Love Live! Series Official Card Game Ignites Akihabara with “Loveca Thanksgiving,” Unveiling Major Updates and Future Horizons

“Loveca Thanksgiving” Delivers Thrills and Major Announcements for Love Live! Series Fans

Akihabara recently buzzed with excitement as the “Loveca Thanksgiving” event unfolded across two venues, Belle Salle Akihabara and Akiba Square, on February 21st and 22nd, 2026. This special occasion celebrated a dual milestone: the 15th anniversary of the beloved Love Live! Series and the 1st anniversary of the Love Live! Series Official Card Game, affectionately known as “Loveca.” The event drew a massive turnout, immersing attendees in a vibrant atmosphere filled with stage presentations, unique exhibitions, and a flurry of new information.

Stage Highlights: New Music, Products, and Grand Events Revealed

The stages at “Loveca Thanksgiving” were a focal point, bringing together voice actors from various Love Live! units to share groundbreaking news.

Day 1: A Wave of Fresh Content

February 21st saw μ’s’ Riho Iida (Rin Hoshizora) and AiScReam’s Ai Furihata (Ruby Kurosawa), Aguri Onishi (Ayumu Uehara), and Wakana Okuma (Shiki Wakana) take the stage.

Among the initial revelations was the digital single release date for AiScReam’s Loveca theme song, “NEXT CARD.” This track, performed by the newly formed special unit featuring Ayumu Uehara (CV: Aguri Onishi), Shiki Wakana (CV: Wakana Okuma), Ceras Yanagida Lilienfeld (CV: Miwa Miyake), and Mai Azabu (CV: Rina Endo), is set to launch on May 23rd, 2026 (Saturday), with a lyric video also planned.

Later, Aqours’ Shuka Saito (You Watanabe) and Ai Furihata (Ruby Kurosawa), alongside Hasunosora Jogakuin School Idol Club’s Kanon Sugata (Rurino Osawa) and Rin Kurusu (Hime Sugawara), shared more exciting news.

1. New Product: Booster Pack “MELLOW MOMENT”
   The 7th booster pack for Loveca is slated for release on August 8th, 2026 (Saturday). This pack will predominantly feature cards from Aqours, Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, and Liella!, with newly drawn illustrations of Hanamaru Kunikida, Setsuna Yuki, and Chisato Arashi gracing the package. Many new summer-themed cards are also expected. For more details, visit the product page.

   

2. Loveca Collaboration Stickers in Link! Like! Love Live! App
   To commemorate Mirakuru Park!’s appearance at Loveca Thanksgiving, a special “WAWO!” Pack is available in the Link! Like! Love Live! app until March 3rd, 2026 (Tuesday), 3:59 AM. This pack includes “Loveca Collaboration Stickers” for in-app profile cards and a guaranteed UR ticket. Additionally, the Love Live! Hasunosora Jogakuin School Idol Club Bloom Garden Party movie is set for release on May 8th, 2026 (Friday), with the second round of advance movie tickets now on sale.

   

Later, Nijigasaki High School Idol Club’s Mayu Sagara (Kasumi Nakasu) and Shu Uchida (Mia Taylor), along with Liella!’s Sayuri Date (Kanon Shibuya) and Hana Sakakura (Toma Onitsuka), unveiled further series updates.

1. “LoveLive! Series 15th Anniversary Love Live! Fes” Details
   The highly anticipated joint live concert, celebrating the Love Live! Series’ 15th anniversary, will take place on November 14th (Saturday) and 15th (Sunday), 2026, at Vantelin Dome Nagoya. Details on participating units and performers are available on the official website.

2. 15th Anniversary Merchandise
   Commemorative goods featuring the Love Live! Series 15th-anniversary illustration are now available at the Love Live! Series School Store.

   

Day 2: Dance, Championship, and New Decks

February 22nd kicked off with a vibrant dance stage where 16 enthusiastic fan groups performed, showcasing their deep affection for the Love Live! Series. The venue was filled with cheers and applause for their passionate performances.

Later, Ikizurai-bu!’s Honon Ayasaki (Polka Takahashi), Rina Endo (Mai Azabu), Seri Miyano (Rei Itsukiri), and Kokoro Fujino (Hanabi Komagata) shared updates on Loveca and the Love Live! Series.

1. Ikizuraibu! LOVELIVE! BLUEBIRD Joins Loveca!
   The unit Ikizuraibu! LOVELIVE! BLUEBIRD is officially joining the Loveca universe! Their 2nd Single will include a special Loveca PR card.

