JuicyTalk
2026 has just started, and there are already a couple of amazing anime series that could be considered serious contenders for anime of the year.
2025 had one of the most stacked lineups in a long time, and it looks like 2026 isn’t much different. From top-tier shōnen franchises, to old series finally making long-awaited returns, to some of the most interesting premises in the medium, anime in 2026 has been great.
It’s still early in the year, and there will be a lot more amazing anime to come as the year progresses, but there are a select few franchises that are already asserting themselves as potential picks for 2026’s anime of the year.
Fire Force
To call Fire Force’s third season weird would be a massive understatement. It’s one of the strangest anime in recent years, and in an art form filled with some of the weirdest ideas around, that’s saying something.
Fire Force looks like it’s finally ending, and it’s going out with a bang. The art style is solid, the sound design is probably the best in anime, and the narrative is downright loony. While Fire Force might not have what it takes to win anime of the year, it’s certainly making a strong claim for itself.
Journal with Witch
Journal with Witch is an emotionally mature series that tackles some of the heaviest topics not just in anime, but in life in general. While most anime series shy away from heavy topics, Journal with Witch dives right into them.
Journal with Witch is a refreshing, philosophical, ambitious series that shines light on some of the darkest topics in society. Makio Koudai learns about her older sister’s death, and when she realizes her niece will become an orphan, she takes her in. The series focuses on their new, odd relationship and the emotional development the two share with one another.
Golden Kamuy
Golden Kamuy’s final season is here, and it’s sending the series out in style. Asirpa and Sugimoto have never been closer to the Ainu treasure, and unfortunately for them, they’re not the only ones closing in on the gold.
Golden Kamuy has been a cult-classic since its inception, and the final season is no exception. It’s an adventurous, bold, somewhat historical anime that is finally coming to an end, and it’s making a name for itself as a top contender in the race for 2026’s anime of the year.
One Piece
One Piece hasn’t even aired in 2026, and yet, there’s not a soul who would doubt that it won’t be considered for anime of the year. One Piece is one of the longest-running anime franchises of all time, and it looks like Eiichiro Oda’s masterpiece is finally coming to an end.
Almost every arc in One Piece is solid, and the upcoming Elbaph Arc might be one of the best yet. It’s taking the already monumental series to a whole new level, with Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates finally heading to the home of the Giants. It’s going to be groundbreaking when it finally comes out, and it could easily become 2026’s best anime.
Oshi no Ko
Oshi no Ko cemented itself as an all-time great when it debuted with one of the best first episodes in anime. Oshi no Ko’s premiere was gripping, and somehow, the series only got better from there. On the surface, Oshi no Ko is about the world of idols, but at its core, it’s so much more.
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Oshi no Ko is obsessive, endearing, and somewhat creepy all at once. It’s one of the best, most complex, most ambitious anime series in years. While the first two seasons are magnificent, the third might be the franchise’s best yet. If the series’ current trajectory continues, the next season might be one of the best ever made.
You and I Are Polar Opposites
You and I Are Polar Opposites is the standout romance anime of 2026. It’s massively underrated, which is such a disappointment as this series doesn’t let up. It’s amazing from the first episode and stars some of the sweetest, most adorable characters and interactions in the art form.
You and I Are Polar Opposites is about two people who, as the title puts perfectly, couldn’t be more different from one another. Despite, or maybe because of, their differences, they fall in love, instantly creating an anime couple that everyone wants to root for.
Hell’s Paradise
Hell’s Paradise had a solid first season when it debuted, and the second season is much better. The second season takes everything that the first did well and runs with it, creating an amazing shōnen series with potential to grow exponentially.
The action in Hell’s Paradise is easily its crown jewel, and the fights the series puts forward are only getting better. New, daunting characters have been introduced, the old characters have been expanded upon, and the world as a whole looks more intimidating than ever.
Sentenced to Be a Hero
Sentenced to Be a Hero has an art style that just won’t quit. It’s gritty, dark, and metal like few anime before it, and there aren’t many series that can match Berserk’s masterful bleakness quite as well.
Sentenced to Be a Hero has a seemingly simple premise that only gets better the longer the series runs. It’s an action-packed thrill ride from the very beginning, but there’s something different about the series. The season isn’t over yet, but there might just be a turn towards the end that elevates the franchise to an award-winning level.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
If there’s a list of the best anime in any year, and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End came out that year, it’s going to be near the top of the list every time. There are only a select few series that can inarguably be considered the best anime of all time, and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is one of them.
Frieren’s first season took the world by storm, and the second is no different. It’s a masterpiece of an anime that shows a slower side to life than most, and that’s exactly where it excels. While there’s a debate to be had about whether the first season is better than the second, there’s no debating just how good this franchise is.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen has always been good. The first season was solid, the second season was even better, and the third season has unequivocally taken the franchise to new heights that nobody could have predicted. The third season of Jujutsu Kaisen is monstrously good, showcasing some of the best fights and best artwork in the medium.
Jujutsu Kaisen’s third season is a moving masterpiece. There are so many jaw-dropping scenes that it’s worth pausing the show to appreciate them. The Culling Games might be Jujutsu Kaisen at its peak, and the third season has done an excellent job at bringing some of the franchise’s best to the screen.
