With its predecessor done, it is now time to focus on the 2026 anime lineup. Winter 2026 is here, bringing forth an array of new sequels and newcomers who have the potential to hog the limelight and online discussions. What will be the biggest 2026 anime? While certainly too early to make any definitive claims, a few prime contenders have already stated their intentions to grab the crown, provided they are not delayed or produce seasons that are well below expectations.
Solo Leveling Season 2 will likely go down as 2025’s biggest anime, and the upcoming year will need something massive to match that adaptation’s hype and exposure. Therefore, let’s highlight a couple of 2026 anime that should be huge, along with a few series that have yet to confirm their release years.
Updated on December 24, 2025 by Mark Sammut: With the new year about to start, this is the best time to add two more Winter 2026 anime to the lineup. We have also added a long-awaited isekai sequel.
The focus is on the “biggest” and not the “best,” as it would be completely premature to make any claims regarding the latter. A couple of anime that might come out in 2026 are also included, but their release periods are not confirmed.
One Piece is not included because, well, it will naturally be one of the biggest anime of 2026. For this article, I decided to prioritize new anime and sequels that should/could debut 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
Slated to get 2026 started on a perfect note, Frieren: Beyond The Journey’s End will soon be back on our screens, delivering another majestic blend of slow-life fantasy, subtle world-building, and splashes of incredible action. Season 1 set the bar extremely high, earning praise for being not only Madhouse’s strongest anime in about a decade, but also one of the best series of all time.
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The anime has only covered about half of Kanehito Yamada’s ongoing manga, so the sequel has more than enough content to produce another full season. More importantly, Frieren is consistently great; in fact, the manga seems to improve with each new arc. If it hits the mark, Frieren season 2 will be the biggest anime of 2026. Honestly, it might also be the best.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 (Winter 2026)
Could The 2026 JJK Season Be The Best Yet?
Jujutsu Kaisen is kind of weird. Even though the shonen anime has seemed inescapable since making its 2020 debut, MAPPA has generally avoided overexposure, opting to take its time to ensure a quality adaptation that lives up to the hype.
Similar to the gap between the first two seasons, the third entry will (likely) drop 2.5 years after its predecessor’s conclusion, which is more than enough time to allow MAPPA to put together a great follow-up AND to make fans crave Yuji and company’s return. You need to give people the opportunity to miss you, and by the time season 3 arrives in 2026, the world will be desperate for more JJK.
The sequel should cover Itadori’s Extermination and Perfect Preparation Arcs, along with starting the lengthy and ambitious Culling Game. Season 3 might even finish the latter, but that will depend on its episode count.
Hell’s Paradise Season 2 (Winter 2026)
A Gory Supernatural Shonen Returns For, Hopefully, Its Breakout Season
Although far from bad, Hell’s Paradise arguably did not manage to live up to its hype. The opening season established a strong roster of characters and a cool setting; however, the story was by the numbers, while the action was not on the same level as Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer.
However, the manga took a while to really hit its stride, and the second half of the story is generally regarded as superior to the first. As such, the anime adaptation should follow the same trajectory, hopefully leading to a sequel that far outdoes its predecessor. Even if MAPPA’s Winter 2026 season maintains the same standard as the first, it will still be an above-average action anime that is willing to push the envelope in terms of violence and gore.
Fate/strange Fake (Winter 2026)
The Wait Is Over, The New Fate Anime Is Finally Here
A new Fate anime will always attract attention, but A-1 Pictures’ Winter 2026 entry has been amassing hype for about 18 months. In July 2023, Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn dropped, acting as a prequel for the upcoming series. In November 2024, Fate/strange Fake‘s first episode debuted, and then things went silent for roughly a year. Finally, the anime is set to join Winter 2026’s simulcast lineup, finally allowing fans to enjoy one of the more unusual entries in the franchise.
As implied by its title, Fate/strange Fake is about a false Holy Grail War, one instigated by an American organization. Going by the available episodes, the story should be set primarily in the United States, which is a stark departure from previous sagas. Beyond that, we have a gender-flipped master and servant dynamic for the leads, with Ayaka acting as the former and The Lionheart stepping up as this storyline’s Saber.
