IMART2026 Conference Adds First IMART Awards for Industry Key Players
The IMART Awards recognize the support infrastructure of the manga industry, honoring the people who put manga in front of readers rather than just the creators.
Reporting from 1 source: GameBusiness.jp.
IMART2026, the manga IP conference, will be held on November 20, 2026, at Animate Theater in Ikebukuro, Japan. The seventh edition introduces the first IMART Awards, which honor people who support manga culture through real bookstores, digital bookstores, and events. Nominees are recommended by sponsors and partners, and winners are selected by sponsor vote. The award logo is by manga artist Morikawa George. The event also includes keynote speeches, sessions, and networking.
Since 2025, IMART has repositioned itself from a manga and anime conference to a broader manga IP conference, one that looks at how manga expands into animation, games, novels, merchandise, and live entertainment. The seventh edition, IMART2026, will take place on November 20 at Animate Theater in Ikebukuro, with both in-person and online attendance. This year, the event adds the first IMART Awards, a new initiative to recognize the people who connect manga to readers: real bookstores, digital bookstores, and event organizers. Nominees are selected from recommendations by sponsors and partner organizations, and winners are decided by a vote of IMART2026 sponsor companies. The award logo was designed by manga artist Morikawa George. The conference will also feature keynote speeches, sessions, and networking opportunities.
- Real Bookstore Category
- Digital Bookstore/App Category
- Event and Exhibition Category
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- GameBusiness.jp マンガIPカンファレンス「IMART2026」11月開催決定。新設「IMARTアワード」で現場のキープレイヤーを顕彰