2026 is shaping up to be one of the best years for anime in a long time: the return of iconic franchises, long-awaited second seasons, and new proposals already defining the year. This guide collects the 15 best anime of 2026 ordered by impact, animation quality, and community reception, with information on available streaming platforms and which season to watch first.
Quick summary: the top 15 of 2026
| # | Anime | Season | Platform | Community score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JoJo Steel Ball Run | Spring/Summer | Crunchyroll | 9.4/10 |
| 2 | Solo Leveling S2 | Winter/Spring | Crunchyroll | 9.1/10 |
| 3 | Jujutsu Kaisen S3 | Spring | Crunchyroll | 9.0/10 |
| 4 | Daemons of the Shadow Realm | Spring | Crunchyroll | 8.7/10 |
| 5 | Dorohedoro S2 | Spring | Crunchyroll | 8.9/10 |
| 6 | Dungeon Meshi S2 | Winter | Netflix | 9.2/10 |
| 7 | Frieren S2 | Winter/Spring | Crunchyroll | 9.3/10 |
| 8 | Oshi no Ko S3 | Spring | Crunchyroll | 8.8/10 |
| 9 | Vinland Saga S3 | Spring | Netflix | 9.0/10 |
| 10 | Blue Lock S2 (Neos Arc) | Winter | Netflix | 8.6/10 |
| 11 | Kaiju No. 8 S2 | Spring | Crunchyroll | 8.5/10 |
| 12 | Apothecary Diaries S2 | Winter | Crunchyroll | 8.8/10 |
| 13 | Dandadan S2 | Spring | Netflix | 8.7/10 |
| 14 | Sakamoto Days | Winter | Netflix | 8.5/10 |
| 15 | Medalist | Winter | Crunchyroll | 9.0/10 |
Top 15 best anime of 2026: full analysis
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run Spring 2026
After years of anticipation, the adaptation of Part 7 of Hirohiko Araki's manga has arrived and lives up to the legend. Steel Ball Run is set in 1890 America: a cross-country horse race from coast to coast that hides a supernatural secret. The protagonist Johnny Joestar is paraplegic, completely changing the Hamon and Stands dynamic. The direction captures the dust and vastness of the American West with a visual palette no previous JoJo season has had. Considered by many fans the best manga arc of the last 20 years — and the adaptation does it justice.
Solo Leveling Season 2 Winter 2026
Solo Leveling Season 2 won Best Action Anime and Best Animation at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026. The Monarch arc expands the universe to global scale: Sung Jinwoo now faces threats that endanger human existence itself. A-1 Pictures confirmed no expense would be spared for the final battle sequences.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Spring 2026
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 adapts the Culling Game arc, the most complex and dark of the series. A death game on a national scale with multiple simultaneous battle fronts, permanent losses of beloved characters, and Megumi's development at the center. MAPPA maintains reference-tier animation.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm (Yomi no Tsugai) Spring 2026
The most pleasant surprise of spring 2026. Combines high-octane action with the mythology of Yomi, the world of the dead in Shinto. Studio Bones — behind My Hero Academia and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood — applies its technical mastery to an original universe with no manga source. Battles prioritize tactical intelligence over power-scaling.
Dorohedoro Season 2 Spring 2026
The most awaited dark fantasy return. Dorohedoro Season 2 picks up where the first left off — with Caiman searching for his lost identity — and escalates the weirdness and violence without losing the chaotic black humor that distinguishes Q Hayashida's work. Essential if you enjoyed the first season.
Dungeon Meshi Season 2 Winter 2026
Dungeon Meshi was the 2024 phenomenon and its second season completes the adaptation of Ryoko Kui's manga, considered one of the best fantasy manga of the last fifteen years. Trigger proves it can maintain production quality across 26 full episodes. If you haven't seen the first season, it's on Netflix with excellent dubbing.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 Winter/Spring 2026
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End was anime of the year 2023 and Season 2 (2026) brings Frieren and Fern to the First-Class Mage Exam, the longest and most demanding arc in the manga so far. Madhouse maintains the animation level that took Frieren to the Anime Awards. If you want something opposite to power fantasy, Frieren is irreplaceable in 2026.
