2025 has been one of many strongest years for anime in ages, constructing on what’s clearly a brand new Golden Age within the Japanese animation business. With widening viewership, extra entry to anime on streaming, and its reputation rising across the globe, there’s extra sensible anime than ever. From the slice-of-life shonen silliness of Sakamoto Days that took Netflix by storm, to the immense success of Demon Slayer: Infinity Fort, which opened to 80 million {dollars}, 2025 was an epic 12 months for a few of our favourite sequence. However that is a distinct article (take a look at our Finest Anime Sequence of 2025 award); as a substitute, we’re right here to check out our most anticipated anime of 2026 – a 12 months that might probably high 2025 on the subject of iconic releases and anticipated returns.
Impressed by the large success and continued cultural influence of anime, 2026 is stacked with unbelievable new sequence and blockbuster follow-ups, reminiscent of: the sophomore season of Frieren: Past Journey’s Finish, the emotionally-driven fantasy quest that bought everybody speaking; a brand new tackle Ghost within the Shell, one of the crucial seminal anime of all time from top-of-the-line studios working right now; and the extremely anticipated debut of Witch Hat Atelier. And that’s just some examples of the anime that might make 2026 one other unbelievable 12 months.
We’re excited to see which genres blow up, which existential themes stick, and the place the way forward for anime is headed. Who’re our favourite creators? Which manga has been promoting off the charts? What style have we not had successful in for a very long time? We’re taking all of that into consideration as we current our listing of the anime that we won’t wait to look at in 2026!
Frieren: Past Journey’s Finish Season 2
There is a purpose that Frieren: Past Journey’s Finish made our Prime Anime of 2024 listing, and now we’re nearer than ever to lastly discovering out the place our favourite adventuring social gathering is now. Asking what occurs when the warfare is over and the demon king is defeated, this surprisingly existential and all the time improbable twist on the dungeon-raiding anime grew to become an on the spot traditional. The sequence follows the titular immortal elf Frieren as she offers with the lack of her marketing campaign social gathering – Eisen, Himmel and Heiter – with whom she received the warfare. It is solely by way of her friendship and journey with a brand new human apprentice that she begins to come back to phrases together with her loss and what she might have carried out in a different way. That is majestically mature and magical stuff.
Oshi no Ko Season 3
That includes one of the crucial insane and distinctive set-ups ever – a physician and his former affected person are reincarnated as twins born to their favourite pop idol, who’s then murdered – this present is a complete must-watch. A murdery thriller supernatural crime thriller set within the gorgeous panorama of idol stars, Oshi no Ko has been going sturdy because it debuted in 2023. The third season will observe the kids, Aqua and Ruby Hoshino, as they proceed their careers within the leisure business, which can trigger a rift between them to develop. The manga upon which the present is predicated lately ended to a lot controversy, so it’s going to be intriguing to see if the present stays trustworthy to the supply materials or strays from that path.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3
After the stunning occasions of the Shibuya Incident, Season 3 of Jujutsu Kaisen has loads to tackle. There have been tragic deaths, large loss, and surprising team-ups, however the greatest issues that now we have to cope with are the oncoming execution of Yuji and establishing the wild Culling Sport arc, which can see the crew participate in an insane Jujutsu Kumite! It is one of many greatest shonen anime on the planet, and one of many most-read manga too, so if you have not caught up but, now could be the time to prepare earlier than Season 3 hits and adjustments every part we all know concerning the sequence.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm
Followers of JoJo’s Weird Journey and Philip Pullman’s His Darkish Supplies will adore the idea of this new anime sequence, which can debut in early 2026. It comes from the thoughts of Fullmetal Alchemist creator Hiromu Arakawa, and adapts her manga of the identical title. That is peak shoju storytelling with a shonen twist, as a brother and sister should battle to unite in a world the place a choose group of people are in a position to manifest powers by way of “supernatural duos,” or Daemons. Collectively, estranged twins Yuru and Asa must discover one another and discover ways to management their powers as a way to save the world from those that can’t.
