🗓 Updated September 2, 2026 · next update: early October 2026, at the start of the autumn season
What is the best anime of 2026? Which one should you watch tonight, on which platform, and do you need to have seen three seasons beforehand? This guide is our 2026 anime top list: it answers those very questions, not just "here are fifteen titles." You will find the best 2026 anime already released, ranked from 1st to 15th with a grading system we explain, ratings from three communities side-by-side, the exact catch-up time for each sequel, the volume to pick up the manga from when the anime ends, the upcoming autumn season — and a poll to vote for the best of the season. No spoilers: plot details are collapsed, it's up to you to open them.
The short answer. The best anime of 2026 so far is Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, both for the event and the quality; the highest-rated by viewers is Frieren Season 2; the best new show, with nothing to catch up on, is Witch Hat Atelier.
The 5 must-sees: Jujutsu Kaisen S3 · Frieren S2 · Witch Hat Atelier · One Piece (Elbaf Arc) · Bleach TYBW Part 4.
If you only have one night: Witch Hat Atelier (13 episodes, no prerequisites) or Cyberpunk: Edgerunners before its second season.
Summary
- The best 2026 anime according to your platform
- The top 15 anime already released in 2026
- The 2026 calendar at a glance
- Autumn 2026: the 8 to watch
- Still no date, but highly anticipated
- Aside: films, specials, and curiosities
- Where to watch anime in 2026, legally
- How we rank them
- Your best anime of the season — the poll
- Frequently asked questions
- Update log
The best 2026 anime according to your platform
The top 15 anime already released in 2026
From 1st to 15th. Each profile provides our rating based on four criteria, the average of three communities, the catch-up time if it's a sequel, and the chapter to resume the manga from when the season ends. The profiles are ranked; the table below summarizes all of them with their platforms.
1. Jujutsu Kaisen — Season 3: The Culling Game
Aired: from January 8 to March 26, 2026.
The talk of the winter, by far. After the earthquake of the Shibuya Incident, Season 3 opens the Culling Game arc: Japan is sliced into colonies, exorcists awakened from other eras are unleashed, and each participant must accumulate points or face erasure. Twelve episodes of game mechanics, unnatural alliances, and duels where the animation returns to the level that built the studio's reputation.
What places it at the top of our ranking isn't just the quality — it's the event. No other 2026 release dominated discussion threads like this, and the Sendai arena, which closes out the season, delivers on its promises. A note of honesty: this is a more fragmented arc than Shibuya, with many new faces; those expecting a continuous frontal clash might find the mid-season more dialogue-heavy.
My number 1 of the year, without hesitation. The animation is insane from the first to the last episode, and above all, there is not a single boring episode — even when the season introduces its new faces, it manages to end each week with something that makes you want to see the next. That is what I ask of an event anime, and this year only JJK achieved it across twelve episodes in a row.
— Johann, founder of Manga Horizon
What's it about, with a few more details (mild spoilers)
The Culling Game is a ritual imposed by Kenjaku: ten colonies, rules that accumulate as points are earned, and the objective for our heroes to find a flaw in the system. Yuji and Megumi enter separately, Yuta and Maki elsewhere, and we discover sorcerers from the past who are as appealing as they are alarming — Hakari, Kashimo, Higuruma. The season ends at the Sendai arena, a three-way confrontation that leaves a chapter hanging.
Can I start here? No. You need Season 1, the film Jujutsu Kaisen 0, and then Season 2, in that order.
Catch-up: ≈ 47 episodes and one film, which is about 24 hours.
Continue in manga: the anime ends in the middle of chapter 181: pick up the manga at volume 21.
From our shop: our Jujutsu Kaisen figures · the Chibi JJK figures · the JJK iPhone cases · our Gojo vs Sukuna duel.
2. Frieren — Season 2
Aired: from January 16 to March 27, 2026.
The highest-rated season of the year across all communities we surveyed, and it's no accident: Frieren never tries to impress. Just ten episodes, an elf with a thousand years ahead of her and two companions who only have a handful, and this unique way of packing an entire emotion into a silence or a mage's joke.
If you haven't started the series yet, this Season 2 is the best reason to catch up on the first: the journey to the north continues, the mage exam is behind us, and the narrative returns to its walking pace. Our only reservation is the short format — ten episodes, we wish there were twenty.
