Anime NYC 2026 is live in New York. Here are the Friday and Saturday panels, premieres, room times, and reservation rules anime fans need to know.
By Pixel Twelve StaffAug 21, 2026
Anime NYC 2026 is running from August 20 through August 23 at the Javits Center in New York. The event lists more than 150 hours of panels, screenings, and special events, so a useful plan matters more than trying to attend everything. has the full calendar; this guide pulls out the panels and premieres most likely to fill a fan’s day on Friday and Saturday.
The times below are Eastern Time unless a venue listing says otherwise. Check the official schedule again before leaving for the convention because rooms, lines, and availability can change during the weekend.
Anime NYC uses reservations for select high-volume panels, but a reservation does not guarantee a seat once the room begins loading. The convention recommends arriving at least 20 minutes early. If you do not have a reservation, the standby line opens as space becomes available, with fans admitted about 10 minutes before a panel starts when seats remain. Anime NYC’s reservation rules also require a badge valid for the day of the panel.
The reserved events include the Kaiju No. 8 Special Panel and the 10th Anniversary Celebration: Legacy of Re:ZERO on Friday, August 21. Saturday’s reserved list includes the HAIKYU!! panel, the HATSUNE MIKU: COLORFUL STAGE! event, the Kagurabachi Anime World Tour premiere, Junko Takeuchi’s spotlight panel, and the Cosplay Masquerade.The live reservation schedule is the place to check for cancellations instead of assuming every panel is sold out.
VIZ’s official Anime NYC guide lists the VIZ Industry Panel from 11:00 a.m. to noon in Room 1A06-08. It includes a Q&A with BLEACH voice actors Wendee Lee and Doug Erholtz, BLACK TORCH creator Tsuyoshi Takaki, and editor Shihei Lin. The BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War panel follows at 1:00 p.m. on the Sakura Stage.
HIDIVE’s Friday schedule starts with The World Is Dancing English dub world premiere at 11:00 a.m. in Room 1A12-14. Tetsuryo! meet with Tetsudou Musume follows at 12:15 p.m. in Room 1A15, and Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden has its North American premiere at 4:00 p.m. in Room 1A15-18. Final Weapon’s schedule notes that these screenings are open to badge holders, but room capacity still controls entry.
VIZ’s Black Torch panel is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the Sakura Stage. Creator Tsuyoshi Takaki and editor Shihei Lin will discuss the series, and the panel includes an advance screening. Readers who want the basic series setup can use our BLACK TORCH schedule and viewing guide before deciding whether to make the trip across the convention floor.
HIDIVE’s Reincarnated as a Sword Season 2 North American premiere and Q&A starts at 10:45 a.m. Saturday in Room 1A23-24. Director Shinji Ishihira and producers Yosuke Shimada and Genta Ozaki are listed for the panel. The event is a better fit for viewers who want production context along with the episode premiere.HIDIVE’s Anime NYC lineup has the room and guest details.
Crunchyroll’s Anime NYC schedule includes a 10th Anniversary Celebration: Legacy of Bungo Stray Dogs on Friday, along with additional panels, premieres, and concerts across the weekend. Crunchyroll’s event guide is the best source for any late room or time changes. Our Summer 2026 Crunchyroll watchlist can help with the shows appearing in the convention’s seasonal programming.
Choose one must-see panel for each time block, then leave space for lines and room changes. A Friday schedule that tries to jump from the VIZ Industry Panel to HIDIVE’s premiere across different rooms may work on paper and fail in the building. The event’s mobile schedule and map are more useful than a screenshot saved before the doors open.
Keep your badge confirmation available for reservations, arrive early for any panel with a standby line, and check the official Anime NYC schedule before each move. The convention runs through Sunday, so missing one panel does not mean missing the entire weekend’s announcements.
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