Anime Friends 2026 draws crowds in Brazil, Burnout Syndromes headline

The Anime Friends 2026 festival reaffirmed its status as the largest Japanese pop‑culture event in Brazil, attracting a record‑breaking audience. The three‑day program featured a wide array of attractions, including concerts by Japanese bands such as FLOW and Asian Kung‑Fu Generation, a debut Ultraman stage show licensed from Japan, and appearances by Japanese actors Takumi Tsutsui and Takumi Hashimoto. Voice actors Ryusei Nakao and Nozomu Sasaki made their first appearance on Brazilian soil, while Brazilian dub artists Wendel Bezerra and Guilherme Briggs took part in fan‑focused sessions.

A highlight of the musical lineup was the performance by Burnout Syndromes, the anime‑rock trio celebrating 20 years together and a decade since their debut with Epic Records Japan. The band played hits from series such as Haikyu!!, Dr. Stone and Gintama, concluding with a collaborative track featuring Brazilian rapper‑producer niLL. The festival’s extensive programming underscored the growing popularity of Japanese media and its creators among Brazilian fans.