Hello Kitty Loses to Cinnamoroll! The Winner of 'Sanrio's Most Popular Character' Is Him: Pudding Dog Sweeps 7 Million Votes with Adorable Image

The results of the highly anticipated '2026 Sanrio Character Grand Prix' have been officially announced. Among 90 competing characters, Pudding Dog—the golden retriever celebrating his 30th anniversary—garnered over 7 million votes, claiming the championship of the 41st edition.

Total votes reached 70,647,379, setting a new all-time high. Despite Sanrio's past controversy involving improper executive compensation at a subsidiary, public interest and fan loyalty remain strong, with total votes rising 12% compared to the previous year.

Pudding Dog's victory marks his fifth career win since his 1996 debut. His laid-back, friendly personality has deeply resonated with fans, and the 30th-anniversary milestone sparked widespread grassroots fan campaigns, driving his vote count.

The race was intense. In the initial first-round report, Cinnamoroll—five-time consecutive champion—led early. However, Pudding Dog surged in the mid-ranking phase and ultimately won by a margin of approximately 820,000 votes. His popularity extended overseas, securing first place in 9 out of 14 voting regions.

On announcement day, Pudding Dog joyfully spun on stage at the Yokohama Pacifico and exclaimed, 'Wow! Did I really come in first? Amazing! Thank you all so much for your incredible support!'

Last year's champion, Cinnamoroll, took second place with 6,313,623 votes, outpacing third place by over 2.3 million votes—demonstrating his solid fan base. He led in four countries including China and Brazil, forming a clear 'two-horse race' with Pudding Dog.

Third to fifth places were claimed by Pochacco, Kuromi (with around 3 million votes), and Hello Kitty, respectively, in a tightly contested race.

The biggest surprise was Pekkle, jumping to 6th place. First introduced in 1989, this classic character re-entered the top 10 in 2025 after a 31-year absence and continued rising this year with approximately 3.03 million votes, advancing significantly from 10th last year.

The strong performances of Pekkle and Pochacco reflect a resurgence of 1980s–1990s classic characters among younger audiences. Four out of six members from the retro boy group 'HAPIDANBUI' made it into the top 10, thanks to active social media engagement and real-world events that successfully reached Gen Z.

For Sanrio, the 'Character Grand Prix' is more than a popularity contest—it's a key metric for evaluating IP development success. The company has long pursued a strategy of diversification, reducing reliance on Hello Kitty and cultivating multiple stars like Kuromi, Cinnamoroll, and Pudding Dog.

Data shows the top 10 characters in 2026 received about 38.23 million votes, accounting for 54% of the total—down from 57% in 2016—indicating a more distributed and mature IP ecosystem. In its medium-term plan ending March 2027, Sanrio aims to expand licensing, digital content, and gaming to further enrich its IP portfolio.