American Manga Awards 2026 Nominees Spotlight Urasawa, Mokumokuren & Classics

The third annual American Manga Awards have released their full list of nominees, celebrating the creators, translators, and publishers bringing compelling Japanese comics to readers across North America.

In the Best New Manga category, Naoki Urasawa's Billy Bat stands alongside ONE and Kyoto Shitara's Bug Ego, Love Bullet by inee, and other distinctive debuts. Best Continuing Manga Series features The Summer Hikaru Died, March Comes in Like a Lion, The Climber, and more, recognizing series that continue to captivate audiences with new volumes.

One-shot nominees highlight self-contained stories such as Akari and Cocoon, while the Best New Edition of Classic Manga category brings fresh editions of Ashita no Joe, Mushishi, and The Legend of Kamui to contemporary shelves. Additional awards for translation, lettering, and publication design recognize the skilled professionals shaping how these works reach English readers.

Industry professionals will vote on the winners ahead of the invitation-only ceremony on August 20 at Japan Society in New York City, coinciding with Anime NYC. The selections reflect a rich mix of established masters, rising talents, and the dedicated craft that sustains manga's global appeal.