily, according to statements made by Crunchyroll executives during the event.

While specific panel schedules vary, Crunchyroll typically uses major East Coast conventions to announce simulcast lineups, home video releases, and manga partnerships. The company recently revealed its October 2026 home video slate includes titles like One Piece and A Silent Voice.

For manga readers, Crunchyroll's panels are worth monitoring for news about manga platform updates or print partnerships—especially given recent changes to the Crunchyroll Store that shifted physical manga and Blu-ray offerings to a subscriber-exclusive marketplace on August 18.

Major Manga Announcements at the Convention

Beyond the headliner panels, Anime NYC 2026 is delivering significant manga news across multiple publishers and platforms:

Omoi's Industry Panel announced an exclusive license for romance series Love Is the Sweetest Journey, a physical print distribution deal with Scholastic Graphix for A Snow Fox at the Northern Fort, and the addition of over 40 series to Omoi Premium from Titan Manga and Manga Mavericks Books.

GlobalComix finalized partnerships with Kuaikan Comics (one of China's premier digital comics platforms), FanFan Comic, and ComiJoy to expand its global catalog with titles including Gunjo no Magmell and How I Became the Duke's Beloved Daughter.

Manga Mavericks Books hosted a panel and autograph session with Horon of The Closed Country creator Sen on August 21 at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

Brooklyn Museum launched a Manga Fan Pass at the convention, offering unlimited access to its "Art of Manga" exhibition along with additional benefits for fans.

Netflix Animation Slate

While not a manga publisher, Netflix used Anime NYC as a major showcase for its anime lineup, revealing exclusive trailers and images for series including Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, The One Piece, and Blue Eye Samurai Season 2. Several of these are manga or light novel adaptations, and Netflix's announcements included release windows for November 3, 2026 and January 2027 titles.

For readers who follow manga-to-anime adaptations closely, Netflix's packed slate signals which properties are getting major production budgets and marketing pushes heading into fall and winter.

Friday's Full Lineup

Beyond the Re:ZERO anniversary, Friday, August 20 includes:

• 11:00 a.m. – Mackenyu and Taz Skylar (One Piece Live Action) spotlight
• 12:30 p.m. – Kaiju No. 8 panel
• 1:00 p.m. – Bleach panel with Kisuke and Yoruichi's voice actors
• Afternoon – Bandai Namco Filmworks Industry Panel, SPY x FAMILY & Dandadan manga panel, and Magical Girl Magical Destroyers world premiere
• Evening – Hayao Miyazaki's Future Boy Conan screening, hololive Super Karaoke Night, and a JoJo's Bizarre Adventure game show

The SPY x FAMILY and Dandadan manga panel is particularly relevant for readers following current Jump series and their anime counterparts.

What Manga Fans Should Watch For

If you're not attending but want to stay current on announcements:

Follow official convention hashtags on social media (#AnimeNYC2026) for real-time panel updates and reveals. Publishers often tweet licensing announcements, cover reveals, and creator interviews during or immediately after panels.

Check digital manga platforms (Crunchyroll Manga, Omoi, GlobalComix) in the days following the convention—license announcements made at panels typically go live on storefronts within 24-48 hours.

Watch for adaptation news from anniversary panels. Milestone celebrations for properties like Re:ZERO and Bungo Stray Dogs often serve as launch points for sequel season announcements or new manga spin-offs.

Monitor publisher social accounts for post-con catalog drops. Publishers frequently bundle multiple announcements into a single press release after the convention wraps on August 23.

Why This Convention Matters for Manga

Anime NYC has grown into the East Coast's largest anime convention and received recognition from the Japanese Consul General for serving as a gateway to Japanese pop culture. With over 50,000 attendees expected across four days, the event represents a major marketing moment for publishers and platforms looking to reach dedicated manga readers.

The concentration of industry panels, licensing announcements, and creator appearances makes it one of the year's most newsworthy weekends for anyone tracking what's coming to English-language manga markets. Even for readers who can't attend, the ripple effects—new licenses, adaptation announcements, and creator interviews—shape the conversation and release calendars for months afterward.

For readers of series like Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, One Piece, and Demon Slayer, convention coverage can surface news about upcoming volumes, special editions, or anime production updates that won't hit mainstream outlets for weeks.

Anime NYC 2026 runs through Sunday, August 23 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. For ongoing coverage of manga news and releases, check our latest announcements or browse our full catalog.