U-NEXT to Specially Sponsor the Reader-Centric Manga Award 'Next Manga Award 2026'

U-NEXT Corporation (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President: Tenshin Tsutsumi), which operates the video streaming service 'U-NEXT' as part of the USEN & U-NEXT GROUP, will specially sponsor the 'Next Manga Award 2026,' a reader-centric manga award for which entries open on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. U-NEXT began its special sponsorship of the award in 2019, and this year marks its eighth collaboration.

**U-NEXT, a service where you can also enjoy manga, supports the 'next big thing' in manga.**

The 'Next Manga Award 2026' is a user-participatory manga award celebrating its 12th year, co-hosted by KADOKAWA Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Takeshi Natsuno) and Dwango Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Takeshi Natsuno).

U-NEXT first specially sponsored this award in 2019. As a bookstore that also handles manga, despite being a video streaming service, we have been promoting initiatives for manga fans to enjoy. We have also selected the 'U-NEXT Award' for 'NEXT breakthrough works we want to recommend to you (=U)!' and have implemented unique measures such as free manga campaigns on U-NEXT and collaboration projects with the mahjong pro league 'M.LEAGUE.'

**Past U-NEXT Award Winners**

**2025** - Comics Division: 'Gokurakugai' (Author: Yuto Sano / Publisher: Shueisha) - Web Manga Division: 'Majo to Yohei' (Manga: Masato Miyaki, Original: Chohokiteki Kaeru, Character Design: Benchi Kanose / Publisher: Kodansha)

**2024** - Comics Division: 'Koiseyo Mayakashi Tenshidomo' (Author: Koko Uzuki / Publisher: Kodansha) - Web Manga Division: 'Shiretto Sugee Koto Itteru Gal.' (Original: Taichi Matsuura (Plott), Art: Otsuji / Publisher: Shueisha)

**2023** - Comics Division: 'Ryu to Chameleon' (Author: Ryo Ishiyama / Publisher: Square Enix) - Web Manga Division: 'Ban-Oh' (Original: Tomoya Watabiki, Art: Garaku Shunkato / Publisher: Shueisha)

**2022** - Comics Division: 'Kujima Utaeba Ie Hororo' (Author: Akira Konno / Publisher: Shogakukan) - Web Manga Division: 'Isekai Arigatou' (Original: Azuki Arai, Art: Zianazu / Publisher: Shogakukan)

**2021** - Comics Division: 'SAKAMOTO DAYS' (Author: Yuto Suzuki / Publisher: Shueisha) - Web Manga Division: 'Reincarnated as an Aristocrat with an Appraisal Skill' (Original: Miraijin A, Manga: Natsumi Inoue, Character Design: jimmy / Publisher: Kodansha)

**2020** - Comics Division: 'Natsume Arata no Kekkon' (Author: Taro Nogizaka / Publisher: Shogakukan) - Web Manga Division: 'Ya Boy Kongming!' (Original: Yotsuba Yuto, Manga: Ryo Ogawa / Publisher: Kodansha)

**2019** - Comics Division: 'The Ride-On King' (Author: Yasushi Baba / Publisher: Kodansha) - Web Manga Division: 'Uncle from Another World' (Author: Hotondoshindeiru / Publisher: KADOKAWA)

This year again, U-NEXT will support manga...