The episode that left the biggest impression on me this year, of all series combined, is here: episode 8, when Stark and Genau confront Revolte, the serpent-man. It's not a duel of high magic as the series is accustomed to, it's a fight of pure endurance and physical grit — and the turning point doesn't come from a stronger spell but a decision from Stark, showing how far he's come since meeting Frieren. In a season known for being contemplative, it's the moment you realize the troupe's warrior has also grown.
— Johann, founder of Manga Horizon
What's it about, with a few more details (mild spoilers)
Frieren, Fern, and Stark resume their trek toward Ende after the first-class mage exam. The season develops the northern regions, new encounters linked to Himmel's past, and deepens the relationship between Fern and Frieren. A Season 3, adapting the Golden Land arc, is announced for October 2027.
Catch-up: 28 episodes, which is about 11 hours.
Continue in manga: the season ends at chapter 78: pick up at chapter 79 (volume 9).
From our shop: our Frieren figures · the Frieren iPhone cases.
3. Witch Hat Atelier
Aired: starting April 6, 2026.
The revelation of the year for everyone who hadn't read Kamome Shirahama's manga. A little girl discovers that magic isn't a gift but a drawing — circles traced in ink, where each pattern has a meaning — and enters an apprenticeship with a sorcerer who has his reasons for protecting her. Thirteen episodes of rare elegance, where the manga's art style, previously considered unadaptable, is respected down to the cross-hatching.
It's also the most accessible new release in our selection: nothing to catch up on, a tone that speaks to both teenagers and adults, and a season finale that makes you want to run to the bookstore.
What's it about, with a few more details (mild spoilers)
Coco discovers a book of forbidden spells, causes an irreparable accident, and is taken in by Kieffrey, who installs her in his atelier with three other apprentices. The season covers the first tests of apprenticeship, a dragon, and the shadow of an outlaw sorcerer guild that is taking a close interest in Coco.
Can I start here? Yes — it's a first season and one of the best entry points of the year.
Catch-up: none.
Continue in manga: the anime ends at chapter 23: pick up at chapter 24, the beginning of volume 5.
4. One Piece — Elbaf Arc
Aired: since April 5, 2026.
Twenty-five years we've been waiting for it. After Egghead, the Straw Hat crew finally lands in Elbaf, the land of giants hinted at since the Little Garden arc, and the anime made this arc its big event of 2026: new staging, an island that lives up to its legend, and a long-held expectation. Regarding the pacing, however, opinions diverge — ours is in the box below.
We rank it fourth rather than first for a simple reason: it's an ongoing arc, and you judge an arc by its conclusion. But in terms of weekly pleasure, nothing surpassed it in the spring.
I have to say, I'm a little disappointed. When Toei announced a lighter broadcast schedule—taking breaks and producing fewer episodes per year to focus on the quality of each—I thought the narrative pacing would change along with it. On Elbaf, that's not the case yet: the visuals are superb, but the story is moving at the same speed as before. I'm waiting for the rest of the arc to revise my judgment, but I'm still watching it week by week, which has to mean something.
— Johann, founder of Manga Horizon
What is it about, with a few more details (mild spoilers)
Elbaf is the kingdom of the giant warriors, where Dorry and Brogy come from. The arc explores the roots of the giants, their ties to Shanks and Loki, and connects to the ancient history the crew has been pursuing since Egghead. The manga enters this arc in volume 112.
Can you start here? No, obviously—but there is a shortcut: pick up at the Egghead arc (episode 1086) after watching a good recap; the direction hits a new generation there.
Catching up: over 1,100 episodes, or about 450 hours—the shortcut above brings that down to a few dozen.
Continuing in manga: the Elbaf arc begins in volume 112 of the manga.
From us: our One Piece figures · One Piece chibi figures · One Piece iPhone cases · all One Piece arcs in order.
5. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War — Part 4, The Calamity
Broadcast: since July 25, 2026.
The end. Four parts, four years, and the Thousand-Year Blood War adaptation brings Tite Kubo's manga to a close, ending where the paper version left off in 2016—complete with scenes rewritten or expanded by the author specifically for the occasion, as has been the case since 2022. Ten episodes, currently airing this summer on Disney+, featuring animation that hasn't missed a beat since the first part.
If you grew up with Bleach, this is the event of the year. If you're discovering it now, it's also the most demanding series on our list in terms of catch-up time—though as seen below, there is an honest shortcut.
