BML2026 unites China’s biggest anime-style game franchises in landmark ACGN concert
SHANGHAI: Bilibili has set a new milestone for China’s anime, comics, games and novels (ACGN) industry after successfully staging BILIBILI MACRO LINK-PLAY! 2026 (BML2026), the first large-scale concert to bring together the country’s leading anime-style gaming franchises on a single stage.
Held at the Hong Arena (East Hall) of the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, the event concluded on July 12 after attracting overwhelming support from fans both on-site and online, underscoring the growing influence of live entertainment within China’s gaming ecosystem.
Organised by Bilibili, BML2026 built on the legacy of the BILIBILI MACRO LINK (BML) concert series, which has evolved over the past 14 years from a community-driven gathering into one of China’s flagship ACGN entertainment events.
This year’s edition introduced BML-PLAY!, a new concept dedicated exclusively to anime-style games developed and published in China, creating an unprecedented platform for some of the industry’s biggest intellectual properties to appear together.
The concert featured performances inspired by seven of China’s most recognisable anime-style game franchises, including Honkai: Star Rail, Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, Azur Lane, Wuthering Waves, Arknights, and Arknights: Endfield.
Industry observers described the collaboration as a significant moment for the sector, as competing publishers that typically cultivate separate fan communities came together for a single live production, placing fan engagement ahead of commercial competition.
By uniting multiple blockbuster franchises under one roof, BML2026 delivered a rare cross-brand celebration that highlighted the continued growth and maturity of China’s anime-style gaming industry.
The event generated extraordinary demand even before ticket sales officially opened, with more than 110,000 fans completing advance registrations through the Bilibili platform.
Tickets were subsequently sold out within a very short period, reflecting the strong enthusiasm surrounding the first-of-its-kind gathering.
Beyond the physical venue, BML2026 also recorded remarkable digital engagement through a simultaneous livestream broadcast on Bilibili.
According to the company, the online broadcast reached a peak concurrent audience of approximately 45 million viewers, making it one of the platform’s largest live entertainment events of the year.
One of the concert’s defining moments came during the finale titled “LINK START!”, which featured a specially arranged orchestral and symphonic performance combining signature soundtracks from all seven featured games.
Structured across four thematic chapters, the musical finale blended iconic compositions from each franchise into a unified performance that celebrated the diversity and creativity of China’s anime-style gaming culture.
The performance received widespread praise from viewers, many describing it as one of the concert’s standout highlights.
Fans expressed appreciation for the seamless integration of music from different franchises, noting that the collaboration represented an experience rarely seen within the gaming industry.
Since its inception, the BML concert series has expanded significantly alongside the rapid growth of China’s ACGN community, evolving from a niche fan gathering into one of the country’s most influential cultural entertainment brands.
Bilibili said the continued popularity of BML demonstrates the enduring value of live experiences that bring together communities through music, gaming and shared interests.
The company also believes that large-scale live productions are becoming an increasingly important avenue for game developers and publishers to extend the value of their intellectual properties beyond traditional gameplay by creating immersive fan experiences and strengthening long-term community engagement.
As China’s ACGN industry continues to diversify its commercial and entertainment ecosystem, Bilibili said BML2026 offers a sustainable model that combines live performances, digital interaction and cross-franchise collaboration, setting a new benchmark for future events within the rapidly expanding sector.
