Although we’re still in the early part of the Fall 2025 anime season, many exciting shows are yet to come this year. Soon, January will bring a fresh wave of both returning favorites and brand new series, potentially dominating conversations online. What anime will be the biggest hit of 2026? It’s too soon to say for sure, but several promising titles have already announced plans to compete for the top spot, as long as production stays on track and the new seasons live up to expectations.
Everyone’s expecting Solo Leveling Season 2 to be the biggest anime of 2025, and it will be tough for anything else to compete with that level of excitement. So, let’s take a look at some promising anime coming out in 2026, and also mention a few shows that haven’t announced their release dates yet.
We’re highlighting the most anticipated anime, rather than trying to pick the ‘best’ – it’s too early to say which ones will be truly exceptional. We’ve also included a couple of shows currently slated for 2026, though their release dates aren’t yet official.
We didn’t include One Piece because it’s almost certain to be one of the most popular anime in 2026 anyway. This article focuses on new shows and sequels that are likely to premiere next year.
Demon Slayer has been left out since the sequel movies are unknown quantities at this point.
Frieren: Beyond The Journey’s End Season 2 (Winter 2026)
One Of The Best Anime Ever Returns In Early 2026
Get ready for more of the enchanting world of Frieren: Beyond The Journey’s End in 2026! The series is returning with its beautiful mix of relaxing fantasy, detailed world-building, and exciting action. The first season was a huge success, widely considered to be one of the best anime Madhouse has produced in years—and a truly outstanding series overall.
I’ve been following Frieren, and it’s clear the anime has only adapted about half of the original manga so far. That means there’s plenty of material for another full season. What’s really exciting, though, is that the manga itself seems to be getting better with each new story arc. If the second season can capture that same quality, I truly believe Frieren will be the biggest anime release of 2026 – and it could very well be the best one, too.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 (Winter 2026)
Could The 2026 JJK Season Be The Best Yet?
Jujutsu Kaisen is a bit unusual for a popular anime. Despite becoming incredibly popular since 2020, the studio behind it, MAPPA, hasn’t rushed things. They’ve carefully worked to create a high-quality adaptation that meets fans’ expectations.
Just like the wait between seasons one and two, the third season is expected to release about 2.5 years after the last one finished. This is a good amount of time for the animation studio, MAPPA, to create something amazing and build excitement for the return of Yuji and his friends. It’s important for a show to let its audience miss it, and by 2026, when season 3 arrives, fans will be eagerly waiting for more Jujutsu Kaisen.
The next season of the show will likely adapt the Extermination and Perfect Preparation arcs, and begin the long and complex Culling Game storyline. It’s possible the season will even complete the Culling Game, but that depends on how many episodes it gets.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity (2026)
A Legendary Shonen Anime Finally Comes To An End
Ten years ago, the Bleach anime appeared to be ending without finishing its story. While it initially delivered some of the best story arcs of the 2000s, the show gradually lost favor with fans due to lengthy and unnecessary filler episodes, and storylines that felt repetitive. However, in 2022, the studio Pierrot brought Bleach back, putting Ichigo front and center and creating one of the most impressive anime revivals ever seen.
So far, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War has been amazing, especially the animation. It’s easily one of the best action anime ever made. With The Calamity arc, Bleach will finally get the satisfying ending fans have been waiting for.
The Ghost in the Shell (2026)
The Return Of A Great, Done By The Studio Behind Dandadan
New Ghost in the Shell adaptations appear fairly often, roughly every couple of years. But this next project feels different – if it’s executed well, it has the potential to become one of the best installments in the franchise, alongside Stand Alone Complex.
What’s most exciting about this project is the animation studio involved – Science Saru. They’ve been consistently producing fantastic anime, including recent hits like Dandadan and the 2020 series Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!. While their upcoming show Sanda (coming in Fall 2025) might not be quite as groundbreaking, it still promises the stunning visuals Science Saru is known for.
At the very least, The Ghost in the Shell promises to be visually stunning. Early artwork hints at a modern style that perfectly complements the film’s cyberpunk world.
Tokyo Revengers: Three Deities Arc (2026)
Polarizing Anime Enters Its Final Arc
While opinions on Tokyo Revengers have become more divided online in the West, it remains incredibly popular in Japan. The next installment is expected to be one of the biggest anime releases of 2026 in the country. The series is now entering its final storyline, which will cover the ‘Three Deities’ and ‘Kanto Manji’ arcs.
