Crunchyroll has surpassed 21 million monthly paid subscribers worldwide, marking another major milestone for the anime streamer as global demand for anime content continues to grow.
The company announced the figure on May 8, 2026. The latest milestone marks a significant jump from the 17 million paid subscribers Crunchyroll reported in May 2025.
Operated as a joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex, the platform currently offers more than 50,000 anime episodes to fans around the world. The company has also broadened its business beyond streaming through theatrical releases, games, music, live events, and merchandise initiatives.
Crunchyroll president Rahul Purini said the subscriber growth reflects the increasing number of fans embracing anime worldwide.
“Reaching 21 million subscribers is a powerful testament to the passionate, global community that has embraced anime as a leading form of entertainment. We’re committed to serving this community by delivering the world’s largest anime library, offering premium user experiences, and championing the creators and studios that make this art form so extraordinary. We are immensely grateful to our fans and look forward to providing 360 experiences around anime,” said Purini.
Alongside the subscriber milestone, Crunchyroll announced the launch of the Crunchyroll Anime Future Forum, which it described as the anime industry’s first global summit. The invitation-only event will be held Oct 7 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.
According to the company, the forum will gather leaders and creators from the anime, gaming, music, film, and technology industries under the theme “Designing for Anime’s Future.”
Purini stated that anime has become a “central presence” in the global entertainment industry and noted that holding the summit outside Japan for the first time is expected to further expand worldwide awareness of anime.
Furthermore, as part of its Ani-May 2026 campaign, Crunchyroll is offering discounted premium memberships for new and returning subscribers in more than 35 countries.
The limited-time promotion includes three months of Fan membership for USD1.99 per month and Mega Fan membership for USD2.99 per month.
Source: Oricon, Crunchyroll
