Pompompurin Wins Again in 2026 Sanrio Character Ranking Results
The latest results from the 2026 Sanrio Character Ranking poll are here, and Pompompurin has claimed the top spot for the second year in a row. Early April’s preliminary standings had Cinnamoroll sitting at number one, but over the next two months, the Golden Retriever fan favorite surged ahead to take first place. This year’s popularity contest also marks the poll’s 41st run, with voters choosing from 90 beloved characters. Alongside the usual household names—such as Hello Kitty, My Melody, and Pochacco—several familiar faces also landed inside the top 10.
How Sanrio’s Characters Became a Global Obsession
Sanrio’s story starts far from the modern world of cute mascots. The company was originally founded in Tokyo in 1960 as a silk business. Over time, it shifted toward the kawaii identity it’s known for today, and founder Shintaro Tsuji quickly realized that adding character designs to products could drive more sales.
Even with how iconic Hello Kitty is, the character wasn’t actually the first to appear. While many people assume Hello Kitty was the original star, the earliest Sanrio character was Coro Chan, introduced in 1973. By 2026, Sanrio has produced more than 450 characters overall, though most of them remain relatively unknown outside Japan. Still, the 2026 US rankings suggest that could be starting to change, with a few newer characters gaining more attention from overseas audiences.
Pompompurin Wins Again as the 2026 Ranking Reveals Its Top Winners
The 2026 Sanrio Character Ranking results were formally announced at Sanrio Fes 2026 in Yokohama, Japan on June 28. In total, more than 70 million votes were cast, and the top three overall winners are Pompompurin, Cinnamoroll, and Pochacco.
The ranking shifts a bit when you look specifically at the United States vote. In that regional breakdown, Chococat secured third place. US Sanrio fans also pushed U*SA*HA*NA into 4th place, even though the character’s overall ranking ended up at 17th. The last three positions were filled by SWEETCORON, Pannapitta, and Sportingbears.
- Overall top three: Pompompurin, Cinnamoroll, Pochacco
- US-specific adjustments: Chococat took third in the US vote, while U*SA*HA*NA reached 4th in the US breakdown (17th overall)
- Final three places: SWEETCORON, Pannapitta, Sportingbears
Top 10 Highlights, New Momentum, and Crossovers in Games and Pop Culture
Kuromi and My Melody also made appearances in the top 10. Their rise is likely boosted by the recently released My Melody & Kuromi Netflix series. Seeing Pochacco and Kerokerokeroppi close to the upper tier doesn’t come as a surprise, but Hangyodon and Tuxedosam scoring heavily is more unexpected. Hangyodon, in particular, is known for one of the more polarizing designs in Sanrio’s roster.
This year also happens to be the 30th anniversary of Pompompurin, which may help explain how the character secured the Grand Prize once again.
Sanrio’s popularity isn’t just sticking to merch and social media—it’s also expanding deeper into video games. In 2023, Hello Kitty Island Adventure launched on mobile platforms. However, it was the game’s 2025 release on Nintendo Switch, PC, and PlayStation 5 that pushed it into a bigger spotlight and helped it grow rapidly.
The life-simulation experience, often compared to Animal Crossing , lets players team up with their favorite Sanrio personalities to solve puzzles, complete quests, and build the island of their dreams. On top of that, Switch and Switch 2 players have more coming, since Hello Kitty Party Land is scheduled to release on October 29, 2026.
Sanrio’s crossover energy isn’t limited to games. Some fans have also noticed that a collaboration between Jujutsu Kaisen and Sanrio somehow works surprisingly well.
Real-World Partnerships and a Racing Event Spotlight
Sanrio and its characters also continue popping up in unexpected partnerships. In early June, Honda and Sanrio announced the SMILE RIDER PROJECT, a program designed to promote motorsports, motorcycles, and traffic safety. The collaboration’s centerpiece is the 47th Coca-Cola Suzuka Eight Hours Endurance Road Race, scheduled for Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, Japan on July 5, 2026.
