2026 Anime Calendar: Major Series Return with Epic Seasons
From Frieren's highly anticipated continuation to JoJo's Steel Ball Run adaptation, 2026 promises an incredible lineup of anime releases. Discover when your favorite series return and what new adventures await.
The upcoming year promises an extraordinary collection of animated series that will captivate fans across all seasons. Starting in January, viewers can expect powerhouse titles making their triumphant return, with dozens of additional premieres scheduled throughout the months ahead.
Tracking these releases can prove challenging, as schedules often shift unexpectedly and major productions sometimes appear without advance notice or disappear from lineups entirely. However, some of the most beloved animated series are preparing comebacks this year, ensuring fans won't want to miss when iconic franchises like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and Ghost in the Shell make their return.
Winter Season Launches
The year kicks off strong with Case Closed: Detective Conan continuing its ongoing run. January 3rd brings both Fate/strange Fake and Sentenced to Be a Hero to screens. Golden Kamuy reaches its Final Season on January 4th, followed by My Hero Academia: Vigilantes season 2 on January 5th.
The momentum builds with Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 premiering January 8th, Fire Force season 3 part 2 on January 9th, and Trigun Stargaze launching January 10th. Hell's Paradise season 2 arrives January 11th, Oshi no Ko season 3 debuts January 14th, and Frieren: Beyond Journey's End season 2 caps off the month on January 16th.
Spring Through Fall Releases
April ushers in One Piece: Elbaph Arc alongside Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World season 4, The Beginning After the End season 2, Wistoria: Wand and Sword season 2, and Witch Hat Atelier. Devil May Cry season 2 follows in May.
Summer brings Black Torch and The Detective is Already Dead season 2 in July. Fall features The Apothecary Diaries season 3 in October, Blue Box season 2, and The Apothecary Diaries movie in December.
Standout Productions
Several titles without confirmed dates include Beastars season 3 part 2, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War: The Calamity, Dr. Stone Science Future part 3, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, Sekiro: No Defeat, and The Ghost in the Shell. Additional series like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle 2, Haikyuu VS The Little Giant, and Vinland Saga season 3 remain undated.
Notable highlights include Frieren's continuation following its record-breaking first season success, JoJo's Steel Ball Run featuring a 19th-century cross-country horse race with supernatural elements, and Jujutsu Kaisen's intense Culling Game arc adaptation. The year also promises Sekiro's fully hand-drawn game adaptation and Science Saru's return to the Ghost in the Shell universe.