Anime starting this season: your Fall 2026 watchlist

Every new anime season starts the same way: a dozen tabs open, a group chat arguing about which first episode “counts” and a watchlist that’s three times longer than anyone has time for. So here’s ours, trimmed down. These are the Fall 2026 shows worth trying, grouped by how much commitment they ask of you, with where they stream.

A quick note on dates: premiere dates below are the streaming debut dates announced by the platforms (JP = the Japanese TV broadcast). Simulcasts usually go live at the same moment worldwide, so depending on your time zone an episode can land a day earlier or later than the date shown – a Japanese late-night broadcast arrives in the afternoon in Europe and the morning in the Americas. Streaming catalogues also vary by country, so a show on Crunchyroll or Netflix in one region may not be in yours. Where an international platform hasn’t been confirmed, we’ve said so.

The big returns

Unless noted, Crunchyroll titles below are streaming in Crunchyroll’s international catalogue; check that a show is listed in your country before you plan around it.

The Apothecary Diaries season 3 – Crunchyroll, from 2 October

The palace-intrigue mystery series with the sharpest lead in anime is back. Season 3 is planned as two cours, with the second half due in April 2027, so this is a long-haul one. If you’ve not started, there’s a whole lot of excellent catch-up waiting.

Ranma 1/2 season 3 – Netflix (most regions), from 3 October

The remake keeps rolling, streaming exclusively on Netflix shortly after each Japanese broadcast. Chaotic, silly, endlessly rewatchable.

Tokyo Revengers: Three Deities Arc – Disney+, from 2–3 October

Disney+ has this one as a worldwide streaming exclusive (outside mainland China), starting just after the Japanese broadcast. Delinquent time-travel drama – you know if it’s your thing.

Black Clover season 2 – Crunchyroll, from 3 October

Asta is back after a long wait for the TV series to return. Crunchyroll has a long list of dubs coming later, including English.

Aoashi season 2 – Crunchyroll, from 4 October

Probably the most underrated sports anime of recent years. If you liked the first season’s tactical nerdery, this is a must.

New and intriguing

Magic Knight Rayearth – Crunchyroll, from 7 October

A new anime for CLAMP’s classic magical-girls-meet-mecha story. One for the 90s kids and for anyone curious about where a lot of modern isekai tropes came from.

Firefly Wedding – Crunchyroll, from 9 October

Part of Fuji TV’s noitaminA block, which has a strong track record for slightly more grown-up storytelling. A good “try episode one” pick.

DARK MACHINE THE ANIMATION – Crunchyroll, from 13 October

Starts this week. If you want something new rather than a sequel, this is the newest box on the list.

PSYREN – Crunchyroll, from 16 October

The cult supernatural survival manga finally gets an anime. Fans of the original run have waited a long time for this one.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 – Netflix (worldwide), 20 October (all 10 episodes)

The big one. Studio TRIGGER and CD PROJEKT RED return to Night City with a standalone, ten-episode story, a new crew of characters and a reimagined animation style. All episodes arrive at once, so clear an evening (or three). No need to have played Cyberpunk 2077 – but a rewatch of the first Edgerunners won’t hurt.

Comfort and continuing

• Sasaki and Peeps season 2 – Crunchyroll, from 7 October.
• The Detective Is Already Dead season 2 – Crunchyroll, from 7 October.
• Ace of Diamond Act II, second season (second cours) – Crunchyroll, from 11 October.
• Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle (second cours) – Crunchyroll, from 13 October.
• Overgeared – Crunchyroll, from 27 September.
• Case Closed (Detective Conan) continues on Crunchyroll, as it seemingly always will.

On the radar, platform TBC

• Reincarnated as a Sword II – premiered in Japan (JP) on 8 October, with ABEMA streaming it early in Japan; an international streaming platform wasn’t confirmed on the official site when we checked. International platform TBC
• Blue Box season 2 – reported as a weekly Netflix release from 4 October in the US; we couldn’t confirm which other regions have it from Netflix directly. Other regions TBC

How to actually watch all this

Be ruthless. Pick two sequels you already love, two new shows you’re curious about, and give each new show three episodes. Anything that hasn’t hooked you by episode three gets dropped without guilt. If you’re torn on how to watch – subtitles or English audio – we’ve got thoughts in our sub vs dub explainer.

And if you’re the friend who’s going to watch everything and then make everyone else watch it too: respect. We’ll see you in the comments section of every clip channel on the internet.