Dress Code: Black tie, dressy, after-five attire.
Honoring excellence in the field of animation, the 53rd Annual Annie Awards will be presented
in 37 categories including Animated Feature, Animated Feature-Independent, Television/Media Production(s), Sponsored Production, Short Subject and Student Film, as well as the Achievement and Honorary awards.
The 53rd Annual Annie Awards will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at UCLA’s Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ASIFA-HOLLYWOOD
This past year has been a challenging one for ourcommunity. Amid sweeping changes across the industry, we have heard from many artists experiencing displacement and uncertainty about what the future may hold. These moments can feel isolating—but they also remind us how vital our collective strength truly is. It’s important to remember that behind every technological advancement lies the need for artists to guide the way. Our community leads with vision. We are trained to think beyond boundaries, to imagine what doesn’t yet exist, and to use creativity as a compass. That has always been—and will always be—our greatest power as we navigate what comes next. ASIFA-Hollywood is here for you. We see ourselves as a conduit: a place to help empower artists, elevate concerns, and work together toward meaningful solutions. As a nonprofit organization, our role is toprovide assistance where it’s needed most and to create opportunities for connection, growth, and collaboration.
While ASIFA-Hollywood is widely recognized for the Annie Awards, our work extends far beyond a single annual celebration. Especially in times like these, when community matters more than ever, we support artists, studios, educators, and students through a broad range of year-round programs.
In 2025, this community showed what it means to stand together. When more than 90 animation artists lost their homes in the California wildfires, we listened—and we acted. Through AnimAID, and with the generosity of this community, nearly $700,000 was raised to help our colleagues begin rebuilding their lives. This is who we are: a community that shows up for one another. ASIFA- Hollywood is proud to help create the structure that makes that possible.
Our mission for 2026 is to elevate animation as both an art form and a profession, strengthening the community that sustains it. Animation is one of the most influential and enduring creative mediums in the world, yet it is still too often undervalued and misunderstood within the entertainment industry. With your support, we can help change that.
By investing in ASIFA-Hollywood, you help ensure that animation is seen, heard, and valued; that its creators are recognized and supported; and that our community remains connected, resilient, and strong for generations to come.
Thank you for being here.
Warm regards,
