Steel Ball Run Gets Anime Expo Special Panel With Yugo Kanno Live Performance July 3

Warner Bros. Japan has announced a special panel for Steel Ball Run at Anime Expo 2026. The event takes place on Friday, July 3 at 12:30 PM inside Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, running through 1:50 PM, and will feature composer Yugo Kanno in a live performance.

Panel Guests and Live Performance

Yugo Kanno, the celebrated composer behind the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise's iconic soundtracks, headlines the panel with a live musical performance. Joining him on stage are English voice actors Daman Mills, the voice of protagonist Johnny Joestar, and Kaiji Tang, who voices fan-favorite deuteragonist Gyro Zeppeli. The panel will also include a talk session with the guests, giving attendees a rare chance to hear directly from the creative talent shaping the anime's English adaptation.

Kanno's involvement is particularly noteworthy. His compositions have defined the sonic identity of the JoJo's anime franchise for years, from the dramatic battle themes of Stardust Crusaders to the atmospheric scores of Golden Wind. Hearing his Steel Ball Run work performed live at Crypto.com Arena a venue typically reserved for major concerts and sporting events underscores the scale Warner Bros. Japan is aiming for with this panel.

Steel Ball Run 2nd Stage on the Horizon

The Anime Expo appearance comes ahead of the fall 2026 premiere of Steel Ball Run: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 2nd Stage. The anime adapts the seventh story arc of Hirohiko Araki's long-running manga, set in the 1890s during a cross-country horse race spanning the breadth of North America. The story follows paraplegic jockey Johnny Joestar as he partners with the enigmatic Italian horseman Gyro Zeppeli to compete in the Steel Ball Run race, a grueling contest with a fifty-million-dollar prize at stake.

With the 2nd Stage title confirming the story's continuation, this panel could offer fresh details about what lies ahead for the anime's next chapter. The official announcement teased that more news is forthcoming, suggesting additional reveals may be saved for the stage itself.

Beyond the Panel: Booth and Additional Events

Attendees at Anime Expo 2026 will find more Steel Ball Run content beyond the main panel. A dedicated booth on the show floor will feature themed displays, photo opportunities, and other special activities tied to the franchise. Warner Bros. Japan Anime is also hosting a separate 15th anniversary industry panel on July 4, featuring voice actors Laura Post and Damien Haas, broadening its footprint across the convention weekend.

Admission to the Steel Ball Run panel requires an Anime Expo 2026 badge. Prospective attendees should check the official Anime Expo website for ticketing details, as panels inside Crypto.com Arena have historically drawn massive crowds for high-profile anime properties.

What This Means for JoJo Fans

The Anime Expo panel represents one of the most prominent English-language events for Steel Ball Run to date, pairing the franchise's musical pedigree with its English voice cast in a major arena setting. With the 2nd Stage premiere approaching in fall 2026, the July 3 event is positioned as a pivotal moment for building anticipation among Western audiences ahead of the anime's next phase.