2026’s Anime Of The Year Winner Has Already Been Decided

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This article may contain spoilers from Solo Leveling.

2025 has been a fantastic year for anime fans, with plenty more exciting shows still to come. A major highlight was *Solo Leveling* winning Anime of the Year at the Crunchyroll Awards! It was a tough competition, beating out strong contenders like *Frieren* and *The Apothecary Diaries*, both of which were excellent series. Ultimately, though, *Solo Leveling* stood out as the best and is currently the top anime of the year.

As we look ahead to 2026, all the anime from 2025 will be eligible for the Anime of the Year award. While fans are excited to see which series wins, many believe *Solo Leveling* is the frontrunner. Its incredible first season has significantly increased its chances of taking home the award next year, making it the most likely winner.

Solo Leveling Will Likely Win Anime Of the Year 2026

Solo Leveling Delivered Its Best Season Yet

  • Season 2 surpassed Season 1
  • Solo Leveling broke all kinds of records

I noticed something interesting about the Anime of the Year awards. When *Solo Leveling* won in 2025, it was actually based on its *first* season, which aired in 2024. This means the second season will be eligible for the 2026 award, and honestly, given how popular *Solo Leveling* is, I think it has a really good chance of winning again.

I’ve seen it all – the hardships you’ve faced, the fights you’ve put up, and the pain you’ve endured. I represent the culmination of all of that. Some call me Death, others see me as a final peace, and many fear my arrival. That’s how I’m known – as Ashborn.

Many fans agree that Season 2 of Solo Leveling was a significant improvement over Season 1. While the first season did a good job introducing Sung Jiwoo’s story, Season 2 showcased a more powerful version of him and included popular story arcs like the Jeju Island arc. Plus, the overall production quality was noticeably higher in Season 2, making it a more polished and enjoyable experience.

I’ve been watching the anime scene closely, and it’s interesting to see how things are shaping up. Last year, *Solo Leveling* Season 1 actually outperformed both *Frieren* and *The Apothecary Diaries*. This year, *Frieren* isn’t in the running, but *The Apothecary Diaries* and other popular shows are. Considering *Solo Leveling* beat *Frieren* even during a less competitive season, it seems like the Anime of the Year for 2026 is already pretty much decided – it looks like *Solo Leveling* is the frontrunner.

I will defend my family no matter the cost, even if it means facing the opposition of every hunter in the world. – Sung Jinwoo

There Are Other Deserving Winners Of Anime of the Year 2026

Takopi’s Original Sin And My Hero Academia Will Be Fan Favorites

Just because *Solo Leveling* is predicted to win Anime of the Year for 2026 doesn’t automatically make it the best choice. While it’s incredibly popular, many fans didn’t actually rank it as the top anime of 2024, and it’s not considered the best of 2025 either. However, it has unmatched buzz. Series like *Takopi’s Original Sin*, and especially *My Hero Academia Final Season* (releasing soon), would be stronger contenders. *The Apothecary Diaries*, which won the award in Japan for 2025, is also a possibility, but *Solo Leveling* could potentially win again even after already beating it once.

Currently, there are 25 episodes of *Solo Leveling* available – the first season has 12 episodes and the second has 13. You can watch both seasons on Crunchyroll. If you’re eager for more content before season 3 arrives, reading the original *Solo Leveling* Manhwa is a good way to continue the story.

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2025-09-28 15:34