Anime NYC Opens With Billy Bat's Award and an October Date for Edgerunners 2

The Javits Center did not ease into Anime NYC 2026. LeftField Media opened the East Coast's largest anime convention Thursday to a sold-out show floor and a projected record of more than 150,000 fans through Sunday, then ran two headline events on the same night.

Across town at Japan Society, the third American Manga Awards named Naoki Urasawa's Billy Bat Best New Manga, while Yen Press's The Summer Hikaru Died took Best Continuing Series. Kodansha's Mushishi Collector's Edition won Best New Edition of Classic Manga. Tuttle-Mori Agency advisor Chigusa Ogino entered the publishing Hall of Fame, with creator Akiko Higashimura as guest of honor.

Back on the Main Stage, Netflix's 6:45 p.m. showcase dropped a new Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 trailer and locked Studio TRIGGER's Night City return for October 20. The same hour also flagged Sakamoto Days Season 2. Saturday still holds the last North American Kagurabachi World Tour look at episode 1, and Friday puts singer yama on that stage for her first East Coast concert.

Four-day badges were gone before doors opened. The rest of the weekend still has Junko Takeuchi, Mackenyu's first North American convention appearance, and a Javits floor packed by publishers from Shueisha to HIDIVE.

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