The animation is brilliant, no argument there—the clashes in this Part 4 are on par with the best moments of 2022. What disappoints me are the colors: that dark, muted color grading that has accompanied the adaptation since the first part buries scenes that, in the manga and in my memory, really pop. We get to see the ending we hoped for, but through a filter.
— Johann, founder of Manga Horizon
What is it about, with a few more details (mild spoilers)
Part 4 adapts the end of the war against Yhwach and the Wandenreich, the assault on the Royal Palace, and Ichigo's final duel, up to the manga's epilogue. It's also the part where the author's additions, teased since the beginning of the project, are most anticipated.
Can you start here? No. But there is a shortcut: start directly with Thousand-Year Blood War Part 1 (episode 367) after watching a recap of the previous 366 episodes—many did this back in 2022.
Catching up: 366 episodes of the original series + 40 episodes from Parts 1 to 3, totaling about 160 hours; ≈ 16 hours with the shortcut.
Continuing in manga: this is the end: the manga has 74 volumes; this part adapts the final ones.
From us: our Bleach figures · Bleach iPhone cases · our bankai ranking.
6. Oshi no Ko — Season 3
Broadcast: from January 14 to March 25, 2026.
The season most highly rated by the French public on SensCritique, and the most mature of the series. Oshi no Ko has always played on two fronts—revenge and satire of the entertainment industry—and this third season tightens both threads at once: a film that replays the past, scandals, and an extended final episode that closes a major chapter.
It's included here primarily for the writing: few series dare to be this precise about how an idol, a shoot, or a rumor is manufactured. Reserved for those who have seen the first two seasons.
What is it about, with a few more details (mild spoilers)
The season covers the film arc dedicated to Ai and the scandal arc, up to the middle of chapter 127. The manga itself concluded at the end of 2024 (16 volumes): the conclusion already exists in print.
Can you start here? No: watch the two seasons before, in order.
Catching up: 24 episodes, or about 10 hours (the first episode is 90 minutes long).
Continuing in manga: the anime stops halfway through chapter 127; the manga is complete in 16 volumes.
7. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run
Broadcast: first part on March 19, 2026, second and third parts on September 25, 2026.
The most beloved part of Hirohiko Araki's manga, finally in anime form: a horse race across the United States in 1890, with fifty million dollars as the prize, and a paralyzed jockey learning to spin steel balls. Steel Ball Run is a western, a political thriller, and the pinnacle of the saga's combat system—and Netflix has made it one of its major titles of 2026, with the sequel announced for September 25.
We rank it high despite the staggered release: community ratings are the highest of the year, and the adaptation lives up to a manga many considered untouchable.
What is it about, with a few more details (mild spoilers)
Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli enter the transcontinental race, but discover there is more at stake than the competition: parts of a holy corpse are scattered along the path, which the President of the United States himself covets.
Can you start here? Yes, with one caveat: Steel Ball Run takes place in a universe parallel to the previous six parts. A few nods will go over newcomers' heads, but nothing that prevents you from following along.
Catching up: none required; the first six parts represent about 190 episodes if the urge strikes you.
Continuing in manga: part 7 has 24 volumes; the anime adapts the first half this year.
8. Dorohedoro — Season 2
Broadcast: starting April 1, 2026.
Six years after the first season, Dorohedoro returns without having lost an ounce of its personality: a dump of a city where sorcerers come to test their spells on the inhabitants, a lizard-headed hero searching for who transformed him, gyoza, blood, and a unique humor. The 3D/2D mix, which divided opinion in 2020, is now widely accepted—and, above all, mastered.
It's the most singular anime in our selection, and the only one that makes you laugh and wince in the same minute. Eleven episodes, an adaptation faithful to Q Hayashida's manga, and a season that finally moves forward in a plot the manga had left hanging on screen.
What is it about, with a few more details (mild spoilers)
The season continues Caiman and Nikaido's investigation in the world of sorcerers, the rise of En and his family, and Nikaido's past. It stops at chapter 79.
Can you start here? No—season 1 (12 episodes) sets up the whole universe, and it is short.
Catching up: 12 episodes, or about 5 hours.
Continuing in manga: the anime stops at chapter 79 (volume 13): pick up at chapter 80, volume 14—or volume 7 of the Chaos edition.
9. Hell's Paradise — Season 2
Broadcast: from January 11 to March 29, 2026.
