ABEMA Announces First Free 24-Hour Live Broadcast of Le Mans 24 Hours with Star-Studded Lineup: Maggie, Aika Sawaguchi, and Legend Shinji Nakano Lead Commentators

ABEMA, the new future of television, will deliver the final race of the 94th Le Mans 24 Hours, the third round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), held from June 13 (Saturday) to 14 (Sunday), 2026, with a first-in-Japan 24-hour completely free live broadcast. We are pleased to announce the star-studded cast and broadcast content that will adorn this broadcast.

The Le Mans 24 Hours, held at the Circuit de la Sarthe in France, is a round of the FIA World Endurance Championship. With a history of over 100 years since its first event in 1923, it is one of the 'World's Three Great Races' alongside the F1 Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. It is a grueling competition where teams cover as much distance as possible in 24 hours over a course that is largely public roads. In recent years, the top Hypercar class has seen fierce battles with works entries from global manufacturers such as Toyota, Ferrari, Porsche, and Cadillac. Japanese interest is high as Toyota, which achieved five consecutive wins from 2018, aims to reclaim the title after a four-year drought.

Special guests to liven up the 24-hour marathon include Maggie, the ABEMA Motorsports Ambassador and model/entrepreneur, and talent Aika Sawaguchi. Also joining as a guest is Mako Hirakawa, the sister of driver Ryo Hirakawa who competes in this event, and an active racing driver in the All-Japan Rally Championship and women's-only race KYOJO CUP. She will add color to the broadcast while watching her brother take on the world's top stage.

Additionally, models and talents Nana Amasawa (#Mooove!), Reina Hase, Kotori Kaiga, and Naomi Mashima will appear. They will participate in a special segment where they wear racing suits to energize the long race.

The commentary and analysis team brings together 12 distinguished members. Notably, Shinji Nakano, a super legend who has competed in all three of the 'World's Three Great Races' (F1 Monaco GP, Le Mans 24 Hours, and Indianapolis 500), will provide commentary for ABEMA for the first time. Other legends with Le Mans experience include Tsugio Matsuda, Akira Iida, and Kohji Yamanishi, along with active drivers Yuichi Nakayama and Marino Sato. Motor journalist Takeshi Momota and F1 broadcast regular Kenichi Tanaka will offer multi-angle analysis of race developments and more, ensuring enjoyment for both beginners and core fans.

The broadcast starts at 22:30 JST on June 13 (Saturday). Detailed broadcast schedules, timelines, and appearance times for each guest will be announced later on ABEMA Motorsports official X account (@ABEMA_motor).

Experience the drama and excitement of Le Mans 24 Hours, where extreme speed and endurance are tested, for free on ABEMA with a stellar lineup.

(*1) Company research as of May 2026. This is the first 24-hour continuous free live broadcast format among terrestrial, BS, CS, and internet streaming services in Japan.

■ ABEMA 'World Endurance Championship 2026 Round 3 Le Mans 24 Hours' Broadcast Overview

Broadcast date and time: June 13 (Sat) 22:30 - June 15 (Mon) 00:30 JST

'MOTOR SPORT Channel' broadcast URL: https://abema.tv/now-on-air/motor-sport

*URL will be available when the channel opens.

PR video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/801-1_s10_p999

Announcers: Takao Masuda, Hiroshi Tsujino, Ayumu Tsuji, Hiroki Fuse (TV Asahi)

Commentators: Shinji Nakano, Tsugio Matsuda, Akira Iida, Kohji Yamanishi, Yuichi Nakayama, Marino Sato, Takeshi Momota, Kenichi Tanaka

Guests: Maggie (ABEMA Motorsports Ambassador), Mako Hirakawa, Aika Sawaguchi, Nana Amasawa (#Mooove!), Reina Hase, Kotori Kaiga, Naomi Mashima

*Broadcast date, time, content, and format are subject to change without notice.

*When using images, please include the credit (C) AbemaTV, Inc.

■ About ABEMA

ABEMA, celebrating its 10th anniversary on April 11, 2026, is a video distribution service aiming for television innovation under the concept of 'the new future of television.' Since its launch, it has operated as a free internet TV requiring no registration, broadcasting approximately 25 channels covering news, original dramas, romance reality shows, variety, anime, and sports, 24/7/365.

With the largest number of original episodes among domestic video services (as of March 2026), ABEMA offers a rich lineup including notable new movies, popular domestic and international dramas, and trending anime, as well as live sports and online events. Viewers can enjoy content anytime, anywhere on smartphones, PCs, tablets, and TV devices, adapting to diverse lifestyles.

ABEMA Premium, at 1,180 yen (tax included) per month, provides exclusive features and content. A cheaper ad-supported ABEMA Premium plan (680 yen per month) also offers limited premium content with advertisements.

*Company research as of March 2026.

For the latest information, please check official SNS.

Free videos and trending content on the new future of television: ABEMA (https://abema.tv/)

ABEMA is celebrating its 10th anniversary with various campaigns throughout the year, including special programs and 'ABEMA 10th Anniversary Free Grand Thanksgiving.' We look forward to your interest.

ABEMA 10th anniversary site: https://contents-abema.com/10th/

*Please note the service name: ABEMA (not Ameba or Abema).