Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Bahrain emblem
The Japan Foundation logo

Embassy of Japan, Kingdom of Bahrain

Japan Anime Fest 2026 in Bahrain
Sana, the Japan Anime Fest mascotJapan Anime Fest 2026 in BahrainFurua, the Japan Anime Fest forest companion

October 1 – 8, 2026

Where Stories Connect,Hearts Heal, and Magic Unfolds

Experience Makoto Shinkai's Masterpieces and Beloved Favourites

Students on a grassy hill under summer clouds from The Place Promised in Our Early DaysChieri and her stuffed rabbit Cherry peeking from behind a wallMiyori standing before thatched-roof houses and green rice fields

©Makoto Shinkai/CoMix Wave Films

Sana, the Japan Anime Fest mascot

Kon'nichiwa, Sanadesu (Hello, I am Sana). Welcome to Japan Anime Fest 2026.

Explore the Anime Fest movies and book your seats now. It's FREE entry, but booking is needed.

Exact showtimes are listed under each film below. Click 'Book Here' next to a specific date and time to reserve your seats.

Free EntryFirst-come, first-servedLimited seats

Eight Films. Endless Wonders

A week of Japanese animation on the big screen, for every generation. From tender coming-of-age stories to high-energy adventures, Japan Anime Fest 2026 gives parents a trusted, culturally rich outing and gives young anime fans eight reasons to fall in love with the art form, across two easy-to-reach venues in Bahrain.

Sana, the Japan Anime Fest mascot

Venues & dates

Two venues, eight days

Epix Cinemas logo

Epix Cinemas, Dana Mall

Cinema screenings

1 – 5 & 8 October 2026

Grand opening: October 1

Families, children, and general moviegoers.

Bahrain Polytechnic logo

Bahrain Polytechnic University

Campus screenings

6 – 7 October 2026

Opening: October 6

Adults, students, and young adults.

Seating Notice

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the screening time. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis for registered guests. Reservations may be released to waiting guests at the screening start time. Late arrivals will be accommodated subject to seat availability.

Film lineup

Eight films across the festival

Each film has its own booking option, since showtimes and venues vary by title.

Epix Cinemas, Dana Mall

Key visual for 5 Centimeters per Second
PG-1563 min

©Makoto Shinkai/CoMix Wave Films

2007

5 Centimeters per Second PG-15

Drama · Romance · Animation

Two childhood friends, Takaki and Akari, drift apart after elementary school but stay connected through letters, each carrying feelings the other never quite hears. Directed by Makoto Shinkai, the film closes out a trilogy about the distance, literal and emotional, that grows between people over time.

Epix Cinemas, Dana Mall

Key visual for Sumikkogurashi: The Movie
PG65 min

©sumikkogurashi film partners

2019

Sumikkogurashi: The Movie PG

Science Fiction / Fantasy · Animation

The Sumikko friends discover an old pop-up book in their favorite café and are pulled inside it, where they meet a lonely creature named Hiyoko who doesn't know where it came from. Together they set out to help Hiyoko find its way home.

Epix Cinemas, Dana Mall

Key visual for Chieri and Cherry
PG54 min

©Chieri and Cherry Partners

2015

Chieri and Cherry PG

Drama · Science Fiction / Fantasy · Children/Family · Animation

Chieri's only real companion is Cherry, a stuffed animal that talks, plays, and helps her cope with life after her father's death. When a stray dog and her newborn puppies come under threat during a visit to her grandmother's house, Chieri and Cherry step in to help.

Epix Cinemas, Dana Mall

Key visual for Okko's Inn
PG94 min

©Hiroko Reijo, Asami, KODANSHA / WAKAOKAMI Project

2018

Okko's Inn PG

Drama · Science Fiction / Fantasy · Children/Family · Animation

After losing her parents, Okko moves to the countryside to live with her grandmother, who runs a traditional Japanese inn. As she trains to one day take over the inn herself, Okko discovers she can see friendly ghosts who help guide her along the way.

Epix Cinemas, Dana Mall

Key visual for Ride Your Wave
+1595 min

©Ride Your Wave Film Partners

2019

Ride Your Wave +15

Drama · Fantasy · Romance · Animation

Hinako, a young woman who loves surfing, falls for Minato, a firefighter, after he saves her building from a fire. When Minato drowns while surfing alone, he returns to her in the form of water, and Hinako must decide how to move forward while everyone around her already has.

Epix Cinemas, Dana Mall

Key visual for Crayon Shin-chan: The Storm Called: The Adult Empire Strikes Back
PG-1390 min

©2001 Usui Yoshito / Futabasha / Shin-Ei Animation / TV ASAHI

2001

Crayon Shin-chan: The Storm Called: The Adult Empire Strikes Back PG-13

Animation · Action · Adventure · Comedy · Family

A mysterious theme park called the “20th Century Expo” appears overnight in Shin-chan's hometown of Kasukabe, drawing in every adult with a wave of nostalgia, while the children are left behind and increasingly shut out. Shin-chan and his friends set out to find out what's really going on.

Epix Cinemas, Dana Mall

Trailer

Bahrain Polytechnic University

Key visual for Miyori in the Sacred Forest
PG116 min

©Hideji Oda • Akita Shoten / Fuji TV • Nippon Animation

2007

Miyori in the Sacred Forest PG

Animation · Adventure · Drama · Fantasy

After her parents separate, Miyori is sent from Tokyo to live with her grandparents in the countryside. She soon discovers a forest home to magical spirits, who reveal she is destined to become its next guardian, and joins them to protect the land when a dam project threatens to destroy it.

