Higurashi no Naku Koro ni 20th Anniversary Marathon Stream on Nico Nico Live for ‘Cotton Drifting Day’ 2026

“You liar!” — The tragic night of the Cotton Drifting Festival returns once more. To mark the 20th anniversary of the TV anime Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, a special marathon stream of the entire series will air live on Nico Nico Live Broadcast (Nicobon) over two weekends starting June 13, 2026.

What Is Higurashi no Naku Koro ni?

Based on the sound novel by Ryukishi07, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni is a suspenseful mystery set in the remote mountain village of Hinamizawa during June 1983. Each year, the village’s traditional Watanagashi (Cotton Drifting) festival is followed by a bizarre string of deaths and disappearances — the “Hinamizawa Serial Murder Cases.” The first season aired in 2006, and its sequel Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai, which unravels the truth behind the incidents, followed in 2007. The series captivated audiences with its shocking twists and a puzzle element famously boasting a “1% correct answer rate.”

Marathon Schedule for 2026

This will be the seventh consecutive year that Nico Nico holds such a marathon centered around the in-universe Watanagashi date (the third or fourth Sunday of June). This year’s actual Watanagashi falls on June 21, so the broadcasts are timed accordingly:

• Season 1 (episodes 1–13): June 13 (Saturday), 19:00–24:35 JST
• Season 1 (episodes 14–26): June 14 (Sunday), 19:00–24:15 JST

• Season 2 (episodes 1–12): June 20 (Saturday), 19:00–24:15 JST
• Season 2 (episodes 13–24): June 21 (Sunday), 15:00–20:15 JST

All streams are free to watch without registration, and time-shift viewing is available for seven days after each broadcast.

Over the years, related keywords have trended on X (formerly Twitter) around the Watanagashi date, proving that even two decades after its premiere, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni continues to captivate fans. This June, join the live comments and relive the horror and mystery of the classic series.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
©2006 Ryukishi07 / Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Production Committee
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai
©2007 Ryukishi07 / Hinamizawa Gosanke