Three years after the first season, the death row convicts and their executioners resume their hunt for the elixir of immortality on an island that wants them dead. Season 2 is tighter, more brutal, and finally gives Sagiri and Gabimaru the scenes the manga reserved for them. We also see the studio utilize its expertise in choreography, with fights that are more legible than in 2023.
It doesn't reach the top of community ratings—the story hits a slump in the middle—but it does what a good second season should do: make a third season indispensable.
What is it about, in a little more detail (light spoilers)
The forced alliance between convicts and executioners continues against the Tensei, the masters of the island, and the arc reveals the nature of the Tan and the origin of the Tensei. The season ends at chapter 89 of the manga (94 of the webtoon).
Can you start here? No: season 1 (13 episodes) first.
Catch-up: 13 episodes, or about 5 hours.
Continue in manga: pick up at chapter 90 of the manga (or 95 of the webtoon).
10. Mushoku Tensei — season 3
Airing: since July 5, 2026.
The series that restored the reputation of the isekai genre picks up where season 2 left a finally settled Rudeus: heading for the Begaritt Continent and a labyrinth that will come at a high price. We find what the series does better than all its imitators — a coherent world, a hero who pays for his mistakes, and a studio created for this work alone, whose animation remains at the top of the genre.
The season is ongoing this summer: we are ranking it based on its first episodes and the part of the novel it adapts, one of its strongest. As always with Mushoku Tensei, the content is adult and certain scenes are divisive; it is a series for a mature audience.
What is it about, in a little more detail (light spoilers)
Rudeus sets off for Begaritt to find his mother Zenith, who has been missing since the Teleportation, and finds Paul there. The labyrinth and its guardian mark a tragic turning point in the narrative, adapted from volumes 13 and following of the novel.
Can you start here? No: two seasons (two cours each) are necessary.
Catch-up: 48 episodes, or about 19 hours.
Continue in manga: the original story is a novel; the manga follows several arcs behind, no need to jump into it after the anime.
Our site: our Mushoku Tensei figures · Mushoku Tensei phone cases · our ranking of anime transformations.
11. Dr. Stone: Science Future — part 3, the finale
Airing: from April 2 to June 25, 2026.
The final season of Dr. Stone was split into three parts, and this third installment is the end: the race to the source of the petrification comes to a close, and the inventiveness of the manga by Boichi and Inagaki remains intact until the very last minute — every problem has a solution that can be learned. Thirteen episodes, a tight adaptation, and one of the rare shōnen where you walk away having learned something.
It is here for its consistency as much as for its conclusion: Dr. Stone never had a bad season, and it ends as it began — flawlessly.
What is it about, in a little more detail (light spoilers)
Senku and his crew trace the petrification ray back to its origin, with a final voyage that goes beyond Earth. Part 3 adapts the conclusion of the manga.
Can you start here? No: it's a final season, it assumes you've seen everything that precedes it.
Catch-up: ≈ 80 episodes, or about 32 hours.
Continue in manga: the manga is finished in 26 volumes; the anime adapts the final stretch.
12. The Ghost in the Shell
Airing: since July 7, 2026.
A new adaptation of Masamune Shirow's manga by the studio behind Dan Da Dan and Devilman Crybaby, on Prime Video: the promise alone was enough to make it one of the most intriguing shows of the year. The result is a reinterpretation closer to the style of the original manga, sharper and less solemn than the 1995 film — which has divided the purists but won over those discovering Section 9.
It is the best gateway into Ghost in the Shell in twenty years: no prerequisites, weekly airing still ongoing this summer, and a studio that had the audacity required to touch a monument.
What is it about, in a little more detail (light spoilers)
Major Motoko Kusanagi and Section 9 investigate cases of cybernetic brain hacking in a near-future Japan, with a plot constructed to be followed without knowing previous works.
Can you start here? Yes, without any reservations.
Catch-up: none.
Continue in manga: the original manga is only a few volumes; the films and the Stand Alone Complex series are parallel readings, not prerequisites.
13. Fire Force — season 3, part 2
Airing: from January 9 to April 3, 2026.
The season that concludes Fire Force, and in doing so closes the loop with Soul Eater, the author's other major series. We find what the series has always done best — a studio that animates fire like no other, clear and generous combat sequences — and its accepted weakness: a final narrative that moves very quickly and loses a portion of the audience along the way, just as the manga did.
