Anime Influence: Rankings - Most Anticipated Anime in 2026

Hello everyone, 

Welcome to Anime Influence, which is similar to Gaming Influence. However, I am mainly giving my thoughts on certain anime and anime series with some fun mix of anime-related content here.

For this edition of Anime Influence, I'll be ranking my most anticipated anime in 2026.

Before I start, I will only be ranking anime that were released in 2025, which includes the beginning of the year to the end of the year, as well as anime that have episodes in 2025. That means if the anime started before 2025, but has episodes in 2025 that are still ongoing, that will qualify. In addition, if the anime started in 2025, but it's still ongoing, that would also qualify. Also, these rankings will not include movies, OVAs, or specials as I consider them separate. Finally, if your favorite anime of 2025 didn't make it on my rankings, that doesn't mean I hate that anime; it just means I haven't watched it or have no interest in it, so keep that in mind.

Anyway, let's get started!

Before I start my actual rankings if you want to see my most anticipated anime of last year, check out the link here: Anime Influence: Rankings - Most Anticipated Anime in 2025

Here are some honorable mentions that I enjoyed, but didn't make it on the list:

Honorable Mentions: Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3, Yojo Senki: Saga of Tanya the Evil Season 2, Saga of Tanya the Evil II, Eleceed, Beastars Final Season, Fire Force Season 3 Part 2, Golden Kamuy Final Season, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 2, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4, Classroom of the Elite IV, Marriagetoxin, Rooster Fighter, The Elusive Samurai Season 2

Now, let's start with my #20 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Trigun Stargaze is an anime based on the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yasuhiro Nightow, Trigun. It will be created by Orange and will air on January 10, 2026.

This is the sequel to Trigun Stampede, as this is the continuation of the Trigun reboot of the original Trigun, which is based on the manga of the same name in the mid to late 90s. So far, the reboot has been good, but I feel like they could've done better. However, with Trigun Stargaze, this is their chance to improve it, so looking forward to seeing how Trigun Stargaze turns out once it airs, as it might already be airing by the time you read this.

Here's my #19 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Black Clover Season 2 is an anime based on the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yūki Tabata. It will be created by Studio Pierrot and is scheduled to air in 2026.

It's been five years since the last episode of Black Clover was aired, but it's making a comeback this year with Season 2, and so far, it's looking great. From the trailers we've seen so far, it looks to cover the Spade Kingdom Raid Arc and possibly the final arc that is currently in the manga, as the manga is about to end soon, depending on how many episodes this season will have. Regardless, great to see Black Clover back, and we'll see if it delivers or not.

Here's my #18 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Yomi no Tsugai, or Daemons of the Shadow Realm in the West, is an anime based on the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. It will be created by Bones Film and is scheduled to air in April 2026.

This manga is written by the same author who did Fullmetal Alchemist and Silver Spoon, so you know it's going to be quite interesting. From what I've read in the manga, it's good, but not on the same level compared to Fullmetal Alchemist, or even Silver Spoon, in my opinion. Despite that, I'm curious to see how the anime adaptation will turn out and hope it surprises me in a good way in three months.

Here's my #17 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Tokyo Revengers: Santen Sensou-hen, or Tokyo Revengers: Three Deities Arc in the West, is an anime based on the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ken Wakui, Tokyo Revengers. It will be created by LIDENFILMS and is scheduled to air in 2026.

Tokyo Revengers is one of those manga series that I do enjoy reading, and I believe that the anime adaptations of Tokyo Revengers have been good. This will be the final season of Tokyo Revengers, which has a chance to be amazing depending on how they do it. Regardless, it's going to be very violent, and I'm curious to see how it'll turn out once it's released later this year.

Here's my #16 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Jigokuraku 2nd Season, or Hell's Paradise Season 2 in the West, is an anime based on the Japanese web manga series written and illustrated by Yuji Kaku. It will be created by MAPPA and will air on January 11, 2026.

This is a manga series that I enjoyed reading during its time, and I really enjoyed the first season of the anime that they did three years ago as well. Judging by the trailers they've shown, it looks like the second season will cover the Lord Tensen Arc, which is the best arc in my opinion, and the Hōrai Arc, which is pretty good as well. As long as MAPPA animates and paces these arcs well, we're in for a treat.

