'Jujutsu Kaisen' and 4 Other Most Anticipated Anime Returning in 2026
Get your must-see lists ready – it's going to be a big year.
2026 promises to be a true treat for anime fans (especially in January), as long-awaited new seasons to popular titles are already on the horizon.
After painfully long breaks filled with theorizing and rewatching, fans will finally get answers to their lingering questions and see their favorite story arcs develop.
1. 'Jujutsu Kaisen' Season 3
Release Date: January 8, 2026
The story follows young sorcerers studying at the Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College as they defeat terrifying monsters.
The name of the arc, Culling Game, reveals that Yuji Itadori and his friends will participate in a brutal Battle Royale hosted by the dark mage, Kenjaku, in the third season.
The first two episodes of the new season have already premiered. In fall 2025, they were shown in Japanese theaters as part of the movie Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution.
2. 'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End' Season 2
Release Date: January 16, 2026
The ageless elf Frieren and her companions, the talented sorceress Fern and the brave knight Stark, continue their quest to the Demon King's castle.
Along the way, they will encounter other sorcerers and battle dangerous demons. Meanwhile, Frieren, who is virtually immortal, still reminisces about her previous quest, which ended fifty years ago.
3. 'Fire Force' Season 3 Part 2
Release Date: January 9, 2026
The final season of a mystical detective series is set in an alternate version of Tokyo. The peaceful lives of residents have been shattered by the appearance of Infernals, terrifying fire monsters.
These creatures were once human, but after experiencing spontaneous combustion, they lost their ability to think and became aggressive. Special fire brigades were created to combat these creatures, and Shinra was recruited for one of these teams.
Two hundred and fifty years ago, the city was shaken by a mysterious Great Cataclysm. Now, Shinra's brigade and other teams are trying to discover what really happened.
4. 'Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku' Season 2
Release Date: January 11, 2026
During the Tokugawa dynasty, the elusive ninja and brutal assassin Gabimaru was captured. He is given one chance to escape his just punishment: he must join other criminals in searching for the elixir of immortality.
According to legend, the elixir is located on a mysterious island from which there is no escape. The island is inhabited by terrifying stone monsters, which Gabimaru engages in battle.
5. 'Devil May Cry' Season 2
Release Date: May 12, 2026
The events depicted in the first season of the show differed significantly from the original Devil May Cry game plot, making it difficult to predict how the next season will play out.
In the first season, Dante fought the demonic White Rabbit, who dreamed of erasing the boundaries between Hell's denizens and ordinary people.
After defeating the White Rabbit, Dante learned that his twin brother Vergil was still alive. The search for Vergil will likely be the focus of the new season.