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 4 (Spring 2026)
One Of The Best Isekai Anime Enters One Of Its Best Arcs
Say what you want about Re:Zero, but it is hard to fault its ambition. While they all complement each other, each season is wildly different, creating probably the most unpredictable and diverse isekai series of all time. Now, while I know this anime (and especially Subaru) is quite divisive, season 4 will almost certainly be the biggest show of Spring 2026, which is saying something as it has stiff competition. Not only is it a well-established series with dedicated fanbases for both the source material and the adaptation, but season 4 will adapt what is considered one of the strongest arcs in the saga. If done right, the 2026 anime should be the best entry to date.
Witch Hat Atelier (Spring 2026)
The Golden Age Of Fantasy Anime Continues With A New Top Contender
2026 is going to be massive for fantasy anime. Frieren alone should make it one of the greatest years ever, but Witch Hat Atelier should also be a massive addition to the genre. Kamome Shirahama’s manga is top-tier and an easy recommendation for anybody craving beautiful art, strong characterization, and a story that has a pretty constant sense of danger. For the uninitiated, the story envisions a world where magic is practiced by witches, who are known to the public but mostly keep to themselves. Coco loves everything magic, and through a series of almost catastrophic events, she ends up acting as a powerful witch’s apprentice. This journey introduces her to wonder and terror in equal measure.
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Bug Film is handling the adaptation, and the studio’s only previous series was Zom 100. That anime went through a notoriously troubled production, although it came together just enough by the end of its run. Zom 100 also started with a rare “10/10, no notes” episode, and we can only hope that Bug Film manages to replicate that success for Witch Hat Atelier.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity (Summer 2026)
A Legendary Shonen Anime Finally Comes To An End
Bleach
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2004 – 2012-00-00
A decade ago, Bleach‘s anime seemed destined to remain forever incomplete. Despite producing some of the best arcs of the 2000s, the adaptation steadily chipped away at its reputation through underwhelming filler that overstayed its welcome and, also, canon stories that felt like a retread of past glories. Then, in 2022, Pierrot revived this former giant, shoving Ichigo back into the spotlight while making sure his return goes down as one of the greatest comeback stories in anime history.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War has been phenomenal so far, particularly in the animation department. Honestly, if you were to argue that this run represents the pinnacle in anime action, I would see no need to offer any sort of rebuttal. The Calamity will bring Bleach to an end, giving the anime the conclusion that it deserves.
The Ghost in the Shell (2026)
The Return Of A Great, Done By The Studio Behind Dandadan
OK, new Ghost in the Shell projects are hardly rare, as one seems to happen every couple of years. However, the upcoming release feels like a special case that, if done well, could sit alongside Stand Alone Complex as the franchise’s definitive series.
The most exciting part of this project is the studio, as Science Saru has been on an absolute roll recently. The company produced one of the best anime of the last two years, Dandadan, along with 2020’s Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! Although not quite on the same level as those two, Fall 2025’s Sanda is also visually spectacular, which is something that can be said for most of Science Saru’s output.
If nothing else, The Ghost in the Shell should look phenomenal, and the key art images suggest a fresh art style that should fit the cyberpunk setting beautifully.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run (2026)
The Return Of A Shonen Legend And The Debut Of A Beloved Saga
While a release date has yet to be confirmed, Netflix has announced that Steel Ball Run will debut in 2026, which is exciting news for pretty much everybody. Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has nothing but incredible arcs, but Part 7 is generally regarded as one of the best, due to its unique setting (for anime) and fantastic roster of characters. Steel Ball Run should be watchable even if someone has not viewed every previous entry, although I would recommend sitting through them. They are all fantastic.
Tokyo Revengers: Three Deities Arc (2026)
Polarizing Anime Enters Its Final Arc
Tokyo Revengers‘ reputation has declined significantly in Western online platforms, with the sequels getting fairly mixed reviews. However, the franchise is huge in Japan, so the upcoming entry should be among 2026’s biggest anime within the country. The story is also entering its final saga, which contains two arcs: Three Deities and Kanto Manji.
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The 2026 season is named after the former, but it will first need to cover the Bonten arc that precedes the final saga before touching Three Deities. Consequently, Tokyo Revengers will probably produce another season to cover Kanto Manji, which lasts for more than 40 chapters in the manga.