It is on our list because an animated conclusion with this level of care is rare, and because Brigade 8 deserved its exit. It is not the season by which to convince a skeptic.
What is it about, in a little more detail (light spoilers)
The last thirteen episodes adapt the Great Cataclysm and the end of the manga, up to the revelation that links the world of Fire Force to that of Soul Eater.
Can you start here? No: it's the very end.
Catch-up: 60 episodes, or about 24 hours.
Continue in manga: the manga is finished in 34 volumes; the anime adapts the conclusion.
14. Fate/strange Fake
Airing: until March 28, 2026.
A fake Holy Grail War organized in the United States by people who didn't understand the rules, a novel by Ryōgo Narita (the author of Baccano! and Durarara!!) and a studio that poured a feature-film budget into the fight scenes: Fate/strange Fake is the most visually generous Fate in a long time, and one of the funniest.
It appears here for its ambition and animation; the narrative, choral and wordy, will require a bit of patience from those who do not know the universe.
What is it about, in a little more detail (light spoilers)
In Snowfield, a rigged Grail War summons extraordinary Servants — including a Gilgamesh and an Enkidu — and attracts factions that never should have crossed paths. The season adapts the first volumes of the novel.
Can you start here? Yes, with some background: knowing the premise of a Grail War (Fate/Zero or Fate/stay night) helps a lot.
Catch-up: none is required; Fate/Zero (25 episodes) is the best companion.
Continue in manga: the original work is a novel, whose beginning the anime adapts.
15. Saga of Tanya the Evil — season 2
Airing: since July 8, 2026.
Nine years after the first season, the little girl with dead eyes commanding a battalion of mages in an alternate world war is back — and the series has lost none of what made it unique: a chilling military satire, a heroine rational to the point of absurdity, and a way of filming trench warfare with magic that is entirely its own.
The season is currently airing this summer; we are ranking it based on its promise and what it has already shown. It is the title on this list that will surprise you the most if you are unfamiliar with it.
What's it about, with a few more details (mild spoilers)
Season 2 picks up after the film: the Empire is bogged down on several fronts, and Tanya discovers that winning battles is no longer enough to win the war.
Can I start here? No: season 1 (12 episodes) and the film are essential — and short.
Catch up: 12 episodes + one film, or about 7 hours.
Continue with the manga: the original story is a novel; the manga, very faithful and more detailed, is an excellent re-read.
The 2026 calendar at a glance
All the entries in this guide, from last winter to next autumn. Click on a title to open its entry.
| Title | Platform (France) | Release | Ep. | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jujutsu Kaisen · season 3: The Culling GameSequel · MAPPA | Crunchyroll | Jan. 8 → Mar. 26 | 12 | Finished |
| Frieren · season 2Sequel · Madhouse | Crunchyroll | Jan. 16 → Mar. 27 | 10 | Finished |
| Witch Hat AtelierNew · BUG FILMS | Crunchyroll | From Apr. 6 | 13 | Finished |
| One Piece · Elbaf arcSequel · Toei Animation | Crunchyroll, ADN, Netflix | Since Apr. 5 | — | Ongoing |
| Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War · part 4, The CalamitySequel · Pierrot Films | Disney+ | Since Jul. 25 | 10 | Ongoing |
| Oshi no Ko · season 3Sequel · Doga Kobo | ADN, Crunchyroll | Jan. 14 → Mar. 25 | 11 | Finished |
| JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball RunSequel · David Production | Netflix | Part 1 Mar. 19, sequel Sept. 25 | — | Ongoing |
| Dorohedoro · season 2Sequel · MAPPA | Crunchyroll, ADN, Netflix | From Apr. 1 | 11 | Finished |
| Hell's Paradise · season 2Sequel · MAPPA | Crunchyroll | Jan. 11 → Mar. 29 | 12 | Finished |
| Mushoku Tensei · season 3Sequel · Studio Bind | Crunchyroll | Since Jul. 5 | 14 | Ongoing |
| Dr. Stone: Science Future · part 3, the endSequel · TMS Entertainment | Crunchyroll | Apr. 2 → Jun. 25 | 13 | Finished |
| The Ghost in the ShellNew · Science Saru | Prime Video | Since Jul. 7 | — | Ongoing |
| Fire Force · season 3, part 2Sequel · David Production | Crunchyroll | Jan. 9 → Apr. 3 | 13 | Finished |