Oshi no Ko Season 3 Spring 2026
Oshi no Ko — the manga by Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari — is the smartest deconstruction of the Japanese entertainment industry ever published. Season 3 adapts the theatrical arc, where Aqua and Ruby dive into the theater industry to find their biological father.
Vinland Saga Season 3 Spring 2026
Vinland Saga Season 3 adapts the war arc between England and Denmark. Thorfinn leads a ship of refugees seeking Vinland — the promised land without violence in northern America. MAPPA maintains the historical rigor and philosophical reflection on violence and freedom. Less action than previous seasons, more diplomacy and moral dilemma.
Blue Lock Season 2 — Neos Arc Winter 2026
Blue Lock Season 2 adapts the Neos arc, where Blue Lock Project players face the Japanese professional league. Football as a psychological battle between hyper-specialized egos remains the most original sports genre proposal in years.
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 Spring 2026
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 enters the Number 9 arc and is where Naoya Matsumoto's manga fires up its narrative quality. Production I.G increases the production budget for transformation and combat scenes. Season 2 turns Kaiju No. 8 into more than what its first half promised.
Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Winter 2026
Apothecary Diaries was the surprise anime of 2023-2024 and Season 2 confirms it was no accident. Maomao continues solving mysteries in the imperial Chinese court while political intrigue escalates. The safest recommendation of 2026 for audiences looking for something outside combat shonen.
Dandadan Season 2 Spring 2026
Dandadan was the bomb of autumn 2024: science fiction, Japanese folklore, teenage romance, and absurd action mixed with the most experimental animation of the year. Science SARU returns in 2026 with the second season and more arcs from Yukinobu Tatsu's manga.
Sakamoto Days Winter 2026
Sakamoto Days is the first anime of Yuto Suzuki's manga and Netflix bets big: Taro Sakamoto is the most legendary assassin in the world, who retired when he got married and has a family. When his old enemies return, he must defend his own without his wife finding out. The most entertaining action comedy of 2026.
Medalist Winter 2026
The most emotionally moving surprise of 2026. Medalist adapts Tsurumaikada's manga about figure skating. The ice animation by Pine Jam is technically impressive, the drama is honest without easy melodrama, and the score completes an experience many compare to Ping Pong the Animation in emotional intensity.
Where to watch the best anime of 2026
| Platform | Top 2026 anime | Monthly price |
|---|---|---|
| Crunchyroll | JoJo SBR, Solo Leveling S2, JJK S3, Dorohedoro S2, Frieren S2, Oshi no Ko S3… | From $7.99/month |
| Netflix | Dungeon Meshi S2, Vinland Saga S3, Blue Lock S2, Dandadan S2, Sakamoto Days | From $6.99/month |
| Amazon Prime Video | Occasional releases, stable catalog | From $8.99/month |
FAQ about the best anime of 2026
What is the best anime of 2026?
Solo Leveling Season 2 won Best Action Anime and Best Animation at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026. For thrillers, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is the most talked-about. For something different, JoJo Steel Ball Run is the revelation of the year with its period western format.
What anime are coming out in summer 2026?
The summer 2026 season features continuations of arcs started in spring: JoJo Steel Ball Run in its central part, plus new seasons of ongoing titles and several independent studio releases.
Where to watch the best anime of 2026?
Crunchyroll has the main catalog with simulcast. Netflix has exclusive licenses for franchises. Most of the top 15 are split between Crunchyroll and Netflix.
Is Solo Leveling Season 2 good?
Yes. Solo Leveling Season 2 exceeded expectations: A-1 Pictures maintains high animation quality and the Monarch arc expands the universe. It won Best Action Anime at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026.
Is JoJo Steel Ball Run in 2026?
Yes. JoJo Steel Ball Run adapts Part 7 set in 1890 America. Considered by many fans the best arc in the manga. Available on Crunchyroll.