   

Following this, μ’s’ Emi Nitta (Honoka Kosaka) and Nijigasaki High School Idol Club’s Mayu Sagara (Kasumi Nakasu) and Akina Houmoto (Lanzhu Zhong) hosted the final stage, which featured the thrilling conclusion of the first-ever Loveca world tournament, “LoveLive! Masters Tournament.”

After intense battles involving over 8,000 participants since the preliminary rounds began in August 2025, the grand champion was decided. The final match between Umitsuki-san and Bluriba-san culminated in Umitsuki-san being crowned the inaugural Loveca world champion! The champion received a custom-made trophy and a PR card personally signed by Emi Nitta.

An exhibition match between the champion and Akina Houmoto, the head of the “Loveca Club,” also took place, with Umitsuki-san securing another victory.

To cap off the event, two final announcements were made:

1. Start Deck “Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club cheer”
   The second “Start Deck” featuring only cards from Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club will be released on August 8th, 2026 (Saturday). This pre-constructed deck allows new players to jump straight into battles. Find more details on the product page.

   

2. Premium Booster “Love Live! DUO”
   The second “Premium Booster” exclusively featuring Love Live! cards will launch on September 26th, 2026 (Saturday). The two members adorning the package illustration will be determined by a fan poll with the theme “Which members suit autumn?” Fans are encouraged to cast their votes on the poll page. More information is available on the product page.

   

Engaging Activities and Immersive Experiences

“Loveca Thanksgiving” was more than just announcements; it was a festival of interaction and play.

• Trio Tournament: A unique three-person team tournament offered the last chance to qualify for the “LoveLive! Masters Tournament” finals. The “Tohoku QU4RTZ” team emerged victorious and advanced.
  

• How-to-Play Class: For newcomers curious about Loveca, dedicated classes provided a step-by-step introduction to the game’s rules.
  

• Team Pack Opening! 2-Pack Loveca: A new team-based event where 12-person teams opened two Loveca packs each. The team with the most specified cards won entry into a special lottery for luxurious prizes, including cast-signed goods.
  

• Expanded 1BOX Live! Thanksgiving Ver.: Participants each opened a box of the Loveca “Booster Pack Anniversary 2026,” which was pre-released at the event, with the winner receiving cast-signed merchandise.
  

Akihabara Transformed: A Town-Wide Celebration

The festivities extended beyond the main venues, transforming Akihabara into a Love Live! wonderland.

• Exhibitions: Displays featured standees of all 50 members using the Loveca Thanksgiving original artwork, a timeline tracing the 15-year history of the Love Live! Series, and Loveca card exhibitions.
  
  

• Stamp Rally: Five stamp stations were set up across Akihabara. Those who completed the rally received a “Half Deck Aqours” as a prize.
  

• Kitchen Car: The Uranohoshi Girls’ High School Kitchen Car made a special appearance near Akihabara and Kanda Myojin Shrine, offering “Loveca Thanksgiving Commemorative Drinks” with limited-edition novelties and panel displays.
  

• Banner Displays: Fifty different member-specific banners, featuring the Loveca Thanksgiving original illustration, were displayed at 35 stores around Akihabara.
  

• Coaster Distribution: Five stores in Akihabara distributed original coasters and displayed panels featuring the “Booster Pack Anniversary 2026” artwork.
  

• Akiba Shopping Campaign: Shoppers at 51 participating Akihabara stores received postcards with lottery tickets, offering a chance to win prizes.

Exclusive Merchandise and Future Outlook

The event also featured an extensive merchandise area with numerous new and pre-sale items.

• Loveca Pre-sales: Three upcoming products, the “Booster Pack Anniversary 2026,” “Start Deck Love Live! Sunshine!!,” and “Start Deck Love Live! Hasunosora Jogakuin School Idol Club,” were available for early purchase.

• Puchitto! Early Release: “Puchitto! Love Live! Hasunosora Jogakuin School Idol Club vol.1/vol.2,” scheduled for April and May 2026, were also available early.

Many other goods, including those featuring the Loveca Thanksgiving artwork and card supplies, were sold. Some items are also available for purchase online at the Bushiroad Store.

“The energy from the attendees was palpable, creating an unforgettable anniversary celebration!” one event organizer noted, reflecting the success of the two-day festival. The Love Live! Series Official Card Game is clearly gaining momentum, and fans are encouraged to continue following its exciting developments. For more information, visit the Love Live! Series Official Card Game website and its official X account.

The Love Live! Series, celebrating its 15th anniversary, continues to expand globally, with new anime projects, live events, and the engaging card game bringing its school idol story to a growing international audience. The “Loveca Thanksgiving” event not only honored its past achievements but also brightly illuminated the path for its future, promising even more captivating experiences for fans worldwide.