| Fate/strange FakeNew · A-1 Pictures | Crunchyroll | Until Mar. 28 | 13 | Finished |
| Saga of Tanya the Evil · season 2Sequel · NUT | Crunchyroll | Since Jul. 8 | 12 | Ongoing |
| Dragon Ball Super: BeerusNew · Toei Animation | TBC | Autumn | — | Upcoming |
| Black Clover · season 2Sequel · Pierrot | Crunchyroll | Oct. | — | Upcoming |
| Tokyo Revengers · season 4: Three Deities arcSequel · LIDENFILMS | Disney+ | Oct. 2 | — | Upcoming |
| Blue Box · season 2Sequel · Electric Circus | Netflix | Oct. 4 | — | Upcoming |
| The Apothecary Diaries · season 3Sequel · TOHO Animation Studio · OLM | Crunchyroll | Oct. | — | Upcoming |
| Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2Sequel · Trigger | Netflix | End of year (TBC) | 10 | Upcoming |
| Ranma ½ · season 3Sequel · MAPPA | Netflix | Oct. 3 | — | Upcoming |
| The Firefly WeddingNew · David Production | Crunchyroll | Oct. 9 | — | Upcoming |
| Solo Leveling · the sequelSequel · A-1 Pictures | TBC | No date | — | Upcoming |
| Chainsaw Man · Assassins arcSequel · MAPPA | TBC | No date | — | Upcoming |
| Demon Slayer · Infinity Castle trilogy, second filmSequel · ufotable | TBC | Not before 2027 | — | Upcoming |
Autumn 2026: 8 to watch
The autumn season begins in early October. Here are the eight titles we will be following, in the order we are looking forward to them — French release dates where announced, TBC otherwise. These entries will move to the rankings in the next update, once viewed. So you don't miss anything, add these dates to your calendar (.ics file, compatible with Google Calendar, iPhone, and Outlook).
Dragon Ball Super: Beerus
Release: autumn 2026, French platform TBC.
The surprise of the season: a series centered on Beerus, the God of Destruction, announced by Toei for the autumn. This is the first time since Dragon Ball Daima that the franchise has returned to television, and the first time a character introduced in Super has received their own series. Cast, length, and French platform remain to be confirmed — we will update this entry as soon as it's announced.
Can I start here? Probably yes — Dragon Ball spin-off series are designed to be easy to jump into.
Catch up: TBC.
In our shop: our Dragon Ball figures · Dragon Ball chibi figures · Dragon Ball iPhone cases.
Black Clover — season 2
Release: October 2026.
Five years after the end of the first series and the film, Asta and the Black Bulls return in season 2. The most anticipated return of the autumn for classic shōnen fans — and a substantial catch-up for everyone else.
Can I start here? No.
Catch up: 170 episodes, or about 68 hours.
Tokyo Revengers — season 4: Three Deities arc
Release: October 2, 2026.
The Three Deities arc, the manga's penultimate, arrives on Disney+ on October 2. Takemichi heads back to the past for one last attempt, and the series enters the part of the story that most divided readers — it remains to be seen if the anime handles it better than the paper version.
Can I start here? No.
Catch up: 50 episodes, or about 20 hours.
Blue Box — season 2
Release: October 4, 2026.
The gentlest sports romance of 2024-2025 returns to Netflix on October 4. Badminton, basketball, a dormitory, and two teenagers taking their time: Blue Box is the anti-blockbuster of this list, and one of the easiest titles to recommend to someone who "doesn't like anime."
Can I start here? No — but season 1 (25 episodes) is a must-watch.
Catch up: 25 episodes, or about 10 hours.
The Apothecary Diaries — season 3
Release: October 2026.
Mao Mao and her poisons kick off the autumn season on Crunchyroll. In two seasons, The Apothecary Diaries has become the ultimate "for everyone" series: an episode-by-episode investigation, an imperial court filmed like a political thriller, and a heroine you'd follow anywhere.
Can I start here? No: two seasons (48 episodes) before it.
Catch up: 48 episodes, or about 19 hours.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2
Release: Late 2026, date TBC.
Four years after the series that drove up game sales, Trigger and Netflix are announcing a second season of ten episodes, featuring a new story in Night City. The most anticipated title of the year-end for audiences who only watch one anime a year — and one of the few on this list with no prerequisites.
