Hello Kitty Loses Sanrio's Official Ranking 7 Years In A Row

Published Jun 29, 2026, 2:07 PM EDT

Hannah is a senior writer and self-publisher for the anime section at ScreenRant. There, she focuses on writing news, features, and list-style articles about all things anime and manga. She works as a freelance writer in the entertainment industry, focusing on video games, anime, and literature.

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The 2026 Sanrio Character Ranking delivered another record-breaking year for the annual competition. Fans around the globe cast 70,647,379 votes, which is a 12% increase over the previous year, making it the largest poll in the event's 41-year history. While Hello Kitty was still in the top five, the race for first place belonged to another longtime Sanrio favorite celebrating a milestone year.

Pompompurin Extends His Winning Streak During a Record-Breaking Year

Pompompurin claimed first place with 7,135,114 votes, successfully defending the crown he captured in 2025. The cheerful Golden Retriever mascot earned his fifth overall Sanrio Character Ranking victory and second consecutive championship, making his 30th anniversary celebration even more memorable. Fans ultimately pushed him ahead of Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, and others after a tightly contested voting period.

The competition remained close throughout the event. Cinnamoroll, who dominated the rankings with five straight victories from 2020 through 2024, finished second with 6,313,623 votes after leading the initial results. Pochacco rounded out the podium in third with 3,967,689 votes, while Kuromi placed fourth ahead of Hello Kitty in fifth.

1. Pompompurin
2. Cinnamoroll
3. Pochacco
4. Kuromi
5. Hello Kitty
6. Pekkle
7. My Melody
8. Tuxedo Sam
9. Hangyodon
10. Little Twin Stars (Kiki and Lala)

The remainder of the top ten featured several familiar Sanrio favorites. Pekkle climbed to sixth, followed by My Melody, Tuxedo Sam, Hangyodon, and Little Twin Stars. Internationally, Pompompurin also proved his global appeal by finishing first across nine countries and regions, while Cinnamoroll topped the rankings in four.

Hello Kitty's Legacy Remains Untouchable Despite Another Fifth-Place Finish

Custom Image by Hannah Diffey

Although Hello Kitty's seventh consecutive year without a championship may surprise casual fans, it hardly diminishes her historical dominance. She remains the most decorated character in Sanrio Character Ranking history, capturing 12 straight titles from 1998 through 2009 before adding two more victories in 2012 and 2013. No other mascot has matched that sustained success.

This year's ranking was part of Sanrio Character Ranking 2026, which ran from April 9 to May 24 under the theme "You all try! We all cheer! Smiling ovation!" Fans voted among 90 eligible characters, with the final results unveiled during Sanrio Fes 2026 in Yokohama through a bilingual livestream watched by audiences worldwide.

Even if the annual popularity contest no longer belongs to Hello Kitty, the character continues to headline some of Sanrio's biggest projects. In 2026 alone, she has remained front and center through ongoing updates for Hello Kitty Island Adventure, the upcoming Sanrio Party Land for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, and major collaborations with brands including Crocs, Pop Mart's Labubu, Converse, Razer, and CoComelon. The rankings may have changed, but Hello Kitty's influence across gaming, fashion, and pop culture remains stronger than ever.

TV Show(s) Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater (1987), Hello Kitty and Friends (1989), Hello Kitty's Paradise (1999), Growing Up With Hello Kitty (2001), Hello Kitty's Animation Theater (2001), Hello Kitty's Stump Village (2005), Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori (2006), The Adventures of Hello Kitty & Friends (2008), The World of Hello Kitty (2016), Hello Kitty & Friends - Let's Learn Together (2017), Hello Kitty Channel (2018), Gundam vs Hello Kitty, Hello Kitty Fun (2019), Hello Kitty and Friends Supercute Adventures (2020), Hello Kitty: Super Style! (2022)

First Film Hello Kitty: Cinderella (1989)

First TV Show Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater (1987)

Cast Megumi Hayashibara, Karen Bernstein, Tara Strong, Sam Vincent, Elizabeth Daily, Cree Summer, Ian James Corlett, Lisa Wilhoit

Created by Yuko Shimizu