2026’s Most Anticipated Anime: Release Dates and Highlights

The line-up for 2026’s anime releases is shaping up to be rather impressive, with a host of returning favourites and new titles set to make their mark. January alone brings a flurry of much-awaited series, including the next chapters of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and Jujutsu Kaisen. With so many premieres and ongoing series, keeping track of what’s on and when can be a bit of a challenge. Schedules are prone to sudden changes, and even the most prominent productions can appear or vanish without much warning. This year, several acclaimed series are also making a comeback, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the calendar as the months unfold.

Winter Premieres and Returning Favourites

The winter season kicks off with a strong selection.

Case Closed: Detective Conan

continues its long run, while

Fate/strange Fake

and

Sentenced to Be a Hero

both debut on 3 January.

Golden Kamuy Final Season

follows on 4 January, and

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes

returns for its second series on 5 January.

Jujutsu Kaisen

launches its third series on 8 January, promising a fresh take on the Culling Game arc.

Fire Force

resumes with the second part of its third series on 9 January, and

Trigun Stargaze

lands on 10 January.

Hell’s Paradise

is back for a second series on 11 January, while

Oshi no Ko

returns for a third outing on 14 January.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

resumes on 16 January, continuing the journey north for Frieren, Fern, and Stark. The first series was, at one point, the highest-rated anime on MyAnimeList.

Spring, Summer, and Autumn Highlights

Spring brings a new arc for

One Piece

as the Straw Hats set sail for Elbaph, with a more measured release of 26 episodes.

Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World

returns for its fourth series, and

The Beginning After the End

and

Wistoria: Wand and Sword

both offer their second series.

Witch Hat Atelier

and the second series of

Devil May Cry

round out the spring slate.

Summer sees the arrival of

Black Torch

and the second series of

The Detective is Already Dead

. As autumn approaches,

The Apothecary Diaries

returns for a third series in October, with a film adaptation scheduled for December.

Blue Box

is also set for a second series in the autumn months.

Unscheduled Releases and Notable Announcements

Several major titles are yet to confirm their exact dates but are expected to make waves in 2026.

Beastars

continues with the second part of its third series, while

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War: The Calamity

and

Dr. Stone Science Future

are both on the horizon.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run

is set to bring its unique blend of intrigue and supernatural elements to Netflix, focusing on a 19th-century cross-country horse race.

Sekiro: No Defeat

promises a fully hand-drawn adaptation of the acclaimed game, directed by Kenichi Kutsuna.

The Ghost in the Shell

returns to its roots with a new series from Science Saru, revisiting the original manga’s mind-bending world.

Other anticipated projects include new instalments for

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

,

Demon Slayer

,

Haikyuu

, and

Vinland Saga

, though their release windows remain to be announced. For those keen to catch these series as they air, platforms such as Crunchyroll and Netflix will be offering access, with Crunchyroll providing a 14-day free trial for new viewers.