The franchise is active with a new SOUND THEATRE production and a September 2026 Animate Fair featuring original Exorcist-themed illustrations.
The Natsume's Book of Friends franchise has two new developments in mid-2026. The Animate Fair, running September 12 to September 27, 2026, introduces a new illustration theme called "Exorcist ver.," featuring Takashi Natsume, Nyanko-sensei, Shuichi Natori, and Seiji Matoba. The fair offers exclusive merchandise including trading can badges, acrylic stands, and keychains, with purchase bonuses available. Reservations opened on June 18, 2026.
Separately, the franchise returns to the SOUND THEATRE format with a musical reading play titled "SOUND THEATRE×Natsume's Book of Friends ~Summer Haze of the Sound Drama Chapter~." This is the first new SOUND THEATRE production for the series in about eight years. The evening performance will be live streamed via U-NEXT with a limited-time archive, and additional after-talk panelists, venue merchandise, and acrylic stand advance sale details were announced.
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The evening performance of the musical reading play "SOUND THEATRE×Natsume's Book of Friends ~Summer Haze of the Sound Drama Chapter~" will be live streamed. Additional after-talk panelists, venue merchandise, and acrylic stand advance sale details were also announced. The stream is available via U-NEXT with a limited-time archive.
An Animate Fair for Natsume's Book of Friends will run from September 12 to September 27, 2026, at Animate stores nationwide and online. The event features newly drawn "Exorcist ver." illustrations of Takashi Natsume, Nyanko-sensei, Shuichi Natori, and Seiji Matoba. Limited goods include trading can badges, acrylic stands, keychains, and purchase bonuses. Reservations opened June 18, 2026.