Microwave energy and in situ stress cooperatively influence the permeability of coal reservoirs in microwave-assisted coalbed methane (CBM) extraction. In this study, the combined influence of microwave energy and load on the failure characteristics of coal reservoirs was investigated using acoustic emission (AE) technology. The failure characteristics of anthracite derived from microwave irradiation during uniaxial compression was analyzed from aspects such as the correlation dimension (D) of the AE time series, b-value, and AF–RA correlation. Then the combined mechanism of microwave energy and in situ stress was explored. The results indicated that microwave energy significantly affected the AE activity of anthracite under loading. Moreover, microwave irradiation lessened the damage intensity and increased the crush degree during loading. After low-energy microwave (≤ 90 kJ) irradiation, the AE signals of anthracite were active only in the unstable crack growth stage, with less damage under load, and mainly characterized by the rapid expansion of large fractures. In contrast, after high-energy microwave (> 90 kJ) irradiation, AE signals penetrate the entire loading process, and the required energy for damage decreased, mostly manifested as small-scale microcracks. Additionally, microwave irradiation changed the failure mode of anthracite under loading from shear failure to tensile failure. In summary, microwave thermal effect reduced the stress threshold for fracture propagation by improving the physical structure of coal reservoirs. Cracks initiated by microwave irradiation could cause in situ stress redistribution, forming stress reduction areas and stress concentration areas, thereby accelerating the expansion of fracture networks. Therefore, the results of this study have great significance for optimizing the scheme of microwave-assisted CBM extraction and improving the CBM production rate through effective utilization of in situ stress.