Digital Cinema Collective announced this week that it will be launching the inaugural The Anime & Manga International Awards in July 2026. The new anime and manga-focused awards show in the U.S. will take place during the same week as Anime Expo from July 2, 2026 to July 5, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
The AMI Awards will be supported by the Japan Society and MyAnimeList. According to Digital Cinema Collective, the awards will be “honoring the best in anime and manga, recognizing creators, talent, and studios that have captivated fans around the world.” The awards will feature a mix of celebrity and industry presenters, influencers, fans and musical performances. More details will be revealed leading into the event.
The physical award itself will be designed by renowned origami artist and designer Coco Sato.
The countdown to the first The AMI Awards will begin at this year’s Anime NYC, in partnership with classic anime streamer RetroCrush, where votes will be collected for the first ever fan-voted AMI Award — “Most IcoNYC Anime of All Time.”
Throughout Thursday and Friday at Anime NYC, attendees can vote onsite for the special fan-chosen award via AMI ambassadors stationed around the convention hall. The winner of the award will be revealed during the convention’s popular Cosplay Masquerade event on the evening of August 23, 2025 at the convention’s Main Stage area.
Source: press release
