Top 20 Best AV Models in 2026

Japan has seen great success with its AV industry, and today JAV videos are highly regarded among domestic and international fans alike. The AV actresses are not simply adult models but also idols who have loyal fan bases and adoring fans. Many girls step on the scene every month, and some of them see great success.

The true stars don't rely simply on their looks but cultivate a strong brand name and engage with fans through social media and other venues. We will be doing annual ranks of the top twenty AV models every year, and this list will be updated accordingly.

This ranking will take into account success, prevalence, search demand, and other small factors that help elevate a model from a simple name into a star.

You might also recognise her by her former stage name, Momona Kito. Yua is a rare case in the AV industry, as previously she already had a great fan base from her time with the SKE48 idol group. She had brought her most loyal fans into her AV debut, which marked her first scene with the S1 AV group. She started her work in 2015, and her debut film Princess Peach became the best-selling AV of that year, and retired in 2023 with her incredible farewell film. Despite this, she remains popular even in 2025 and maintains almost a legendary status among old fans and new fans alike. Part of her success lies in her strong AV list and incredible acting, while the other part is based on her initiative.

While she started as any AV actress, Yua had always prioritised networking and establishing herself as her own brand name. This made her distinct from other idols who fell to the backside. Yua could stand alone both among the domestic and international fan base. She has personal projects under her name, and even relied on her experience in the music industry to carry out music projects. All of this has allowed Yua to transition from active work and still maintain great commercial success. While many AV stars become forgotten after retiring, Yua still shines years after releasing her farewell tape. She stands as a true example of the success AV models can achieve.

Saika has a storied history. Her exclusive AV debut was with the S1 group in 2018, but she retired just a year later. She made a comeback in 2021, and she has been active even today. Saika is most well-known for her exclusive romance series as well as certain anniversary collections. She is a perfect example of how an AV idol can go through a reboot or rebrand and emerge more successful than she was prior. The circumstances around her break are unique. Saika's absence from the industry for years built up an interest among fans, who were hoping that she would come back. This dormant fan interest allowed her reboot to be an absolute success.

With the help of the S1 studio, which had done heavy marketing for her initial debut prior, Saika was able to change her position as an AV model and rebrand herself as something new and exciting. The team helped her take advantage of the wave of popularity, and now she has been working for years with great success. She didn't simply strike gold by accident. Both her debut and return were well-planned by a dedicated marketing team that managed to capitalise on fan interest. She was able to restart herself from one type of AV actress into another, better-suited niche, and the results speak for themselves.

Although some fans might recognise her as Miyabi, Maria is one of the more seasoned actresses in the AV industry. Born in 1986, she has worked as an AV model from 2005 to 2015. Although she had stepped off the scene over a decade ago, her name still ranks at the top of the charts. Maria was the first AV idol to truly gain international fame, which turned her into a legendary name that almost every AV fan had searched for. She had a remarkable history, and history is still honoring her. Her Canadian-Japanese heritage gave her a look few AV models at the time could match, which further made her unique. Instead of sticking to the domestic market, Maria had built her brand among foreigners, which had paid off in the long run.

Sora is a predecessor of Maria by a few years (2002–2011), and the two have followed a similar road to success. Instead of sparking a fire in the Western world, Sora became a staple name in the local countries, such as China, but she was a pop culture icon in other Asian countries. This influx of fans still elevates her name into the top charts, which goes to show how large demographics can create the most fans. Sora didn't simply commit herself to AV, she had also gone outside the box to become more mainstream.

While her colleagues preferred to remain hidden, Sora was frequently seen on live television. This helped her become a public figure, which naturally sparked interest in her name. For her period, this was likely the first instance of social media engagement. She participated in music events and public projects, which made her more than a simple AV actress. By the time she retired, she could still independently do her live projects. Sora is like a flame of chance, but her name had still marked an entire era, and this fame had not faded away.

Ai's career may look short, spanning from 2011–2016, but she managed to make the most out of her brief activity. Ai had participated in multiple award-winning films, and she had cooperated closely with Attackers and Moodyz studios to establish her name. She was the best-selling actress during her career, and she made sure not to stretch her welcome. Without waiting for her fame to die down, Ai had planned a retirement that would leave her fans wishing for more. She had shown that knowing when to back away is a worthy skill, and today she remains a famous name. Many AV models today can still learn a lot from Ai on how to manage fame as a limited resource.

6. Iori Kogawa