I’ve been following Tokyo Revengers, and it looks like the next season, planned for 2026, will focus on the story leading up to the final arc. Before they get to the ‘Three Deities’ saga, they need to adapt the ‘Bonten’ arc first. Because the ‘Kanto Manji’ arc is quite lengthy – over 40 chapters in the manga – it seems likely they’ll actually create another season just to cover that part of the story.
Black Clover Season 2 (2026)
A Long-Awaited Return of A Beloved Shonen Anime
I remember when Black Clover first came out, a lot of people were quick to dismiss it. But watching it turn things around was really something. By the end of its 170 episodes, it had become one of the best shonen battle anime of recent years – and honestly, you could argue it’s just one of the best, period. The anime was even getting close to where the manga was at, which led to a pause in production that’s now been going on for about five years.
It looks like fans won’t have to wait much longer – Black Clover is coming back in 2026, and they’ll be adapting at least the Spade Kingdom Raid arc. Honestly, the show’s absence has made me appreciate it even more, and it seems like a lot of other fans feel the same way. If you’ve never given Black Clover a chance, or maybe stopped watching early on, I’d recommend checking out the first season. It really starts to get good pretty quickly.
Eleceed (2026)
A Huge Manhwa Will Become An Anime In 2026
Although other manhwa have been adapted into anime, Solo Leveling stands out as the most significant. While Tower of God remains popular, Solo Leveling is widely considered the most beloved manhwa ever created. The success of its anime adaptation is crucial; a failure could discourage Japanese animation studios from exploring South Korean webcomics, leading them to focus exclusively on manga.
Eleceed is a very popular webtoon (Korean comic) that has been delivering great stories since 2018. It centers around the unlikely duo of Jiwoo and Kayden—who is mysteriously stuck in the form of a cat—as they team up to do good in the world. They work independently, facing off against other powerful individuals, known as Awakeners, who don’t always have the best motives. A key ingredient to Eleceed’s success is its humor.
I wouldn’t say Dandelion Animation is a household name, but I was really impressed to learn they were involved in making The First Slam Dunk – it’s a fantastic film.
No Confirmed Release Year: Solo Leveling Season 3
Well, Solo Leveling Season 3 Will Almost Definitely Be The Biggest Anime Of Its Year
Wow, Solo Leveling has been absolutely incredible! Seriously, Season 2 completely blew everything else out of the water this past winter, and everyone’s already expecting the same for Season 3 when it finally arrives. Right now, A-1 Pictures hasn’t given us a firm release date, and a 2026 premiere isn’t a sure thing. But honestly, I think next year is still possible – the anime has a completed manga to work from, which is a huge advantage!
No Confirmed Release Year: Bocchi The Rock Season 2
Everyone’s Favorite Socially Awkward Rockstar’s Sophomore Season
Initially a slow hit, Bocchi the Rock unexpectedly became a massive cultural phenomenon in late 2022, taking the anime world by storm. Although the original manga by Aki Hamazi has been around since 2017, it wasn’t hugely popular before the anime adaptation. This might be why a sequel hasn’t been announced yet – CloverWorks, the studio behind the show, may have been surprised by its success and hadn’t started working on a second season before the first one finished airing.
A second season of Bocchi the Rock is happening! While there’s no official release date yet, 2026 is a possible timeframe. Hopefully, the animation studio, CloverWorks, will take the necessary time to make the sequel just as delightful and relatable as the first season.
No Confirmed Release Year: Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint
A Manhwa That Can Rival Solo Leveling’s Popularity
- Based On: Manhwa
- Creator: Sing Shong
It’s unlikely any manhwa anime adaptation will reach the same level of success as Solo Leveling – that’s a really high bar. It would be unfair to judge a new shonen anime just because it isn’t as popular as Demon Slayer or Dragon Ball. However, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint is the most promising exception. The original story is both popular and well-respected, and importantly, it’s already finished – the manhwa concluded in 2020.
Kim Dokja is an ordinary guy who happened to be the sole reader of a bizarre novel about the apocalypse. Now, that story is coming true, and he’s unexpectedly thrust into the role of a hero, forced to use his knowledge of the book to prevent the world’s destruction. While the manhwa adaptation of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint starts a little slowly, it quickly becomes fantastic. Details about the upcoming anime are scarce, but with a skilled studio handling it, it has the potential to be one of the biggest anime releases of 2026.
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2025-10-26 14:36