Every Biggest Shonen Anime Announced For 2026

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2025 was a fantastic year for fans of shonen anime! Popular shows like One Piece, My Hero Academia, Dr. Stone, and Gachiakuta kept viewers entertained. And while those were some of the biggest hits, many other high-quality shonen anime also premiered that year.

As the year winds down, anime fans are starting to anticipate the new shonen series coming in 2026. The upcoming lineup looks very promising, and we can expect even more great shows to be announced. Staying updated on everything can be difficult, so this article provides a simple overview of all the major shonen anime scheduled for release in 2026.

This post contains spoilers for several anime.

One Piece

Release Date: April 2026

  • The One Piece anime is becoming seasonal

The One Piece anime will be taking a break from January to March 2026 as it transitions to a seasonal format. Instead of releasing episodes continuously, the anime will now release 26 episodes annually, split into two parts. This change will give the animation team at Toei Animation more time to work on each episode, after consistently delivering high-quality content.

The anime is scheduled to come back in April 2026, starting with the Elbaf arc, and fans are hoping for a faster story progression. While Toei Animation consistently delivers good animation, the speed at which the story unfolds has been somewhat slow.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Release Date: January 2026

  • JJK Season 3 will cover the Culling Game arc

Fans have been waiting for a while, but the third season of Jujutsu Kaisen will finally arrive in January 2026. The last new episodes aired in December 2023, meaning it’s been over two years since the second season ended. To help tide viewers over, MAPPA released a movie in November 2025 that recapped the Shibuya Incident arc and included a sneak peek at the first two episodes of the upcoming season.

The studio probably made this decision to generate more excitement for the third season and reach a wider audience. The new season will focus on the action-packed Culling Game storyline and introduce several new characters.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Release Date: January 2026

  • The second season will be under a lot of pressure

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End quickly became one of the most popular anime of 2026. The first season was a huge hit with fans, earning the top spot on MyAnimeList’s rankings. Viewers praised its stunning animation, compelling story, and memorable characters. What really set Frieren apart was its ability to take familiar anime themes and present them in a fresh, unexpected way.

The second season of Frieren will premiere on January 16th, 2026. While the exact number of episodes hasn’t been announced, it’s expected to be similar to the first season, meaning fans can anticipate around 25 or more episodes.

Hell’s Paradise

Release Date: January 2026

  • Hell’s Paradise Season 2 is going to be packed with exciting fights

Hell’s Paradise debuted in 2023 to widespread praise, with viewers particularly impressed by its stunning animation and mature themes. While the first season was a hit, news about a potential second season has been scarce.

Good news for fans! Season two of Hell’s Paradise is officially coming in January 2026. It will be released alongside other popular shows like Frieren, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Oshi no Ko. The new season will continue to follow Gabimaru, the skilled ninja, on his quest for the Elixir of Immortality.

Fire Force

Release Date: January 2026

  • Fire Force Season 3 Cour 2 will bring an end to its story

Fans of Fire Force have a mixed feeling to look forward to in January 2026. The long-awaited second part of the third season will arrive, but unfortunately, it will also mark the end of the anime series. However, fans can be confident that David Production will deliver a high-quality adaptation that stays true to the original manga.

I’m so excited! The second part of Fire Force Season 3 is officially set to premiere on January 10th, 2026. From what I’ve heard, the final episodes will see Shinra, Arthur, and the rest of Special Fire Force really going all out to finally defeat the source of the Great Cataclysm. It’s going to be epic!

Daemons of the Shadow Realm

Release Date: April 2026

image by studio bones
  • Based on Hiromu Arakawa’s work

Daemons of the Shadow Realm is a new anime series adapted from a popular manga. What many fans might not realize is that it’s created by Hiromu Arakawa, the author of the acclaimed anime Fullmetal Alchemist.

Given Arakawa’s skill as a writer, the anime Daemons of the Shadow Realm has a strong chance of being popular. The animation is being handled by Bones Film, known for their work on series like Gachiakuta and My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, so the visuals should be excellent. The story centers around twin siblings who find themselves caught up in a series of unpredictable and wild events.

Marriagetoxin

Release Date: April 2026

  • Potential successor of My Hero Academia

Marriagetoxin is a popular action and romance manga that started appearing on Shonen Jump+ in 2022. Due to its success with readers, an anime adaptation was quickly greenlit. It’s also likely that publisher Shueisha hoped the anime would help grow the manga’s fanbase even more.

Marriagetoxin tells the story of Hikaru Gero, an assassin in a desperate situation. To save his sister from a terrible fate, he needs to find a wife—and he needs to do it quickly. He immediately begins his search for someone to marry.

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2025-12-09 17:36