Anime NYC and X Tracks Licensing Summits Announce New Partnership to Launch: Anime NYC & X Tracks: The Future of Anime Licensing 2026.
Anime NYC & X Tracks Launch Major Licensing Summit for 2026
Anime NYC, the East Coast’s largest celebration of Japanese pop culture (produced by LeftField Media), has announced a new partnership with X Tracks Licensing Summits. Together, the two organizations will debut The Anime NYC X Tracks Licensing Summit on Thursday, August 20th 2026, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.
The Future of Anime IP: Why Licensing is the Fastest-Growing Driver
X Tracks Licensing Summits is a leading global platform that connects the licensing industry through curated education and networking events. The new industry-focused program seeks to bring together top licensors, licensees, retailers, manufacturers, and entertainment executives to explore the rapidly expanding world of anime, manga, gaming, and Asian pop culture IP in the international licensing landscape.
“As anime continues to drive major innovation in entertainment and consumer products, this summit is a natural next step for Anime NYC’s evolution.” said MK Goodwin, VP of Content & Anime Events at LeftField Media. “The partnership with X Tracks represents a unique convergence of two worlds, the passionate energy of the fans, and the business leaders behind the brands they love. Both are shaping what comes next!”
Co-locating B2B Industry Conversation with Fan Enthusiasm in NYC
Founded by Steven Ekstract, X Tracks Licensing Summits have earned recognition for bringing together key decision-makers from across entertainment, retail, and brand licensing. The upcoming 2026 collaboration would mark the first time the summit will be co-located within a major fan convention, directly bringing the licensing conversation to the world of fans who power it.
“Anime and Asian content are no longer niche, they’re among the fastest-growing drivers of licensed merchandise worldwide,” said Steven Ekstract, Founder of X Tracks Licensing Summits. “According to recent industry data, anime now accounts for some of the highest year-over-year growth across apparel, collectibles, retail, and experiential categories.
Partnering with Anime NYC allows us to build a B2B licensing platform at the epicenter of the fashion and apparel licensing community, New York City, where trendsetting and dealmaking converge. This collaboration is perfectly timed to capture the momentum of a global cultural shift.”
When and Where: Details for the August 20, 2026, Summit at Javits Center
The Anime NYC X Tracks Licensing Summit will take place Thursday, August 20th, 2026, on the first day of Anime NYC. The one-day summit will foster growth, collaboration, and industry insight through keynote sessions, panels, and networking opportunities.
Programming will include presentations and panels specifically focused on licensing and brand extensions by major players in the Anime world, including Viz Media, Kodansha, Crunchyroll, Striker Entertainment, Patencio Development, and Mad Engine, to name a few, alongside exclusive networking sessions and VIP discussions.
For more information, visit Anime NYC or the Entertainment X Tracks website.
Note: The information above was sourced from a press release.
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☆ In Asian Spaces ☆ Ephesians 6:12 ☆
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