Can I start here? Yes: new story, new characters, same city.
Catch up: none (season 1, 10 episodes, is a standalone masterpiece).
Ranma ½ — season 3
Release: October 3, 2026.
Rumiko Takahashi's remake continues on Netflix, with the same faithfulness to the manga and the same energy. For nostalgic fans and newcomers alike, discover the most influential romantic comedy of the 90s.
Can I start here? No: the two remake seasons (24 episodes) first.
Catch up: 24 episodes, or about 9 hours.
Firefly Wedding
Release: October 9, 2026.
The most anticipated new series of the autumn for romance fans: a young woman condemned by illness marries the assassin sent to kill her, in Meiji-era Japan. An adaptation of Tatsuyuki Oro's hit manga by the studio behind JoJo — an intriguing combination.
Can I start here? Yes — it's a first season.
Catch up: none.
Still no date, but expected
Three sequels appear in every question we're asked. None have a date: we prefer to be clear about that rather than announce a "2026" that no one has confirmed.
Solo Leveling — the sequel
Release: no date.
After a season 2 that dominated winter 2025, the sequel to Solo Leveling is in development as a film, as announced by the studio; no season 3 has a date to date. We will update this entry as soon as a window is announced.
In our shop: our Solo Leveling figures · the Solo Leveling chibi.
Chainsaw Man — Assassins arc
Release: no date or format announced.
The Reze film was one of the big hits of late 2025; the sequel will adapt the Assassins arc, but neither the format (series or film) nor the date have been announced. The title most requested by our readers — and our most monitored entry.
In our shop: our Chainsaw Man figures · Chainsaw Man iPhone cases · our Chainsaw Man watch guide.
Demon Slayer — Infinity Castle trilogy, second film
Release: not before 2027.
The first film of the trilogy was the phenomenon of autumn 2025. The second is not in the studio's 2026 schedule: sources agree on a 2027 release at the earliest, with no official date. It is therefore not a 2026 anime — but it is the one everyone is waiting for.
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Aside: 2026 films, specials and curiosities
Some of the year's releases don't fit into a series ranking but deserve a mention. Scarlet and Eternity, the Mamoru Hosoda film, hit French theaters on March 11: a fantasy reimagining of Hamlet, visually sumptuous but divisive on the narrative. My Hero Academia, a series concluded in late 2025, received two special episodes in May and August on Crunchyroll — a farewell for fans, but nothing to win over others; our chibi and My Hero Academia cases, however, remain. Kaiju No. 8 offered a four-episode mini-arc centered on Narumi in early September, and Sekiro: No Defeat, a game adaptation, arrives September 4 on Crunchyroll. Finally, the third season of Link Click, the best Chinese animation thriller, began in mid-August.
Where to watch anime in 2026, legally
Five platforms share most of the simulcast in France, and the table above shows which one for each title. In summary: Crunchyroll remains the most comprehensive (JJK, Frieren, One Piece, most new releases); ADN dubs part of the catalog with rapid French dubbing (Oshi no Ko, One Piece, Dorohedoro); Netflix has its prestige exclusives (Steel Ball Run, Blue Box, Ranma ½, Edgerunners) but often releases them in batches; Disney+ holds Bleach and Tokyo Revengers; Prime Video has secured The Ghost in the Shell. A practical tip: simulcast episodes arrive the same day as in Japan, generally in the late afternoon — for discussion-heavy titles like JJK, that's the time to stay off social media.
How we rank
A ranking is only as valuable as its methodology. Each entry carries four ratings out of 5, which we apply consistently across the board: Animation (technical consistency throughout the season, not just showcase episodes), Story (pacing, writing, satisfaction at the end of the season), Faithfulness to the manga (respect for the source work and quality of additions, or internal consistency for original works), Accessibility (can you start without having seen anything? a final season of a long series gets a 1, a new series gets a 5). The total /20 serves as a baseline; we then adjust by hand for importance — this is what places Jujutsu Kaisen ahead of Frieren despite a lower community average.
Four entries also feature a signed sidebar: the personal opinion of Johann, the shop's founder, who watches these series weekly — it's an opinion, not a rating, and it does not affect the ranking.