Here's my #15 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Koukaku Kidoutai, or The Ghost in the Shell in the West, is an anime based on the Japanese cyberpunk manga series written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. It will be created by Science SARU and is scheduled to air in 2026.

Ghost in the Shell is one of those classic manga/anime series from the late 80s to the late 90s, so it's very cool to see the series getting a reboot nearly thirty years later. As of this time, we haven't seen much of the anime reboot, as we only got teases of it, but with it being a classic and it being made by Science SARU, it has a chance to deliver greatly. Hope this anime adaptation of Ghost in the Shell turns out well once it airs later this year.

Here's my #14 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Fate/strange Fake is an anime based on the Japanese light novel series written by Ryōgo Narita and illustrated by Morii Shizuki. It will be created by A1-Pictures and will air on January 3, 2026.

I've always been a fan of the Fate/strange series and glad to see that there'll still be anime adaptations of the other Fate/strange series. Even though Fate/strange Fake may not be the best within the Fate/strange series, I still think it's good in its own way with its own incredible moments. I'm very curious to see how A1-Pictures will animate this and I guess we'll find out soon enough as it'll be airing by the time you read this.

Here's my #13 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Liar Game is an anime based on the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shinobu Kaitani. It will be created by Madhouse and will air in April 2026.

This is one of my favorite manga series of all time, as it's currently my #2 favorite manga of all time. When the anime adaptation of this manga got announced, I got super excited as I thought we would never get an anime of this, but here we are! The fact that Madhouse is animating this gives me high hopes that this anime will deliver. As long as it follows the source material with good pacing, we're in for a treat.

Here's my #12 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Medalist 2nd Season, or Medalist Season 2 in the West, is an anime based on the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsurumaikada. It will be created by ENGI and will air on January 25, 2026.

Medalist is one of those manga series that I do enjoy reading, as it's one of those touching stories where you want the protagonist to succeed in their dream, and I believe the first season of the anime did that incredibly well. Judging by the trailers being shown for the second season, it looks to cover the Chubu Block Tournament Arc, where Inori Yuisuka continues to grow and develop as a character while facing new rivals. I'm very curious to see how the second season will turn out and we won't have to wait long as it'll be out in a few weeks.

Here's my #11 most anticipated anime in 2026:

One Piece: Elbaf Arc is an anime based on the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece. It will be created by Toei Animation and will air in April 2026.

It's a new era for One Piece as they finally went seasonal after being ongoing for the past nearly thirty years when it first aired in 1999. One Piece will return with the final arc in the Elbaf Arc, so I expect big moments to show up, and I'm curious to see how Toei Animation will animate the final arc as One Piece is at its end. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out once it airs in three months.

Now, we're in the top ten. Here's my #10 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Akane-banashi is an anime based on the Japanese manga series written by Yuki Suenaga and illustrated by Takamasa Moue. It will be created by Zexcs and will air in April 2026.

This is one of my favorite drama manga series currently and I'm happy that it's going to have an anime adaptation. Everything that we've seen with the trailers for the anime so far, it's looking pretty good, it's now all about the execution, if it follows the source material, and the pacing. Hope it delivers as it's an enjoyable drama series that I think people will enjoy, so I'm hoping for the best.

Here's my #9 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Dr. Stone: Science Future Part 3 is an anime based on the Japanese manga series written by Riichiro Inagaki and illustrated by Boichi. It will be created by TMS Entertainment and will air in April 2026.

Currently, I think they did a great job with the final season of Dr. Stone: Science Future. Granted, not a fan that they have to do the final season in multiple parts, but the action, the character development, and the story have been well done, so I'm willing to forgive the multiple parts here at this time. Part 3 will be released in three months and it might be the final part, but we'll have to wait and see. I expect it to deliver and it should be great regardless.

Here's my #8 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen - Kashin-tan, or Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity in the West, is an anime based on the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tite Kubo, Bleach. It will be created by Pierrot Films and will air in July 2026.

The anie adaptation for the Thousand-Year Blood War arc for Bleach has been incredibly well so far as I personally prefer the anime over the manga when it comes to this arc. A lot better pacing and the action is definitely up to par from what you expect in Bleach. This will be the final part of the arc and I'm very curious to see how they will animate the end. Looking forward to it and I hope they killed it once it airs in six months.

