Animelo Summer Live 2026 has revealed its first wave of performers, with 26 acts confirmed for this summer's anime song extravaganza.

The festival, subtitled "Messenger," will take place July 10-12 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. The initial lineup includes veteran rock duo GRANRODEO, voice actress unit Sphere, and TrySail. Also performing are acts from popular franchises including Uma Musume (horse racing mobile game), A3! (actor training game), and RAS from the BanG Dream! multimedia project, plus comedy duo ChicoHani.

Animelo Summer Live, commonly called "Anisama," stands as Japan's largest anime song festival. The event brings together voice actors, idol groups, rock bands, and solo artists who perform theme songs for anime, games, and related media. Each year draws tens of thousands of fans across multiple days of performances.

The "Messenger" theme suggests this year's event will focus on artists who carry anime music's message to fans worldwide. With 26 acts already confirmed in just the first announcement, this year's lineup is shaping up to be one of the most diverse yet.

Anisama typically announces performers in multiple waves, so fans can expect more big names to be revealed in the coming months. The festival has previously hosted everyone from legendary anisong singers to major J-Pop acts who've contributed to anime soundtracks.

Ticket information and additional performer announcements are expected soon.