Alongside, we display the ratings from three communities — AniList, MyAnimeList, SensCritique — collected at the time of update from AniList, MyAnimeList and SensCritique, then converted to a 10-point scale with their average. They are not ours and we do not smooth them out: when a series is divisive, it shows. Titles currently airing are rated based on what has been released and are marked as such; they may move during the next update.
Your best anime of the season — the poll
What is the best anime of summer 2026 for you?
One vote per person. Results are shown immediately after.
The poll changes each season; the summer results will be archived in the journal in October. And if your choice isn't in the list, comments are open at the bottom of the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 10 best anime to watch in 2026?
In order of our ranking: Jujutsu Kaisen season 3, Frieren season 2, Witch Hat Atelier, One Piece (Elbaf arc), Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War part 4, Oshi no Ko season 3, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, Dorohedoro season 2, Hell's Paradise season 2 and Mushoku Tensei season 3. The next five — Dr. Stone, The Ghost in the Shell, Fire Force, Fate/strange Fake and Tanya the Evil — complete the top 15 detailed above.
What is the best anime of 2026?
For us, Jujutsu Kaisen season 3: it's the release that mattered most this year, with top-tier animation and the Culling Game arc. If you only look at public ratings, Frieren season 2 is ahead, with a community average close to 8.5/10. Both answers are defensible; we explain our choice in the "How we rank" section.
What anime are planned for 2026?
Released or ongoing: Jujutsu Kaisen S3, Frieren S2, Oshi no Ko S3, Hell's Paradise S2, Fire Force S3 part 2, Fate/strange Fake, Witch Hat Atelier, One Piece Elbaf, Dorohedoro S2, Dr. Stone Science Future part 3, JoJo Steel Ball Run, Bleach TYBW part 4, Mushoku Tensei S3, The Ghost in the Shell, Tanya the Evil S2. Still to come this autumn: Black Clover S2, Tokyo Revengers S4, Blue Box S2, The Apothecary Diaries S3, Ranma ½ S3, Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2, Firefly Wedding and a Dragon Ball Super series centered on Beerus. The calendar table in this article provides the dates.
Which anime are releasing in summer 2026?
The headliners for summer 2026 are Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War part 4 (Disney+, since July 25), Mushoku Tensei season 3 (Crunchyroll, since July 5), The Ghost in the Shell (Prime Video, since July 7), Saga of Tanya the Evil season 2 (Crunchyroll, since July 8) and season 3 of Link Click (mid-August). One Piece continues the Elbaf arc. Early September brings Sekiro: No Defeat and a mini-arc for Kaiju No. 8.
What are the best anime to watch in 2026 if I'm a beginner?
Pick the ones that don't require catching up: Witch Hat Atelier (13 episodes, fantasy, all ages), The Ghost in the Shell (new adaptation, science fiction), Fate/strange Fake if you like big battles, and this autumn, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 or The Firefly Wedding. Each entry indicates whether you need to have seen anything beforehand.
What are the 5 best anime right now?
Airing in mid-August 2026: Bleach TYBW Part 4, One Piece (Elbaf Arc), Mushoku Tensei Season 3, The Ghost in the Shell, and Saga of Tanya the Evil Season 2. This is also the list from the seasonal poll at the bottom of the page.
What is the best current anime?
If "current" means airing, our pick goes to Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4, which concludes the adaptation with the same level of animation as the previous parts. For a title you can jump into without having seen anything else, The Ghost in the Shell is the best candidate of the summer.
What are the 10 most-watched anime right now?
Platforms don't release their viewership numbers, but community popularity rankings (AniList, MyAnimeList) and search trends provide a stable picture for summer 2026: One Piece, Bleach TYBW, Jujutsu Kaisen, Mushoku Tensei, Frieren, Dan Da Dan, Solo Leveling, Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, and Chainsaw Man. The last four don't have a new season in 2026 but remain among the most-watched—which is exactly what the "Still without a date" section is for.
Update Log
What's changed, version by version
- September 2, 2026 — tweaked the introduction and update date; rankings, entries, and schedule are unchanged.
- August 17, 2026 — first publication: top 15 releases from January to August, autumn season, summer poll.
This article is a living guide: it will be revised each season—October, January, April, July—with new entries, updated ratings, and the poll archive. If a date changes or you spot an error, let us know in the comments and we will fix it.
Shonen, seinen, shojo: our guide to manga genres explains what these terms mean and which ones to read.
To navigate the isekai of the year: our isekai guide, featuring the best titles.
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