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With the Fall 2025 anime season slowly inching closer to its conclusion, several anime are winding down to their finale. As such, anime fans are looking forward to what’s next, especially in the Winter 2026 anime season.
As anime fans would know by now, the 2026 anime calendar is stacked with several big anime. Fortunately, some of them are dropping at the very start during the Winter 2026 season. So, let’s take a look at some of the most anticipated Winter 2026 anime.
1. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2
- Creator(s): Kanehito Yamada (Story), Tsukasa Abe (Art)
- Release Date: January 16, 2026
- Animation Studio: Madhouse
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
As fans must know, the Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End anime was a massive success. The anime centers on Frieren, Fern, and Stark as they traverse through the land that the protagonist passed by previously during her adventure with Himmel, Heiter, and Eisen.
With the anime ending its first season with Fern becoming a First Class Mage, the anime’s next season will see the trio leave the city and proceed to the northern lands. As such, fans can expect to see Frieren and her group journey through an all-new place.
2. Hell’s Paradise Season 2
- Creator(s): Yuji Kaku
- Release Date: January 11, 2026
- Animation Studio: MAPPA
- Where To Watch: Netflix, Prime Video
MAPPA’s Hell’s Paradise anime first aired in Spring 2023. While MAPPA had been releasing several big projects around the time, Hell’s Paradise stood out a lot due to its unique story and visuals. As such, despite not being the animation studio’s biggest project, fans have been eagerly waiting for its sequel to drop.
The anime’s first season ended with Gabimaru and others defeating the powerful Tensen Mu Dan. However, the victory wasn’t very celebration-worthy as Senta lost his life in the process. In the meantime, some new executioners arrived on the island, setting up conflicts for the upcoming season.
3. Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3: The Culling Game Part 1
- Creator(s): Gege Akutami
- Release Date: January 8, 2026
- Animation Studio: MAPPA
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
Since its premiere, Jujutsu Kaisen has been MAPPA’s biggest project. Up until now, the anime has released two full seasons and a prequel movie. As such, fans are very excited for the anime’s next season. While it is true that fans can get a preview of the season with the Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution movie, fans want more.
The anime previously ended with Kenjaku revealing his true identity and initiating the Culling Game. In the meantime, Satoru Gojo is declared a co-conspirator of Kenjaku’s actions and Yuji’s death sentence is revoked. As such, Yuta Okkotsu took on the task to execute him.
4. Oshi no Ko Season 3
- Creator(s): Aka Akasaka (Story), Mengo Yokoyari (Art)
- Release Date: January 14, 2026
- Animation Studio: Doga Kobo
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
As fans must recall, Oshi no Ko was the biggest anime when it premiered its first season in Spring 2023. Unlike other anime that were popular due to their Shonen elements, Oshi no Ko employed a Seinen showbiz storyline, wrapped around reincarnations. As such, it quickly became popular due to its unique take.
The anime’s previous season ended with Aqua Hoshino ending his revenge plan. In the meantime, Ruby found out that Gorou Amamiya had been killed. Hence, she began her plot to find out the murderer lurking within the entertainment industry.
5. Fire Force Season 3 Part 2
- Creator(s): Atsushi Ohkubo
- Release Date: January 9, 2026
- Animation Studio: David Production
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
It’s been six years since the Fire Force anime premiered for the first time. Now, in the Winter 2026 anime season, it will be releasing its final part, concluding the Atsushi Ookubo story in the most climactic way possible.
The anime’s previous part ended with the Holy Sol Temple aligning with the White Clad to burn down Earth. Meanwhile, Shinra and Inca travelled into the past via Adolla to find a way to save the future. This is when Shinra found out about the world’s reality.
Considering how the previous part ended, the upcoming anime season is bound to be more fascinating.
Also Read: Fire Force’s Great Cataclysm Explained and How It Changed the World Forever
6. Chained Soldier Season 2
- Creator(s): Takahiro (Story), Yohei Takemura (Art)
- Release Date: January 8, 2026
- Animation Studio: Passione, Hayabusa Film
- Where To Watch:
As anime fans must remember, when Chained Soldier first premiered in the Winter 2024 anime season, many thought it was just another harem fantasy anime. However, they soon realized that the series’ themes were for a far more mature audience.