Bahrain Polytechnic University

Key visual for The Place Promised in Our Early Days
PG-1391 min

©Makoto Shinkai/CoMix Wave Films

2004

The Place Promised in Our Early Days PG-13

Animation · Drama · Romance · Science Fiction

In an alternate postwar Japan divided between two occupying powers, three childhood friends grow fascinated with a mysterious tower visible across the strait and vow to build a plane to reach it. Years after their plan falls apart, one of them learns that his friend's disappearance is tied to the tower's secrets.

Bahrain Polytechnic University

Meet your festival guides

Sana & Furua

Sana, official mascot of Japan Anime Fest 2026 in Bahrain, with ocean-blue hair and glowing wings

Meet Sana!

咲那 / さな / Sana / سنا

Official Mascot of Japan Anime Fest 2026 in Bahrain

Her name carries a story of its own. In Arabic, “سنا” means light, radiance and glory. In Japanese, “咲那” speaks of blossom and radiance. Together, they form a bridge of light connecting Japan and Bahrain, and that light lives in Sana herself.

With ocean-blue hair and eyes, wings that echo water and wind, and a pendant blending the flags of both nations, Sana travels surrounded by tiny shimmering particles known as the “Sana Light.” She is bright and warm-hearted, endlessly curious about stories, gentle, and quietly courageous.

This year, she guides visitors through eight remarkable Japanese films exploring family, friendship, growth, and nature, carrying hope to everyone she meets along the way.

She can't wait to show you all the amazing films from Japan! Let's shine together, with anime!

Furua, new companion of Japan Anime Fest 2026, a fluffy forest spirit with leaf-shaped ears

Meet Furua!

フルア / ふるあ / Furua / فروع

New Official Companion of Japan Anime Fest 2026 in Bahrain

His name carries the softness of nature within it. In Arabic, “فروع” means branches or twigs. In Japanese, “ふるあ” evokes gentle movement and the fluffy, bouncy feeling of nature itself. Together, they shape a gentle forest spirit connecting the softness of nature with the magic of Japan Anime Fest.

With fluffy, moss-like fur, leaf-shaped ears symbolising new growth, and a round, adorable shape, Furua is gentle, playful, and endlessly curious, carrying warmth wherever he goes. He accompanies visitors through stories of family bonds, friendship, growth, and nature, one of this year's key festival themes.

He is never alone. A cheerful group of playful forest spirits joins him, each inspired by the beauty and diversity of nature. Together, they explore, discover new adventures, and learn the value of friendship, kindness, and protecting the natural world.

Let's grow, explore, and discover the magic of anime together with Furua and the playful forest spirits!

Why attend

5 Reasons Not to Miss It

Enjoy a carefully curated lineup of eight Japanese animated films, all with English subtitles. This year features two films from acclaimed director Makoto Shinkai: The Place Promised in Our Early Days and 5 Centimeters per Second. The lineup also spans family favourites like Sumikkogurashi: The Movie, Chieri and Cherry, and Crayon Shin-chan, plus the adventurous Miyori in the Sacred Forest. Back by popular demand: Okko's Inn and Ride Your Wave. There's something for every anime lover.

This year's selection is designed to resonate. Many films explore healing, acceptance, and connection, especially for those who feel isolated. Watch characters find belonging through community, offering messages of hope and resilience.

Anime is for everyone. Our lineup includes films perfect for families and young children. This year's festival spans two venues, Epix Cinemas and Bahrain Polytechnic, making it easier than ever to join us.

An underlying theme this year is preserving our forests and natural environment. Several films gently inspire reflection on our relationship with nature, making the festival both artistic and thoughtful.

Our beloved mascot Sana is back, guiding you through the festival with her warmth and hope. Joining her this year is a brand new Forest Spirit character, Furua, adding extra charm and personality to the event.

With an incredible film lineup, moving themes, family-friendly options, convenient venues, a nature-conscious spirit, and charming mascots, Japan Anime Fest 2026 in Bahrain is an unmissable experience for anime fans, families, and anyone seeking inspiration and connection.

Spotlight

Makoto Shinkai

Architect of Longing & Modern Anime Legend

Some storytellers capture what happens between people. Makoto Shinkai captures what lingers in the space between them, the distance, the longing, the quiet ache of hearts that almost meet. It’s this signature that made him a visionary force in modern Japanese animation, celebrated worldwide for Your Name., Weathering With You, and Suzume.

His visuals are breathtaking and hyper-realistic, his skies luminous, his emotions unmistakably human. But to understand where this mastery began, look further back. In The Place Promised in Our Early Days and 5 Centimeters per Second, two early masterpieces, Shinkai first explored the themes that would define his career: love stretched thin by distance, and beauty found in the moments in between.

Stay Connected

Learn More & Stay Connected

Want to know what’s coming next? Follow the Embassy of Japan in Bahrain on social media for the latest Japan Anime Fest 2026 announcements, screening updates, activities, and more!

Follow us & don’t miss a moment!

@japan_embassy_bahrain

About the Fest

Press & announcements

Coming soon: Press releases and official media coverage of the Anime Fest.