The numbers alone tell a story of scale unprecedented in Latin American pop culture: 230,000 people, four days, 55,000 square meters of convention space, six stages pulsing with activity — and an economic ripple effect estimated at R$ 400 million for the city of São Paulo. Anime Friends 2026 wasn’t just another convention. It was a declaration.
When Anime Friends launched in 2003, anime, J-pop, and tokusatsu were niche interests in Brazil. Twenty-three years later, they’re mainstream — and the 2026 edition, held at São Paulo’s Distrito Anhembi from June 27–30, proved it in real time.
More Than Entertainment: A Social Engine
The event’s cultural footprint extended far beyond fandom. On opening day, free tickets sponsored by the São Paulo city government vanished within six hours, granting 7,000 public school students access they’d never had before. Over the four days, attendees donated 60 metric tons of food — enough to stock the shelves of multiple local charities for months.
“Seeing 230,000 people celebrating this passion together, with respect and inclusion, shows how far this culture has reached in Brazil,” said Juliano Aniteli, CEO of Maru Division, the production company behind Anime Friends.
A Japanese Music Lineup That Made History
Anime Friends 2026 delivered a sonic spectrum that spanned subgenres and decades. Metalcore trio HANABIE. made their Brazilian debut, bringing the frenetic energy and Harajuku-inspired aesthetics that have electrified audiences from Tokyo to London. WOLF HOWL HARMONY arrived for their first-ever South American shows with a twist that moved the crowd to tears: founding member Ghee, a Brazilian native, hadn’t set foot in his home country for 23 years. Fans who flew in from Japan to see the band added an international layer to the moment.
The lineup also marked Brazilian firsts for MUCC, the legendary visual kei outfit with nearly three decades behind them; Galneryus, symphonic power metal icons; indie-pop collective Galileo Galilei; genre-blurring Burnout Syndromes; and Sangatsu no Phantasia. Returning favorites drew roaring singalongs: Nano, FLOW — forever linked to Naruto’s anthemic “GO!!!” — and ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, absent from Brazil for nine years.
Tokusatsu: Time Travel for a Generation
For fans of live-action Japanese superhero series, Anime Friends 2026 delivered two moments that felt like science fiction.
First, a licensed Ultraman stage spectacular — produced in partnership with Tsuburaya, the franchise’s original studio — brought the newest Ultraman series to life in its world premiere outside Japan. The production’s scale, effects, and official cast stunned longtime viewers.
Then came a reunion few in the 1990s would have dared to imagine: the complete main cast of Cybercop – The Policemen of the Future, a cult hit in Brazil. Tomonori Yoshida (Jupiter), Tom Saeba (Saturn), Ryoma Sasaki (Mercy), and Mika Chiba — who also sang the series’ closing theme “Shooting Star” — took the stage together in Brazil for the first time. Joining them were Takumi Tsutsui (Jiraiya from Ninja Sentai Kakuranger) and Takumi Hashimoto (his on-screen brother Manabu), alongside Yasuhisa Furuhara, the original Go-On Red from Engine Sentai Go-Onger, making his Brazilian debut.
Gaming Goes Mainstage
Games have long been part of Anime Friends’ DNA, but 2026 elevated them to headline status. SEGA brought Sonic to life with photo-worthy statues and hands-on gameplay stations, letting fans race through Green Hill Zone side-by-side.
But the true gaming highlight was the PUBG Mobile × Naruto Shippuden collaboration. The event featured a full-scale recreation of Konoha — complete with the Ichiraku Ramen shop as a playable gaming station and the Hokage Monument as a photo op. Competitive 1v1 tournaments dished out exclusive in-game rewards and even smartphones as prizes.
I had the privilege of moderating the official voice actor panel on Sunday in the Ultra Auditorium, bringing together Úrsula Bezerra (Naruto), Tati Kelpmair (Sakura), and Robson Kumode (Sasuke) to discuss the unique challenges of dubbing a video game — from recording without visual context to crafting distinct vocal variations for dozens of combat moves. The collaboration launches in PUBG Mobile’s Version 4.5 update on July 9.
Voices, Cosplay, and Creative Ecosystems
Anime Friends 2026 assembled a dream roster of voice talent. Japanese legends Ryusei Nakao (Freeza in Dragon Ball, Caesar Clown in One Piece) and Nozomu Sasaki (Yusuke Urameshi in Yu Yu Hakusho) packed auditoriums alongside producer Michihiko Suwa, whose credits include Detective Conan and InuYasha.
On the Brazilian side, Wendel Bezerra — the Portuguese voice of Goku, Naruto, and SpongeBob — and Guilherme Briggs — Buzz Lightyear, among countless others — delivered career retrospectives that felt like love letters to a generation of fans.
The cosplay competition, a fixture since 2003, welcomed two international judges for the first time: Italy’s Leon Chiro and the U.S.’s Elizabeth Rage, who spent all four days mentoring Brazilian cosplayers. The Artist Alley, meanwhile, buzzed with independent creators selling original art, zines, buttons, and self-published manga — a grassroots economy thriving alongside the corporate giants.
Adding a Southeast Asian flavor, Thai BL superstar BamBam made his Brazilian debut, drawing packed crowds to panels and autograph sessions and underscoring the event’s pan-Asian reach.
2027 Already on the Horizon
As the lights dimmed on Sunday night, organizers announced Anime Friends 2027: July 1–4, once again at Distrito Anhembi. And with it, a musical promise that sent fans into a frenzy: the Bandai Namco Music Live Festival will return to the AF Festival stage — though which acts will take the spotlight remains a carefully guarded secret.
From niche gathering to national phenomenon, Anime Friends has become the living bridge between Brazil and Japan — a four-day microcosm where music, games, cinema, dubbing, cosplay, and original art converge. And if 2026 proved anything, it’s that the bridge is only getting wider.
Source: Olhar Digital, Anime Friends