Here's my #7 most anticipated anime in 2026:

[Oshi no Ko] 3rd Season, or [Oshi No Ko] Season 3 in the West, is an anime based on the Japanese manga series written by Aka Akasaka and illustrated by Mengo Yokoyari. It will be created by Doga Kobo and will air on January 14, 2026.

Even though I have issues with the manga series of Oshi no Ko, when it comes to the anime, it has delivered for the most part, which makes me very happy. The third season of Oshi no Ko, from what we've seen with the trailers so far, covers the Mainstay Arc and possibly the Scandal Arc as Ruby continues to discover what's going on with the entertainment industry. Very curious to see how this will be animated, and looking forward to watching it once it airs in a few weeks.

Here's my #6 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 4th Season, or Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 4 in the West, is an anime based on the Japanese light novel series written by Tappei Nagatsuki and illustrated by Shinichirou Otsuka. It will be created by White Fox and will air in April 2026.

I've been a fan of Re:ZERO for a long time now, as both the light novel series and the anime have been delivering on all fronts. Subaru and Emilia continue to develop and evolve as characters, as I'm curious to see how their progress is heading into their obstacle. I'm very curious to see how they'll do it heading into the fourth season once it airs in three months.

Now, we're in the top five. Here's my #5 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Jujutsu Kaisen: Shimetsu Kaiyuu - Zenpen, or Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game Part 1 in the West, is an anime based on the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Gege Akutami. It will be created by MAPPA and will air on January 9, 2026.

Even though I'm not a fan of the ending of the manga to Jujutsu Kaisen, that doesn't mean I'm not excited for the anime because I'm in. Just in the title, this season of Jujutsu Kaisen will cover The Culling Game Arc, so expect to see some crazy action in this one. Granted, not a fan of it being parts as usual, but looking forward to this one regardless and I'm sure it'll be a banger,

Here's my #4 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto 3rd Season, or The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 in the West, is an anime based on the Japanese manga series written by Natsu Hyūga and illustrated by Touko Shino. It will be created by OLM and TOHO animation STUDIO, and will air in October 2026.

I could continue to praise and talk about this series for a long time, but I won't be doing that, as I'll be a broken record at that point. However, yes, of course I'll be excited for the third season of The Apothecary Diaries as it's one of the best series out there in manga and anime. Granted, it'll be a while until it airs, but once it does, we're in for a treat.

Here's my #3 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Sousou no Frieren 2nd Season, or Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 in the West, is an anime based on the Japanese manga series written by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukaba Abe. It will be created by Madhouse and will air on January 16, 2026.

This is another one that shouldn't be too surprising and totally expected because it's one of the best manga and anime series going on currently. The second season of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, from what we saw in the trailers, will probably cover the Northern Travels Arc, Divine Revolt Arc, and possibly Golden Land Arc, which should be awesome to see being animated. Looking forward to watching it once it airs in just a few weeks.

Here's my #2 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Steel Ball Run: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken, or Steel Ball Run: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure in the West, is based on the seventh story arc of the Japanese manga series, JoJo no Kimyou an Bouken, or JoJo's Bizarre Adventure in the West, written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki. It will be created by David Production and will air on March 19, 2026.

I mean, what else do I need to say about it? It's freaking JoJo's Bizarre Adventure for crying out loud! Not only that, this is the anime adaptation of the best part within JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga, Steel Ball Run. Everything we've seen with the trailers so far has been fantastic, but I just hope that the execution delivers as well. Looking forward to watching it once it airs in two months.

Now, here's my #1 most anticipated anime in 2026:

Tongari Bōshi no Atorie, or Witch Hat Atelier in the West, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kamone Shirahama. It will be created by BUGS FILMS and will air in April 2026.

Originally, this anime was supposed to air last year, but it got delayed as they were trying to polish the animation, which I understand and appreciate, as this is a series that can't be butchered. Witch Hat Atelier is one of the best manga series out there, and the anime adaptation of it should deliver in the biggest way possible. If done well and right, this series can be at the same level compared to Frieren Beyond Journey's End in my opinion. Hope it delivers once it airs in three months.

Those are my most anticipated anime in 2026.

What is your most anticipated anime in 2026?

Let me know in the comments below, and thank you for reading.