2025 was an amazing year for anime. It saw the release of some big new hits, as well as the return of some already established series. But as it stands, Winter 2026 could be even better. The winter 2026 anime season has begun, and things are looking incredibly exciting for anime fans.
Frieren season 2 release date officially confirmed
The release date for Frieren Season 2 has just been revealed.
From the get-go, some of the biggest anime series are making a comeback. The likes of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End and Jujutsu Kaisen are returning, while new series are also kickstarting, such as The Darwin Incident. Fans can't wait to fully dig in as this could be one of the most packed anime seasons in a while.
Frieren: Beyond the Journey's End Season 2
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Release date: January 16, 2026
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Number of Episodes: 10
Frieren: Beyond the end of the journey is an anime series that started in 2023 with the first anime season. Immediately, fans around the world loved it. The series follows the story of the main character, named Friren, who is a long-lived elf. As she begins to become more carefree and less thoughtful about the time she spends with others, the death of the protagonist Himel changes that. Freren goes on a trip to meet Himmel again.
Frieren and his adventures are returning in winter 2026. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 is one of the most anticipated releases, and It will kickstart on January 16, 2026.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3
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Release date: January 9, 2026
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Number of episodes: 26
As the most anticipated anime release of Winter 2026, and possibly the entire year, it's like no other. Jujutsu Kaisen. Jujutsu Kaisen already has two great seasons, the last one was released in 2023. now, Jujutsu Kaisen is officially back with season 3Which marks the beginning of the long awaited Calling Game arc.
Jujutsu Kaisen is a story about wizards and their battles against cursed spirits. In Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2, the world's strongest, Gojo Satoru, was sealed. Fans can't wait to see what happens in the calling game. Fortunately for fans, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 already started on January 9, 2026Not one, but two back-to-back episodes.
My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2
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Release date: January 5, 2026
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Number of Episodes: 13
My Hero Academia The main anime series ended in 2025 with the full release of Season 8. With no new episodes for the original anime, fans have turned their attention to the My Hero Academia spin-off, called Vigilantes.
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a prequel to the MHA series. Instead of Deku, the series follows Koichi's story. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes season 1 was released in 2025, and its second season was one of the first winter releases of 2026. My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 is ongoing, starting on January 5, 2026. The season will be short with a total of 13 episodes.
Fire Force Season 3 Part 2
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Release date: January 9, 2026
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Number of Episodes: 12 (expected)
Fire Force Follows the story of Shinra and the strange phenomenon of spontaneous human combustion. The series has proven to be one of the most popular new anime series out there. Many fans started watching it because of their love for Soul Eater, but many fans have come to love the series for what it is. sadly, The fire brigade has now reached its final stage. The final season of the story has already started, and fans know that the first core of the season aired from April 5 to June 21, 2025.
Now, the series is back with its second and final course in the winter of 2026. With the release of the second part, Fire Force will end as an anime, and fans are excited to see how this ending will hold. Fire Force Season 3 Part 2 premiered on January 9, 2026, And while it's not fully confirmed, it should have a total of 12 episodes.
Season 3 of Oshi no
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Release date: January 14, 2026
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Number of Episodes: 11
Of Oshi no is an exciting anime series that took off overnight when it first released its anime in 2023. since then, Oshi No Ko has received a second season, and now, a third season is on the way, set to premiere on January 14, 2026.. Season 3 of Oshi no may be one of the last seasons of the show. After all, the manga is already over. In that regard, many are excited to see how the plot progresses.
The biggest shonen anime for 2026 has been announced
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Oshi no follows the story of reincarnated twins Aqua and Ruby as they try to uncover the truth about their mother's murder. Season 3 of Oshi no will continue this exciting story with 11 new episodes.
Cosmic Princess Kaguya!
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Release date: January 22, 2026
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Running time: 143 minutes
While most anime fans look forward to new anime seasons, upcoming anime movies should not be overlooked either. The most popular new anime movie to be released in Winter 2026 is none other than that the universe Princess Kaguya!
Cosmic Princess Kaguya! is an exciting new project that will reimagine the story of the Bamboo Cutter, one of the most iconic Japanese folk tales out there. The anime movie is coming out on January 22, 2026, but sadly, fans won't be able to watch it in theaters. The movie will immediately hit the streaming platform, Netflix. With a 2-hour+ run, fans are in for a fun watch, as well as some great music.
The Darwin phenomenon
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Release date: January 7, 2026
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Number of Episodes: To be determined
The Darwin phenomenon Easily one of the new Winter 2026 anime releases that fans are already excited about. Darwin Incident began airing its first anime season on January 7, 2026. The plot of the series has intrigued many, the main character Charlie is very strange. He is half human, half chimpanzee, also known as “manavaji”. Charlie was raised by humans for years, but his life undergoes a major change after catching the attention of the ALA.
While fans know that The Darwin Incident is already out, it's still unclear how many episodes it will have. This will be determined by the studio in the coming weeks.
Hell's Paradise Season 2
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Release date: January 11, 2026
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Number of Episodes: To be determined
hell's heaven A phenomenal series long overdue for an anime continuation. In 2023, Hell's Paradise finally got an anime, and its first season was released through MAPPA Studio with 13 episodes. Thanks to the immense quality, fans immediately fell in love with this story. Since then, fans have been patiently waiting for the second season, and it is sure to be one of the best winter 2026 releases.
Hell's Paradise Season 2 premieres on January 11, 2026And right now, the number of episodes is not clear. Seeing as season 1 had 13 episodes, fans can expect a similar short run for season 2. Hell's Paradise follows Gabimaru the Hollow. Unable to execute, he is sent on a mission to retrieve the elixir of life.