The anime’s first season ended with Yuuki and Kyouka defeating the Unihorn that destroyed Kyouka’s village in the past. In the aftermath, while the Thunder Gods were plotting further attacks, Kyouka vowed to become the Demon Defense Force’s Supreme Commander to change the organization from within.
As such, the anime’s next season should follow Kyouka and Yuuki, as they prepare to take on the Thunder Gods.
7. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 2
- Creator(s): Hideyuki Furuhashi (Story), Court Betten (Art)
- Release Date: January 5, 2026
- Animation Studio: Bones Film
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
With My Hero Academia inching toward its conclusion, it is only natural that fans switch their focus to the prequel spinoff “My Hero Academia: Vigilantes.” The anime released its first season in Spring 2025, and is set to release its sequel in Winter 2026.
The anime’s previous season ended with Knuckleduster saving his daughter, Tamao, from Kuin. Soon after, the vigilante vanished, leaving Koichi and Pop Step to continue their vigilante activities in the Naruhata city district. With that, the anime set up its next story arc.
8. Trigun Stargaze
- Creator(s): Yasuhiro Nightow
- Release Date: January 10, 2026
- Animation Studio: Orange
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
While Trigun was already a successful anime, its reboot is not something fans can ignore. This is because the new anime isn’t just a remake but a reimagining of the original series.
The end of Trigun Stampede saw Vash confront Million Knives to stop him from blowing up the city of July. Unfortunately, Vash failed in his mission, leading to the destruction of the city. If that wasn’t enough, the bounty on Vash’s head went even higher, setting up things for the future.
Trigun Stargaze is set two and a half years after the Lost July Incident and will center on Vash as he plans to confront his brother once again.
9. Golden Kamuy: Saishuushou
- Creator(s): Satoru Noda
- Release Date: January 5, 2026
- Animation Studio: Brain’s Base
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
As fans must recall, Golden Kamuy first came out in Fall 2018. Ever since, the anime has released four television anime and one sequel theatrical movie, covering the events from the Sapporo Beer Factory Arc. As such, the anime’s upcoming fifth season is set to be the final one.
Golden Kamuy: Sapporo Beer Koujou-hen movie ended with a climactic battle that saw Sugimoto, Asirpa, Hijikata’s faction, and Tsurumi’s 7th Division all converging, resulting in major clashes. Amidst this, the anime dropped new hints about the treasure hunt, setting up the final season.
10. In the Clear Moonlit Dusk
- Creator(s): Mika Yamamori
- Release Date: January 11, 2026
- Animation Studio: East Fish Studio
- Where To Watch: Crunchyroll
In the Clear Moonlit Dusk is a Shoujo-Romance anime that is about to plant its foundation in the Winter 2026 anime season. The story centers on Yoi Takiguchi, who despite being a girl, is touted as the school’s “prince” due to her boyishly attractive appearance and casual disposition.
Yoi was largely indifferent to the attention she received, but when the school’s other “prince,” Kohaku Ichimura, called her beautiful, the compliment left her flustered. Given that she was not used to feeling this way, she tries to distance herself from him. Nevertheless, she fails to completely ignore the stir Kohaku caused in her heart.
Also Check: The Best Romance Anime That Aren’t Just High School Love Stories
11. The Darwin Incident
- Creator(s): Shun Umezawa
- Release Date: January 6, 2026
- Animation Studio: Bellnox Films
- Where To Watch: Prime Video
The Darwin Incident is a Sci-Fi Seinen series produced by the newly founded Bellnox Films animation studio. The anime centers on Charlie, a “humanzee”- a hybrid of half-human and half-chimpanzee. He was born to a pregnant chimpanzee rescued from the eco-terrorist organization, The Animal Liberation Alliance(ALA).
After Charlie turned 15 years old, his human foster parents believed he was finally ready to attend a normal high school. That’s where he made his first human friend, a human girl named Lucy. Unfortunately, Charlie’s life wasn’t going to be as peaceful as he would have hoped, as the ALA had now grown more extreme than ever.
Honorable Mentions: Fate/strange Fake, Sentenced to be Hero, Medalist Season 2, Journal with Witch.
These are some of the anime that caught our eye from the upcoming Winter 2026 anime. Do comment below if you feel we have missed out on any.
Gokul is an anime journalist with nearly five years of experience in the editorial industry. He currently also writes for ScreenRant and has previously written for Sportskeeda and OtakuKart. He loves watching anime and reading manga, and is a massive Black Clover and Haikyuu!! fan.
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