Summer 2026 Anime: What to Watch Now and What Is Coming
If you want the short answer, here it is. Right now, before they finish in late June, I would tell anyone to watch two ongoing shows: Witch Hat Atelier and Nippon Sangoku. Both surprised me, and both sit near the top of the rankings for good reason. Then, for the summer 2026 season that starts in July, the most anticipated shows are Saga of Tanya the Evil II, Mushoku Tensei season 3, the next part of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, and a brand new Ghost in the Shell from Science SARU.
Below I go through each one and why it is worth a look. The two ongoing shows are ones I am actually watching right now, and the summer list rounds up the season's most anticipated, so you know what is coming.
What anime should I watch right now?
Two ongoing shows have taken over my watch list this season. The best part is that both wrap up in late June, so you have just enough time to catch up before the finale.
Witch Hat Atelier
I will be honest with you. When I started Witch Hat Atelier, I did not think it would be for me. The art looked pretty, but I assumed the story would not grab me. I was completely wrong. The world, the characters, and the animation pulled me in fast and changed my mind almost right away. I got so hooked that I binged the whole thing in a single day and caught right up to the newest episode.
It follows Coco, a dressmaker's daughter who dreams about magic, until she discovers that her favorite picture book is secretly a real spellbook. From there she steps into the hidden world of witches. It is fantasy with a lot of heart, and the animation is genuinely beautiful. With a score of 8.74, I am clearly not the only one who fell for it.
Nippon Sangoku
Nippon Sangoku was the same story for me. I had only seen a few pieces of promo art and had no idea what to expect. Then I watched the first episode and fell in love right away. It hooked me so hard that I went and bought Sun Tzu's The Art of War, because the way the show thinks about strategy and war made me want to study the real thing.
The setting is bold. In the near future, Japan collapses after war, disasters, and corruption, and the country breaks into three warring nations. It is the classic Three Kingdoms story reimagined in a broken modern Japan, told with a serious military tone. If you like tense, smart stories about power and strategy, start this one.
What are the best upcoming anime for summer 2026?
The summer 2026 season starts in July, and it is stacked. Many of the biggest names are returning seasons, so here are the standouts to watch for. Tap any cover to open its page.
Saga of Tanya the Evil II
The most anticipated return of the season. Dark military fantasy.
Mushoku Tensei Season 3
One of the most respected isekai continues, from Studio Bind.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War
The next part of Bleach's final arc, The Calamity.
Ghost in the Shell
A brand new adaptation by Science SARU. The easiest one to start fresh.
Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht Rising
The long-awaited continuation movie from Shaft.
Grand Blue Dreaming Season 3
Pure comedy. The diving club is back.
A few more anime that could be worth your time:
Trapped in a Dating Sim Season 2
The 100 Girlfriends Season 3
Skeleton Knight in Another World II
Clevatess Season 2
What other summer 2026 anime should be on your radar?
Beyond the headliners, here are more summer 2026 shows ranked by how much buzz they are getting on MyAnimeList. These are the smaller titles that are easy to miss but worth a look.
I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day
A fantasy school drama with a girls' love story.
Behind the Supermarket, Smoking with You
A quiet adult romance built around shared smoke breaks.
From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Season 2
Action-fantasy about a humble country swordsman with hidden strength.
You and I Are Polar Opposites Season 2
A sweet high school romance between two opposites.
The Elusive Samurai Season 2
CloverWorks' stylish historical series about a young lord on the run.
Sparks of Tomorrow
A new Kyoto Animation original, an alternate early-1900s drama.
When do the summer 2026 anime come out, and will they be dubbed?
The season begins in July 2026. The two ongoing shows above, Witch Hat Atelier and Nippon Sangoku, both finish in late June, so you can catch up right before it starts. Here are the premiere dates confirmed so far:
- Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3: July 6, 2026
- Ghost in the Shell: July 7, 2026
- Saga of Tanya the Evil II: July 2026, exact day still to be announced
- Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, The Calamity: July 2026, exact day still to be announced
- Grand Blue Dreaming Season 3: July 2026, exact day still to be announced
- Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht Rising (movie): August 28, 2026
On English dubs: most of these are sequels or big franchises whose earlier seasons already had English dubs, so dubs are very likely here too. The catch is timing. A dub almost never drops at the same moment as the Japanese premiere. It usually starts a few weeks later, and a true same-day dub is rare and only gets confirmed close to launch. For the exact dub date on any of these, check the show on Crunchyroll as its premiere gets near.
Where can I find clips from these anime?
These shows are brand new, so we do not have clips of them in our own gallery yet. The good news: the raw episodes are very likely already up on nyaa.si, since popular titles get uploaded fast, and you can search and grab them right here on our site with our built-in nyaa browser at animeclips.online/nyaa. If you want to turn them into your own AMV, our guide on where to download anime clips walks you through the whole process.
FAQ
When does summer 2026 anime start?
The summer 2026 anime season starts in July 2026.
Is Witch Hat Atelier worth watching?
Yes. It is a beautiful fantasy series with a strong story, currently rated 8.74 on MyAnimeList, and it surprised me enough that I finished all of it in one day.
What is Nippon Sangoku about?
A near-future Japan splits into three warring nations, a modern take on the Three Kingdoms era, with a heavy focus on strategy and war.
Do I need to watch the earlier seasons of the summer sequels?
For most of them, yes. Shows like Mushoku Tensei, Saga of Tanya the Evil, and Bleach are sequels. If you want something new with no homework, start with the new Ghost in the Shell.