For anime fans, the first half of 2026 went by really fast, as there were simply too many amazing shows. Witch Hat Atelier and Re: ZERO defined what real fantasy is, Jujutsu Kaisen showed how to make a proper action anime, and You and I Are Polar Opposites gave us one of the best romance stories in the industry.
However, we are not done yet, as the second half of the year still remains. And we are going to be even happier with the amount of amazing anime that is in store for us in Summer and Fall 2026. Let’s take a look at some upcoming anime this year that should be on your radar, ranking them on the basis of how good they could be.
10. Tomb Raider King
For starters, Tomb Raider King is the upcoming anime adaptation of the manhwa with the same name. The story follows Joo-Heon Seo. He is a tomb raider who gets betrayed and is left to die alone, only to wake up after going 15 years into the past with complete knowledge of everything that is going to happen.
The reason this adaptation ranks the lowest is that it feels like a copy of Solo Leveling. Both involve a weak protagonist who gets a second chance at life and uses a given uniqueness to become overpowered, while settling old scores along the way. Now, for a lot of the fans, this can be a good thing considering how much Solo Leveling was loved around the world. However, there is a high chance that because of the comparison, Tomb Raider King will feel pale.
9. Ao Ashi Season 2
Ao Ashi is perhaps one of the best sports anime in the industry, and it’s finally getting another season after four years. What makes it so good is the fact that it treats football like an actual mind game instead of winning every single game with the power of friendship.
If we consider just season one of the anime, it would make sense to put this higher on the ranking because of how good it was. However, the twist is that Production I.G. is not animating this season anymore. Season 2 is being made by TMS Entertainment, the studio behind anime such as Dr. Stone and Rent-a-Girlfriend, both of which are not known for their animation. Due to these variable changes, we can’t be sure if the sequel is going to be good.
8. The Ribbon Hero
The Ribbon Hero must be an unfamiliar name for modern anime fans. However, this story holds a lot of historical significance in the anime and manga culture. The Ribbon Hero is Netflix’s new reimagining of Osamu Tezuka’s Princess Knight, a manga that basically invented the shoujo genre in the 1950s. It’s been 27 years since this franchise had any animations at all.
From the trailer alone, this anime looks amazing. It’s being directed by Yuki Igarashi, who also worked on big names like Jujutsu Kaisen and Star Wars: Visions. However, it’s ranked at 8 because it’s a revival project, which does not make it a guaranteed banger.
Princess Knight’s original story leans heavily on tropes that were groundbreaking in the 1950s. The premise can come across as dated or even regressive to modern viewers raised on more nuanced gender storytelling.
7. Sekiro: No Defeat
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice getting an anime adaptation is a really unique event. The anime itself is called Sekiro: No Defeat, and Studio Qzil.la is handling a fully hand-drawn 2D adaptation, retelling the story of Wolf, the one-armed shinobi protecting his young lord Kuro in Sengoku-era Japan. One thing that’s going to be unique here is that five more original voice cast members from the game will reprise their roles (as per the official website).
It hits Japanese theaters on September 4, 2026, for a three-week limited run before streaming on Crunchyroll. It ranks here because adapting a game that’s famous for brutal, silent combat into a narrative format is genuinely difficult to pull off, so there’s some uncertainty about tone even though the trailers look stunning.
6. Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising
Finally, after multiple delays, Puella Magi Madoka Magica’s sequel movie is releasing on August 28, 2026, and the wait is going to be totally worth it. This movie is a direct sequel to 2013’s Rebellion, and the entire original “Magica Quartet” is back: Gen Urobuchi on script, Akiyuki Shinbo directing, and Yuki Kajiura on music.
This anime franchise completely flipped the magical girl genre on its head over a decade ago, and this movie is going to be much darker and more philosophical than previous entries. It’s ranked at 6 instead of higher purely because so many delays make it hard to fully hype up until it’s actually out.
5. Black Clover Season 2
Amazing news for Black Clover fans as the wait for season 2 is almost over. Studio Pierrot is coming back to animate this masterpiece that rivals the Big 3 of shonen themselves. The timing for the hype is good for this anime, as the manga was recently finished this year as well.
Season 2 picks up the Spade Kingdom Raid arc, with Asta and Liebe’s bond taking center stage. It ranks mid-list because expectations are sky-high after such a long break, and there’s real pressure to stick the landing after all this buildup. In fact, it’s not something new fans can simply watch, as there is a mountain of episodes to watch before getting into season 2.
4. Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend
Rascal Does Not Dream is one of the best supernatural romance and slice-of-life anime out there, and this year, the story of Sakuta is finally coming to an end. Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend is still being directed by CloverWorks, and it’s going to resolve the final Adolescent Syndrome mystery involving the strange girl Sakuta encountered.
What makes this movie rank this high is the fact that, so far, the anime has proven to be a masterpiece, and there is a lot of build-up that will be resolved here. Closing out a beloved cast properly hits differently than a random new season would.
3. Link Click Season 3
South Korean studio CMC Media and director Li Haoling are continuing Link Click for its third season. In the last season, it was revealed that Lu Guang has more powers and is also able to kill anyone from a distance. From the trailer, it appears that our cool and calm Lu Guang is also going to have a breakdown. Furthermore, Qiao Ling also has her own powers now.
The track record is what makes this anime rank this high. The first 2 seasons and the Bridon Arc were all amazing, and each ending did an amazing job at creating further mystery for the next season. Furthermore, another anime by Li Haoling, called To Be Hero X, also showed that he can make action really well. So, we can rest assured that this other season is going to be a masterpiece.
2. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity
After four years of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc building up, The Calamity is the actual final chapter of Bleach, releasing on July 25, 2026. Ichigo finally gets his full rematch with Yhwach, alongside every major fight fans have been waiting for since the manga ended over a decade ago.
Studio Pierrot has been putting their everything into this adaptation, consistently giving us some of the best animation in modern shonen. It’s ranked at number 2 because this is a genuine cultural moment, closing out one of the “Big Three” for good.
1. The Apothecary Diaries Season 3
Taking the top spot is The Apothecary Diaries Season 3, which splits into two cours, part one in October 2026 and part two in April 2027, plus an entirely original movie dropping in December. What makes this such a big deal is the story shift: Maomao is finally leaving the palace and heading to the Western Capital, meaning the whole dynamic is going to change. And it’s also going to include some more romance as well after Maomao and Jinshi got closer.
This anime has become one of the most respected for blending mystery, politics, and character writing without ever needing flashy action to keep people hooked. With The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 and the movie releasing soon, it’s easily the most anticipated series in the second half of 2026.
With two cours, a movie, and a genuine shift in setting all happening in one release window, it’s easily the most stacked and most anticipated anime coming in the second half of 2026.
| RANK | ANIME | RELEASE DATE |
| 10 | Tomb Raider King | Jul 8, 2026 |
| 9 | Ao Ashi Season 2 | Oct 4, 2026 |
| 8 | The Ribbon Hero | Aug 8, 2026 |
| 7 | Sekiro: No Defeat | Sep 4, 2026 |
| 6 | Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising | Aug 28, 2026 |
| 5 | Black Clover Season 2 | Oct 2026 |
| 4 | Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend | Oct 16, 2026 |
| 3 | Link Click Season 3 | Aug 14, 2026 |
| 2 | Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity | Jul 25, 2026 |
| 1 | The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 | Oct 2026 |
Which anime are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments.