Witch Hat Atelier
Nobody was positive if Kamome Shirahama’s stunningly intricate work may very well be dropped at the display screen with as a lot care and element because it wanted. Bug Movies really delayed the manufacturing of Witch Hat Atelier in order that director Ayumu Watanabe and his staff had been in a position to take on a regular basis they wanted to make the anime simply pretty much as good because the smash hit manga deserves. In case you have but to take a look at the large Kodansha magic academy sequence, it facilities round a younger lady who desires nothing greater than to grasp magic. When she by chance learns the key of the artwork from a visiting witch, she turns into his apprentice and discovers far more concerning the fantastical world she’s joined. From the trailer, this seems to be prefer it’s bought what it takes to grow to be a traditional; subsequent 12 months, we’ll discover out!
JoJo’s Weird Journey Half 7: Metal Ball Run
It is all the time thrilling once we get a brand new entry into Hirohiko Araki’s insane crime epic JoJo’s Weird Journey. It nonetheless is, after a long time, one of the crucial distinctive and entertaining anime and manga round. The brand new sixth season adapts the seventh manga story arc, Metal Ball Run, which options new clan member Johnny Joestar, who’s a former jockey and paraplegic within the American West. Functioning extra like a standalone story than any of the opposite arcs, it is a great spot for brand spanking new viewers to leap in. It actually has an plain hook: Johnny should staff up with an executioner to tackle the cross-country horse race often known as the Metal Ball Run. Count on racing, battles, and vogue that will take advantage of daring dressers blush.
Destiny/unusual Faux
Talking of distinctive and vibrant takes on tropes that we love, the sunshine novel sequence Destiny/unusual Faux is a wild tackle fantasy questing in addition to a thought-provoking story about how a lot any of us can management our future. In fact, we won’t look ahead to the historic anime adaptation to come back to screens, particularly for those who won’t know the stunning set-up or what it means for the characters we meet. For these of you who love Sword Artwork On-line or Lord of Mysteries, or any of the opposite titles within the Destiny sequence, you may doubtless fall head over heels for this when it hits in 2026.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 3
As famous earlier than, we’re residing in a brand new Golden Age of anime, and one of many greatest and finest examples of that is The Apothecary Diaries, by which a avenue urchin is pulled right into a walled palace and should use her wits to outlive as she turns into entangled in unending court docket intrigue. Incomes her place due to her unbelievable detective abilities and skills as an apothecary, Maomao exists in a singular setting for a sequence that operates on a mystery-of-the-week method. That is an unexpectedly deep and considerate present that has handled quite a few advanced subjects whereas being constantly entertaining and stunning. It will be attention-grabbing to see how Season 3 maintains these stakes whereas constructing on the emotional coronary heart at its core.
The Ghost within the Shell (2026)
Positive, it is one other tackle one of the crucial well-known anime of all time, however it’s coming from the genius minds at Science Saru, so there is no method this could not make it on our listing. We’re extraordinarily hyped to see what one of the crucial adventurous and groundbreaking studios does with the trailblazing, iconic cyberpunk anime by Masamune Shirow. In case you have but to find Ghost within the Shell – fortunate you – it follows a high-tech cyborg cop named Motoko Kusanagi, who tracks down a hacker concentrating on cyborgs like herself. Given its pedigree, this may very well be the largest smash anime hit of 2026.
Bleach: Thousand-Yr Blood Warfare – The Calamity
Disney+ is lastly again within the big-name anime sport with Bleach: Thousand-Yr Blood Warfare‘s fourth and closing installment: The Calamity. Supposed as the top of the epic, this can tie up all of the unfastened ends of Soul Reaper Ryūnosuke Yuki’s adventures within the demon-filled world he protects. It may be stunning, brutal, and one of the crucial talked-about anime endings in years, so be sure to do not miss the discourse and drama when The Calamity hits in 2026!
What are your most anticipated anime of 2026? Did we miss a favorite? Are you much more excited than us by one in every of our picks? Tell us within the feedback.
