Summer 2026 Anime: What to Watch Now and What Is Coming
If you want the short answer, here it is. Right now I would tell anyone to watch four ongoing spring shows. Witch Hat Atelier and Nippon Sangoku both finish in late June, so catch up fast. Daemons of the Shadow Realm and Re:Zero Season 4 are also airing and have been really good. There is a fuller list of other spring shows currently airing further down so you can browse for more. 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 four 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?
Four ongoing shows have taken over my watch list this season. Witch Hat Atelier and Nippon Sangoku both wrap up in late June, so you have just enough time to catch up before the finale. Daemons of the Shadow Realm and Re:Zero Season 4 are longer runs that keep going into late summer, so you can jump in any time.
Witch Hat Atelier
Here is how I found this one. I kept seeing Witch Hat Atelier clips on TikTok and the animation blew me away. I was still a little skeptical that the story would actually be for me, so I went straight into the comments and asked if it was worth watching. Everyone told me to just go watch it. I did, and that same day I binged every available episode and was sitting there waiting for the next one to drop.
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.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm
I want to be honest about this one. The first episode hooked me right away, but I was genuinely surprised by where the story went and had no idea I was signing up for a ride like this. So here is my honest take. If the first episode does not pull you in, this show might not be for you. But if it does click, I promise it is worth the ride. It is also really nice to see that classic Fullmetal Alchemist animation style back on screen with a brand new cast and story.
The story follows twin siblings, Yuru and Asa, separated as kids and pulled into a hidden world where certain people can control supernatural creatures called Daemons. Hiromu Arakawa is the original author, the same person behind FMA, and Bones Film is animating it. It is a two-cour run sitting at 8.06 on MyAnimeList about a month into the broadcast.
Re:Zero Season 4
Re:Zero is back, and the way I am watching it is a little unusual. I watched season 1 many years ago. Now Season 4 is airing, and on top of that I have been clipping Re:Zero again for the site recently, which made me want to go back and rewatch the whole show. So I am running season 1 and Season 4 at the same time right now, raw, reliving the story from the start.
I forgot how crazy season 1 actually is. Season 2 follows it up really well. Season 3 was a bit weaker for me, but Season 4 picks the story back up nicely and so far I have no complaints. If you are new to Re:Zero, this is not where to start. Begin from season 1 and work your way forward.
The new season runs for 19 episodes total, split into two parts. The first part, the "Loss" cours, started April 8, 2026. The second part, "Recapture", picks up August 12, 2026.
More spring 2026 shows currently airing
Outside of the four shows above, the spring 2026 season is packed with other titles that are mid-broadcast right now. Some are huge returning sequels, some are brand new and easy to miss. Here is a wider list so you can pick what fits your taste. Tap any cover for the MyAnimeList page.
Wistoria: Wand and Sword Season 2
12 episodes. The magic school action series returns from Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures.
Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring
14 episodes. Brand new fantasy action from Wit Studio.
Dr. Stone: Science Future Part 3
13 more episodes from TMS. The science-vs-stone-age saga continues.
Classroom of the Elite 4th Season
16 episodes. Second Year, First Semester. Lerche is back on it.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4
Tensura is back. Studio 8bit returns for the next big arc.
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Season 4
24 episodes of the long-running, family-friendly demon school comedy.
Ascendance of a Bookworm: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke
The slow, beloved isekai returns from Wit Studio.
The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten 2
12 episodes. The wholesome romance is back.
Marriagetoxin
New action series from Bones Film. Hitmen, family, and marriage stakes.
Akane-banashi
New 12-episode rakugo drama from Zexcs about a girl entering the world of traditional Japanese storytelling.
I Made Friends with the Second Prettiest Girl in My Class
New 12-episode school romance comedy from Connect.
Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku!?
New 12-episode high school rom-com from TMS Entertainment.
Liar Game
New Madhouse adaptation of the cult psychological thriller manga.
Needy Girl Overdose
13-episode adaptation of the viral indie game from Yostar Pictures.
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.
Is Daemons of the Shadow Realm good?
Yes. It is a two-cour action fantasy from Hiromu Arakawa, the author of Fullmetal Alchemist, animated by Bones Film. It is currently rated 8.06 on MyAnimeList and is one of the best-received new spring 2026 shows.
Do I need to watch the earlier seasons of Re:Zero before Season 4?
Yes. Re:Zero is a heavily serialized story. Start from season 1 and work forward, otherwise Season 4 will spoil major arcs and not make much sense.
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.
