Best Upcoming Anime in 2026: 10 Must-Watch Anime
Best Upcoming Anime in 2026: 10 Must-Watch Anime You Should Know About
Anime • News • Recommendations
Last Updated: September 11, 2026
If you love anime, 2026 is turning into a year you definitely don't want to miss.
From highly anticipated sequels to brand-new adaptations, the anime lineup for the rest of 2026 is packed with exciting releases. Some of the biggest names include JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, The Apothecary Diaries Season 3, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, and several other major titles.
Whether you're looking for your next binge-watch or simply want to know which anime are coming in 2026, this guide has you covered.
🔥 1. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run
One of the most anticipated anime releases of 2026 is JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run.
The story follows Johnny Joestar, a former jockey, and Gyro Zeppeli as they participate in a massive cross-country horse race across America. Naturally, things become much more complicated than a simple race.
Netflix has confirmed that new Steel Ball Run episodes will stream weekly from September 25, 2026, with 11 episodes announced for this release.
Why you should watch it:
Unique characters
Crazy supernatural abilities
An unusual Western-inspired setting
High-stakes competition
One of the most famous stories in the JoJo franchise
Genre: Action, Adventure, Supernatural
Streaming: Netflix
🧪 2. The Apothecary Diaries Season 3
Maomao is returning!
The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 is scheduled to premiere on October 2, 2026. The series follows Maomao, an intelligent young woman with extensive knowledge of medicine and poisons, as she becomes involved in mysterious incidents inside the imperial palace.
The anime became particularly popular because of its combination of mystery, clever investigations, palace politics and Maomao's unusual personality.
If you enjoy anime that make you think rather than relying entirely on battles, this should be high on your watchlist.
Genre: Mystery, Historical, Drama
Streaming: Crunchyroll
🌃 3. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2
Night City is coming back.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2 is scheduled for October 20, 2026, exclusively on Netflix.
Unlike the first season, the new season will feature a completely new cast and a standalone story while returning to the brutal world of Night City. The second season is planned as a 10-episode series.
If you loved the emotional storytelling and futuristic world of the original Edgerunners, this is definitely one to watch.
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Cyberpunk
Streaming: Netflix
⚔️ 4. Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3
Fans of Jujutsu Kaisen have another huge story waiting for them.
Season 3 moves into the Culling Game arc, one of the most intense sections of the manga.
Following the events of the Shibuya Incident, the new season brings even more dangerous battles, powerful cursed techniques and major developments for the characters.
If you haven't watched the previous seasons yet, now is a great time to catch up.
Genre: Action, Dark Fantasy, Supernatural
Streaming: Crunchyroll
🗡️ 5. Sekiro: No Defeat
What happens when one of the most challenging video games gets turned into an anime?
You get Sekiro: No Defeat.
Based on FromSoftware's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, this hand-drawn anime adaptation brings the game's brutal samurai world to the screen.
The series premiered on September 4, 2026, making it one of the newest anime releases of the month.
If you're a fan of samurai, dark fantasy and intense sword fights, add this one to your list.
Genre: Action, Samurai, Dark Fantasy
Streaming: Crunchyroll
🏴☠️ 6. One Piece — Elbaph Arc
The Straw Hat Pirates are entering one of the most anticipated parts of the One Piece story.
The Elbaph Arc continues Luffy's adventure after the events of Egghead Island.
One major change in 2026 is the anime's slower release schedule. The series is planned for a maximum of 26 episodes during the year, helping reduce filler and unnecessary pacing issues.
For longtime One Piece fans, Elbaph is one of the biggest anime storylines to keep following.
Genre: Adventure, Action, Fantasy
Streaming: Crunchyroll / Netflix
🌀 7. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 2
The My Hero Academia universe continues with My Hero Academia: Vigilantes.
The spin-off focuses on heroes who operate outside the official hero system and explores a different side of the world created by the original series.
Season 2 is among the notable returning anime of 2026.
Genre: Superhero, Action, Shonen
👻 8. The Ghost in the Shell
One of anime's most influential cyberpunk franchises is returning.
The new Ghost in the Shell anime comes from Science SARU and revisits the futuristic world of technology, artificial intelligence and cybercrime that made the franchise famous.
If you enjoy intelligent science-fiction anime, this is worth keeping on your radar.
Genre: Sci-Fi, Cyberpunk, Psychological
❄️ 9. The Ramparts of Ice Season 2
Fans of The Ramparts of Ice also have something to look forward to.
Netflix confirmed that Season 2 will premiere in October 2026. New teaser material was also revealed during Netflix's Anime Expo 2026 announcements.
Genre: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
Streaming: Netflix
🐉 10. Dragon Ball Super: Beerus
Another major Dragon Ball project is making headlines in 2026.
The newly announced Dragon Ball Super: Beerus is scheduled to begin in Japan on October 11, 2026, revisiting the Battle of Gods storyline with updated animation and production.
For Dragon Ball fans, this could become one of the biggest anime talking points of the year.
Genre: Action, Martial Arts, Fantasy
⭐ Which Upcoming Anime Should You Watch First?
If you don't know where to start, here's our quick recommendation:
| Anime | Best For | Hype Level |
|---|---|---|
| JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run | Adventure & unique stories | 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 | Action & battles | 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| The Apothecary Diaries S3 | Mystery & drama | 🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| Cyberpunk: Edgerunners S2 | Sci-Fi & emotional stories | 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| One Piece: Elbaph | Long-time shonen fans | 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| Dragon Ball Super: Beerus | Classic shonen fans | 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| Sekiro: No Defeat | Samurai & dark fantasy | 🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| Ghost in the Shell | Sci-fi fans | 🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
📅 What Makes 2026 Special for Anime Fans?
The final months of 2026 are particularly packed.
October alone includes major releases such as The Apothecary Diaries Season 3, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2, Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, and other new and returning anime.
September is also bringing major releases, with JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run continuing from September 25 and several other titles arriving throughout the month.
🎯 Final Thoughts
2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year for anime fans.
Whether you're into shonen battles, romance, mystery, cyberpunk, samurai, fantasy or adventure, there is something worth watching.
Our biggest recommendations right now are JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2, The Apothecary Diaries Season 3, and One Piece's Elbaph Arc.
Bookmark AniVeyra and check back for more anime news, release dates, recommendations, reviews and upcoming anime updates.
Which anime are you most excited about in 2026? Tell us in the comments!
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