So far, 2026 has been an excellent year for anime, rich in both long-awaited returning series and exciting new titles that have been taking the community by storm. And, based on the shows scheduled to air later in the year, the Summer and Fall anime seasons are also unlikely to disappoint fans.
With so many sensational shows to experience, now is the perfect time to catch up on anime masterpieces that 2026 highlights, be it long-running franchises that fans might’ve been putting off or premieres that are unlikely to disappoint. These new and continuing anime series of 2026 should be on every anime fan’s watchlist.
Ghost in the Shell Brought Back an Iconic Cyberpunk Franchise
Back in 1995, Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost in the Shell became a pioneering work of Japanese cyberpunk, revered for its philosophical depth, striking aesthetics, and technical prowess. Since then, Ghost in the Shell has evolved into a prolific franchise. And, in 2026, Ghost in the Shell will return in a very unorthodox format.
A new Ghost in the Shell TV anime was a long time coming. Titled The Ghost in the Shell, this reimagining of the series is handled by studio Science Saru and, in its visual presentation, takes inspiration from Masamune Shirow’s original ‘90s manga. Scheduled to debut in July 2026, it offers a perfect opportunity for fans unfamiliar with the franchise to explore its roots.
Dr. Stone Is About to Wrap Up Its Long-Running Saga
A one-of-a-kind shonen series that replaces straightforward fights with intense battles of wits as a teenage genius takes on a challenge of rebuilding civilization in a stone world, Dr. Stone has been a celebration of intelligence and determination ever since its first season premiered in 2019. And now, 7 years later, Senku Ishigami’s story will finally come to an end.
As the final season of Dr. Stone is almost halfway done, new fans are unlikely to catch up with the series before it concludes. However, Dr. Stone is still undeniably worth experiencing in its entirety, as it will undeniably entertain, educate, and charm any new fan.
Nippon Sangoku Is the Most Underrated Anime of the Spring 2026 Anime Season
The Spring 2026 anime season is filled to the brim with spectacular premieres. Yet, amidst this abundance of noteworthy shows, many fans have overlooked a series that might, in fact, be this season’s true highlight – the dystopian political drama Nippon Sangoku.
What stands out first about Nippon Sangoku is, of course, its unorthodox visual presentation, with the show’s direction, use of color, and composition being one of the most unique in the entire medium. Beneath the aesthetic flair, however, hides a remarkably competent, gripping, and peculiarly humorous alternate history storyline that might, over time, blossom into a timeless masterpiece – fans just have to wait and see for themselves.
Link Click Season 3 Is Coming Back Soon
2026 is shaping up to be an excellent year, not just for anime but for donghua as well. One of the industry’s biggest international hits, Link Click has captivated audiences with its uniquely grounded take on time travel, exceptional combination of episodic and ambitious overarching narration, and layered mysteries that continuously perplex viewers.
Link Click Season 3 was initially scheduled to premiere in October 2026, yet was recently pushed forward to air as soon as this Summer. The upcoming season promises to be full of astounding revelations that might, at last, tie together the plot threads that have been meticulously developing for over five years.
Jujutsu Kaisen Blew Every Fan Away This Winter
One of the most popular anime series of today, Jujutsu Kaisen has reached new heights of quality with its latest season, the long-anticipated adaptation of the Culling Game arc. Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 was, by far, the most gorgeous anime in the Winter 2026 lineup, bringing even more energy and style to the series’ high-octane encounters with its top-notch animation.
While virtually every fan of battle shonen anime has already seen Jujutsu Kaisen, it’s extra rewarding to discover the series now that it has started to, at least visually, separate itself from the mass of its contemporaries. And while the wait for Culling Game Part 2 might prove to be a long one, it gives new fans plenty of time to catch up.
Lord of Mysteries Promises a Decade of Top-Notch Fantasy Storytelling
Another fan-favorite donghua that made its spectacular premiere in 2025, Lord of Mysteries will be returning to screens with three special episodes this Summer. Such a fast-paced release schedule is a part of studio B.CMAY PICTURES’ astoundingly ambitious project to adapt the entire Lord of Mysteries novel series by 2035 – a promise of an exhilarating adventure that will span a whole decade.
So far, the adaptation has had to condense the original novel quite significantly due to its length and narrative density. Nonetheless, Lord of Mysteries turned out to be an excellent series that captures the fantastical atmosphere and intrigue of the original work while making it more entertaining to viewers by spotlighting action and speeding up the pace.
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World Gets Better With Every Season
While the isekai genre often gets a lot of flak, it’s not void of universally acclaimed masterpieces that even fans not interested in “another world” adventures acknowledge. Re:Zero undeniably counts among such works, being a dark twist on the isekai premise with outstanding character development and nuanced worldbuilding.
Re:Zero is currently airing its fourth season, which has been eagerly anticipated by fans, and will be returning with more episodes on August 12, 2026. Unlike most long-running fantasy series that tend to gradually lose steam, Re:Zero has been consistently getting more engaging and narratively ambitious with every arc.
Every Fantasy Fan Should Be Watching Witch Hat Atelier
Arguably the most sensational premiere of an already stacked Spring 2026 anime season, Witch Hat Atelier, nonetheless, fully deserves the praise it gets. Fans of the original manga have been anticipating this anime premiere for over a decade, and, so far, it has been performing well above anyone’s expectations.
A fantasy masterpiece brimming with artistic liberty, uniqueness, and adoration for its own narrative, Witch Hat Atelier might seem like yet another magical coming-of-age tale at first glance, yet it hides layers of depth beneath the surface. Much of the series’ greatness will have no time to shine in just 13 episodes. However, getting into this magnificent story early on will undeniably prove worthwhile in due time.
One Piece Is Better & More Exciting Than Ever Before
One Piece is the biggest shonen series of all time and has been steadily releasing weekly episodes since the late ‘90s, but it underwent a noticeable change in its release schedule last year, scaling down production to 26 episodes per year. This April, One Piece returned to bring to life the highly anticipated Elbaf Arc, and the new release strategy guarantees that the anime will aim for quality over quantity in all future seasons.
As the One Piece storyline has entered its Final Saga in both the manga and the anime, it’s more urgent than ever for new fans to catch up with the series before it comes to an end. Although One Piece might seem like an intimidating time commitment, experiencing it firsthand in real time will be more worthwhile than any other anime series.
2026 Is the Year to Catch Up on JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has been a celebrated shonen classic for many decades, and its modern anime adaptation by David Production has given new life to Hirohiko Araki’s genre-defining epic. 2026, however, marked the release of the most anticipated entry in this long-running saga – the long-awaited adaptation of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run.
Despite some brewing controversies regarding Steel Ball Run’s release format, it remains the most exciting anime premiere of this year. And while all JJBA parts can, in theory, be enjoyed as standalone stories, fans would be missing out on seasons of greatness (and easily missable references) if they don’t watch the whole show before jumping into the Steel Ball Run race.