The Anime we are most excited for in 2026!

Welcome to the Loot Lounge. It is a bit of a quiet afternoon here at the ArcaLoot warehouse in sunny Queensland, so I finally have a moment to sit down with a coffee and actually chat about something other than tracking numbers and surface textures. While my days are usually spent obsessing over the perfect glide for our mousepads, my nights are almost always spent either grinding out ranked matches in whatever shooter has my attention or catching up on the absolute mountain of anime that Jenny and I have on our watchlist.

We were sitting around the dinner table with a few mates last weekend, just after a pretty intense session of some tactical shooters where I definitely didn't carry the team, and the conversation turned to what we are actually looking forward to in 2026. It feels like we have been waiting an eternity for some of these sequels, but looking at the schedule, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest years for anime in a very long time. It is going to be a massive year for anyone who loves a good story, whether you are into high octane battles or those slower, more emotional journeys that make you look at the world a bit differently.

The Winter Season Heat

The year is going to kick off with a massive bang in January. If you are a fan of Jujutsu Kaisen, you already know that January 9 is marked in red on every calendar in the country. Season 3 is finally arriving, diving straight into the Culling Game arc. After the chaos of the Shibuya Incident, I reckon we are all a bit emotionally scarred, but I am so ready to see how they adapt this next part. Jenny is already worried about her favourite characters, and honestly, I am right there with her. We have 26 episodes to look forward to, which is a decent chunk of television to get through during those humid summer nights.

Just a week later, on January 16, we get the return of Frieren: Beyond Journeys End for Season 2. This was easily one of my favourite watches of the last few years. There is something about the pacing of that show that just hits different. It is relaxing but then it hits you with these incredible action sequences that remind you why you love the genre. It is the perfect show to have on while I am doing some light work or testing out a new prototype pad. The way it handles the passage of time is just beautiful, and I am keen to see where the journey takes them next.

We also have the second season of Hell’s Paradise coming on January 11. That show was such a dark horse for me. I remember starting it on a whim and being absolutely hooked by the mystery of the island. It has that dark shonen vibe that I really dig, especially when the stakes feel genuinely high. Plus, for those of us who grew up with Vash the Stampede, Trigun Stargaze arrives on January 10. The 2023 remake was a bit of a visual masterpiece, so a sequel to that is definitely something to keep an eye on.

Fresh Stories and New Worlds

While sequels are great for that hit of nostalgia and continuity, I am always hunting for something new. There is a series called Witch Hat Atelier that is set for an April 2026 release, and the buzz around it is massive. From the previews I have seen, the animation looks like it is on another level. It has this incredible fantasy vibe that feels fresh, and even though there have been some delays with the studio, I reckon it will be worth the wait. It is one of those shows that looks like every frame could be a piece of art, which is something I always appreciate as someone who spends my life looking at graphic designs for our gear.

Another one that has me curious is Daemons of the Shadow Realm, which should be dropping around Spring. It is written by Arakawa, the legendary creator of Fullmetal Alchemist, so you know the storytelling is going to be top tier with plenty of twists. I have always been a fan of how she builds worlds, and this one sounds like it is going to be just as immersive.

A Big Year for Gamers

As someone who runs a gaming business, I have to talk about the crossovers. We are finally getting an anime adaptation of Sekiro: No Defeat. The fact that it is being hand drawn is a huge deal. If you have played the game, you know how punishing and beautiful it is. I still have flashbacks to some of those boss fights, and I am pretty sure I went through two different mousepads just from the sheer intensity of trying to parry everything. Seeing those fights translated into a hand drawn anime style is going to be incredible. It is such a perfect fit for the medium.

We also have the second season of the Devil May Cry anime coming in May. I have always loved the style and swagger of that series. It is pure action, and sometimes that is exactly what you need after a long day of work. It is the kind of show that makes you want to fire up the console immediately after an episode ends.

The Grand Finales and Long Awaited Returns

Looking further into the middle of the year, Summer 2026 is going to be dominated by Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War The Calamity. This is supposed to be the big finale arc with Ichigo taking on Yhwach. I have been following Bleach since the early days, back when I was still in school, so seeing it get this high quality treatment for the final arc has been a real treat. It feels like the end of an era, and I am sure the animation will be absolutely peak for the big showdown.

We are also hearing that Black Clover Season 2 might finally make its return in 2026. Fans have been waiting for this one for a long time, especially since the manga is heading towards its conclusion. It will be great to see Asta and the crew back in action with some of those early arc writing strengths that made the series so popular in the first place.

Then there is JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run, which is slated for March. This is one that my mates and I talk about constantly. It is widely considered one of the best parts of the entire JoJo saga, and the western setting is such a cool departure from the previous seasons. I can already see the memes and the fan art taking over the internet when that one drops.

Final Thoughts and Community Picks

It is honestly a bit overwhelming when you see it all laid out like that. Between the massive sequels like Jujutsu Kaisen and Frieren, and the exciting new projects like Sekiro and Witch Hat Atelier, we are going to be absolutely spoiled for choice. It makes me glad that I have a comfy setup at home where I can just switch off the work brain and dive into these worlds. 

I usually watch these on my second monitor while I am doing some casual gaming or maybe just sorting through some community feedback on our latest pad designs. There is something really nice about having a great show playing in the background while you are doing something you love. 

I am curious though, what are you lot actually hyped for? Are you a sequel person who has been waiting years for Black Clover to come back, or are you looking for something brand new like The Darwin Incident? Maybe you are just like me and you are just stoked to see Sekiro get the anime treatment it deserves. 

Drop a comment below and let me know what is on your watchlist for 2026. I am always looking for recommendations, and I love hearing what the community is getting excited about. Whether it is a dark shonen or a cozy fantasy, let me know what I should be keeping an eye on while I am busy packing up your next ArcaLoot order. Enjoy the games and the shows, mates.