Great variety of genres in the nominations—from slice-of-life to horror to sports, the 12 nominees showcase manga's diverse storytelling. 12 nominees from 249 works shows strong competition; the selection process by 94 judges narrowing down to these titles demonstrates quality. Some really unique titles in the running—"The Evil God's Bento Shop" and "The Man-Eating Mansion and the Landlord's Maison" sound particularly intriguing. March ceremony will be exciting to watch; finding out which work wins the 19th Manga Awards creates anticipation.

The nominees for the Manga Awards 2026 have been announced. In the first round of selection, 94 judges selected from a total of 249 works, of which 12 were nominated. The final results will be announced at an awards ceremony in late March.

Manga Taisho 2026 nominees include:

• Imoto wa Shitte Iru by Mari Gangi

• Home at the Horizon by Taiyo Watabe

• Kaiju wo Kaibo Suru by Mado Saito

• Strikeout Pitch by Kyu Sumiyoshi

• The Devil's in the Lunch Deals by Ishiko

• Danmitsu by Toru Seino

• Tomodachi Datta Hito by Miya Kinuta

• Maison and the Man-Eating Apartment written by Ku Tanaka and illustrated by Akima

• Honnara Uruhodo by Ao Kojima

• Ichi the Witch written by Osamu Nishi and illustrated by Shiro Usazaki

• RIOT by Yuta Tsukada

• Robo no Fujii by Kurao Nabe

About the Manga Awards

The Manga Awards began in 2008 and this is the 19th edition. The awards cover works published between January 1 and December 31 of the previous year, with a maximum of eight volumes.

In the previous Manga Awards 2025, "Alice, Even in Space" by Ueno Kikko won the award.

Selection Process

• First Round: 94 judges evaluated 249 total works

• Final Round: 12 nominees selected

• Awards Ceremony: Late March 2026

Which nominated work are you most interested in? Have you read any of these manga? What do you think will win? Which genre do you prefer? Share your thoughts in the comments below!