Top 10 Winter 2026 Anime You Need to Watch (And Where to Find Them)

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As the year winds down, it’s time to preview the exciting new anime coming in Winter 2026. 2025 was a fantastic year for anime, and 2026 is already shaping up to be just as good, with a lot of promising shows on the way. The Winter 2026 schedule looks particularly packed with highly anticipated releases.

The Winter 2026 anime season kicks off this January with a large number of new shows. While many are continuations of popular series that fans have been eagerly awaiting, there are also several exciting new debuts. Keep reading for a complete list of the Top 10 Winter 2026 anime and where you can watch them.

10). My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 2

Release Date: January 5th (Crunchyroll)

The TV anime for My Hero Academia recently finished airing, but the story will continue with a new season of its prequel, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. This series follows a group of heroes operating before the widespread presence of professional heroes, offering a fresh look at the franchise’s world. The upcoming second season promises to expand on this even further.

This January, fans can look forward to a new installment of My Hero Academia that promises both tougher villains for Koichi and his friends, and a deeper dive into the backstory of Shota Aizawa – something the original series didn’t fully explore. It’s a great way to continue enjoying the world of My Hero Academia if you’ve been missing it!

9). Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku Season 2

Release Date: January 11th (Crunchyroll)

A few years after its debut, the exciting anime series Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku is returning with a second season. The first season followed a group of criminals sent to a strange and dangerous island inhabited by terrifying creatures. While the first season was full of action and brutality, it only hinted at the larger story to come.

Since the original manga by Yuji Kaku finished a few years ago, the anime still has plenty of content to cover. This means viewers can expect more exciting developments and action, making it a series worth following to see what happens next.

8). Fire Force Season 3 Part 2

Release Date: January 8th (Crunchyroll)

The anime Fire Force will return this winter with the final episodes of its last season. These episodes promise to be a highlight of the winter season, packed with unexpected twists. The first part of the finale set the stage for a catastrophic event, and Shinra Kusakabe and his team in Special Fire Force Company 8 will fight to prevent it. As the characters grow more powerful, however, the world around them is beginning to fall apart, promising a dramatic and unpredictable conclusion.

7). Medalist Season 2

Release Date: January 25th (Hulu, Hulu on Disney+)

The anime series Medalist has quickly become a standout success. After premiering on Hulu (and Disney+ internationally) earlier this year, it generated a lot of buzz and quickly became a fan favorite. The show is full of exciting scenes, and the upcoming second season promises even more impressive moments. Many fans believe the new season will be even better than the first, delivering fantastic figure skating action that’s currently unmatched in anime.

6). Sentenced to Be a Hero

Release Date: January 3rd (Crunchyroll)

Coming soon, Sentenced to Be a Hero has the potential to be a major hit next year. Based on an original light novel by Rocket Shokai and Mephisto, the story takes place in a grim fantasy world. The hero is actually a prisoner forced to repeatedly fight, die, and come back to life. However, this time, he meets a surprising goddess and decides to finally end the endless cycle.

Originally planned for Fall 2025, the premiere has been pushed back, but early looks are fantastic. It will begin with a one-hour special episode, which suggests the creators are very confident in the show. This is one to watch!

5). Trigun Stargaze

Release Date: January 10th (Crunchyroll)

The popular action series Trigun has returned with a fresh reboot that reimagines the entire story. The new series initially surprised viewers with its entirely computer-generated animation, and concluded by revealing it was actually a lead-up to an even bigger ending. Trigun Stargaze will continue the story from that point, offering a more traditional experience for longtime fans of the original anime.

The series is also promising brand new story content not found in the original anime, signaling the beginning of the story’s end. Even if you’re not a fan of computer-generated animation, this is shaping up to be one of the most visually impressive shows of 2026, and there could be a few unexpected twists along the way.

4). The Darwin Incident

Release Date: January 6th (Prime Video)

I’m really excited about Shun Umezawa’s The Darwin Incident! It’s not getting as much hype as some of the bigger winter releases, but I have a feeling it’s going to be a total surprise hit. The story centers around a fascinating character – a being born half-human, half-chimpanzee, who’s been raised as one of us. Then, suddenly, he’s thrown into a really intense conflict involving animal rights groups, terrorism, and everything in between. It’s a powerful story that really makes you think about what it means to be human, seen through the eyes of someone totally unique. I think it has all the makings of a true cult classic, so definitely keep this one on your radar!

3). Love Through a Prism

Release Date: January 11th (Netflix)

Coming in 2026, Love Through a Prism is a completely original anime that’s generating a lot of buzz. It comes from the creator of the well-known romance Boys Over Flowers and is being animated by the studio behind popular series like Ranking of Kings, Vinland Saga, and Attack on Titan. Because it’s not based on existing material, it’s hard to predict exactly what the show will be like, which makes it all the more intriguing.

This story centers on a young Japanese art student who moves to London in the early 1900s. There, she encounters both competition and budding romances at her new school. With few truly captivating love stories emerging this season, this one is definitely worth watching as it unfolds.

2). Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game Part 1

Release Date: January 8th (Crunchyroll)

Honestly, I’m SO hyped for the winter anime season! There are two big series coming back that everyone’s going to be talking about, I just know it. First up is Jujutsu Kaisen – the second season was incredible, full of amazing fights, and now we’re jumping into the Culling Game arc! It’s going to throw a ton of new characters and powers at Yuji Itadori, and really push him to his absolute limit. I can’t wait to see what happens!

Many viewers may not know that the upcoming season will feature more of the supporting characters than previous ones. After the events of Shibuya, a dangerous tournament will erupt across Japan, leading to a period of intense conflict and upheaval.

1). Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2

Release Date: January 16th (Crunchyroll)

Everyone is eagerly awaiting the return of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End in Winter 2026. The first season gained a lot of popularity as viewers began to appreciate the story’s scope and emotional depth, following an elf’s journey to understand human connections – something she hadn’t fully considered during her long life.

This series follows a character revisiting her past to finally grieve lost friends, and it’s packed with the exciting action sequences fans enjoy. Expect even more of that next year, so don’t miss it!

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2025-12-18 04:14