ABEMA Anime Fest 2026 reveals its first Shibuya lineup

ABEMA Anime Fest 2026 reveals its first Shibuya lineup

On July 24, 2026, ABEMA and AbemaTV's press release confirmed the first wave of programming for ABEMA Anime Fest 2026 supported by Comic Cmoa. The festival will return to Shibuya on September 19 and 20, with free stages at the rooftop venue on MIYASHITA PARK 4F and a separate premium talk event for GOALOUS5 at EBiS303. The announcement matters because it is not just a schedule reveal: it shows which shows and voices ABEMA wants to place at the center of its annual fan-facing event.

What Was Announced

The first lineup covers two days of free programming. On September 19, the stage will feature Akane-banashi, Tetsunabe no Jan!, 天幕のジャードゥーガル, Tougen Anki, and Seiyuu to Yoru Asobi 2026. On September 20, the announced titles are 薬屋のひとりごと / The Apothecary Diaries, スーパーの裏でヤニ吸うふたり / Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You, 転生したらスライムだった件 第4期 / That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4, ふつつかな悪女ではございますが ～雛宮蝶鼠とりかえ伝～, 黄泉のツガイ, and SHIBUYA ANIME BASE.

ABEMA also named several cast members who will appear on stage. For Akane-banashi, the release lists Anna Nagase, Takuya Eguchi, and Rie Takahashi. For Tougen Anki, it lists Kazuki Ura, Shogo Sakata, and Gakuto Kajiwara. For 薬屋のひとりごと / The Apothecary Diaries, the announced guests are Aoi Yuki, Takeo Otsuka, and Ryumaru Tachibana. For 転生したらスライムだった件 第4期 / That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4, Miho Okasaki and Megumi Toyoguchi are on the list. The premium GOALOUS5 stage brings together Kentaro Kumagai, Shohei Komatsu, Junta Terashima, Shugo Nakamura, and Toshiyuki Fuchikami at EBiS303.

Ticketing is already underway. The first pre-sale runs until August 3 at 11:59 p.m. JST, and general sales begin on August 15 at noon JST. ABEMA says more participating titles, speakers, and stage details will be announced later, with the free-stage viewing application method due in mid-August.

Why It Matters

ABEMA Anime Fest is useful as a barometer of what a major streaming platform wants to push into the public conversation. The festival does not only borrow popularity from existing anime; it also uses Shibuya itself as part of the event, turning the city into a live promotional space. That matters to international fans because it gives a clearer picture of how Japanese anime marketing works when it is aimed at both online viewers and in-person attendees.

The mix of free stages and a premium paid talk event is also telling. Free access lowers the barrier for casual fans, while the ticketed GOALOUS5 program gives the festival a more focused fan-service lane. That split is common in Japanese events, but the scale here is notable because ABEMA is a platform brand, not a traditional publisher or studio.

Context for International Fans

ABEMA is one of Japan's best-known streaming services, and its anime branding has become part of the platform's identity. In practice, that means the festival can serve as both a community event and a marketing showcase. When the lineup includes long-running hits like The Apothecary Diaries and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, plus newer or younger-facing titles such as Tougen Anki and Akane-banashi, it signals that the event is trying to speak to more than one audience at once.

For visitors outside Japan, the venue names also matter. MIYASHITA PARK is in Shibuya, one of Tokyo's most visible entertainment districts, and EBiS303 is another urban event space used for talks and screenings. If you follow anime events from abroad, this kind of announcement is a useful reminder that a "festival" in Japan often means a mix of live talent, branded stages, city-space activation, and staggered ticket access rather than a single convention hall program.

What Happens Next

The next update to watch for is the detailed application process for the free stage, which ABEMA says will be shared in mid-August. That update should matter even to people who are not planning to attend in person, because it usually clarifies how the event is structured, which programs need reservations, and which parts remain open to the public.

For now, the key dates are fixed: the festival runs on September 19 and 20, the GOALOUS5 ticket pre-sale closes on August 3, and general ticket sales open on August 15. If you follow anime events as a trend story rather than a travel target, this announcement is still worth noting because it shows how a platform-led anime festival can build a multi-day city event around a first lineup that mixes popular franchises, voice actors, and a recognizable urban setting.

Sources

Information was checked on 2026-07-24 23:10 JST.

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