TL;DR, Anime Expo will screen the U.S. premiere of Sparks of Tomorrow ahead of the series streaming on Netflix worldwide July 5. Frieren season 2 staff, including director Tomoya Kitagawa, will appear at a July 4 panel.
S. premiere screening of the Sparks of Tomorrow TV anime on July 5 in Los Angeles. S.
premiere arrives the same weekend the series begins its broadcast in Japan and exclusive Netflix rollout.
Anime Expo will screen Sparks of Tomorrow’s U.S. premiere
Anime Expo confirmed it will host the Sparks of Tomorrow screening Anime Expo attendees have been waiting for, presenting the U.S. premiere on July 5 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The showing lines up with the title’s first broadcast and streaming start in Japan that weekend, anchoring a packed holiday schedule for the convention.
Organizers also mapped out a slate of marquee events beyond the premiere. Highlights include a July 4 panel for Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End season 2 with core staff, live music showcases across J-POP and Vocaloid, and a rare Macross screening with an accompanying panel.
- U.S. premiere: Sparks of Tomorrow screens at Anime Expo on July 5, billed as the Anime Expo Sparks of Tomorrow U.S. premiere.
- Frieren staff panel: July 4 at 6:00 p.m., JW Marriott Platinum Ballroom, featuring season 2 creatives.
- Acky Bright: The manga artist and illustrator will appear as an Acky Bright Anime Expo guest during the show.
- Vocaloid showcase: “JAPAN MUSIC VOCALOID Powered by DWANGO” on July 4 with Hachiōji-P, kz (Livetune), picco, SatapanP, and TeddyLoid. Entry is included with badges.
- Concert lineup: ALI, Yōko Kanno, Roselia, SPYAIR, and Yoko Takahashi at J-POP SOUND CAPSULE @ AX 2026.
- Macross film: The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? gets its first official North American screening on July 5 at 12:00 p.m. PDT.
- Macross panel: BIGWEST hosts a franchise panel on July 2 at 1:00 p.m. PDT.
- Dates and venue: Anime Expo 2026 runs July 2, 5 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
- Guest slate: Anime Expo 2026 guests also include visiting musicians and creators across multiple stages and panels.
- Context: The premiere complements the series’ Japan TV debut and Netflix schedule, giving U.S. attendees an early big-screen look.
When and where to watch Sparks of Tomorrow
The Sparks of Tomorrow anime release date is July 5. m. m.
JST. The show will also broadcast on ABC TV and TV Aichi, aligning its weekly slot across multiple networks for broader regional reach.
Streaming is exclusive worldwide on Netflix. m. JST, with new episodes following the Sunday schedule.
For viewers outside Japan, local availability and exact timing reflect regional time zone differences and Netflix territory settings.
- Premiere date: Sparks of Tomorrow July 5 premiere across TV and streaming, as announced by official convention and series channels.
- Tokyo MX: Sundays at 11:00 p.m. JST, starting July 5. This is the earliest listed TV slot.
- BS11: Sundays at 11:30 p.m. JST, offering a same-night second window for late viewers.
- ABC TV and TV Aichi: Additional Japanese broadcasts carry the series on Sundays. Local station schedules may vary slightly by region.
- Netflix worldwide: Sparks of Tomorrow anime Netflix launch begins Sunday, July 5 at 11:00 p.m. JST, exclusive to the service.
- Time zones: Netflix episodes unlock at the listed JST time globally. Your region’s calendar day may shift depending on the offset.
- Story backdrop: The original novel is set in Kyoto, summer 1907, following Inako Momokawa and a freewheeling youth, Kihachi Sakamoto, in an era turning to electricity.
- Convention tie-in: The Anime Expo Sparks of Tomorrow U.S. premiere complements the broadcast start, giving attendees a first stateside screening.
Which Frieren staff and guests will appear at Anime Expo
Fans will hear directly from the creative leaders of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End season 2 at Anime Expo 2026. The Anime Expo Frieren panel is set for July 4 at 6:00 p.m. in the JW Marriott Platinum Ballroom. Organizers confirmed four staff members from the new season will attend:
- Season 2 director Tomoya Kitagawa
- Supporting director Keiichirō Saitō
- Animation producer Yuichiro Fukushi
- Character designer Keisuke Kojima
Tomoya Kitagawa Anime Expo appearance headlines the session, with Saitō, Fukushi, and Kojima joining him for the panel. The event will also host manga artist and illustrator Acky Bright.
m. on Tokyo MX and at 11:30 on BS11. The series will also air on ABC TV and TV Aichi.
m. JST. The original novel takes place in the summer of 1907 in Kyoto’s Fushimi area and follows 15-year-old Inako Momokawa, the second daughter of a sake brewer, who meets Kihachi Sakamoto, a freewheeling young man who rejects the gods and praises the age of electricity.
S. premiere screening is not yet confirmed by the convention.
Anime Expo 2026 will take place from July 2 to 5 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. m. and features Tomoya Kitagawa, Keiichirō Saitō, Yuichiro Fukushi, and Keisuke Kojima.
Across the weekend, the show will host JAPAN MUSIC VOCALOID Powered by DWANGO on July 4 with guest performers Hachiōji-P, kz (Livetune), picco, SatapanP, and TeddyLoid. Entry is included with Anime Expo credentials, and no separate ticket is required. The event will also screen The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?
m. m. PDT.
Details were shared on Anime Expo’s X and Instagram pages.
Source: ANN