Winter Anime 2026 is officially over, and here comes Spring Anime 2026.
To celebrate, I’ve assembled a complete list of anime coming out this spring, such as;
- New and returning anime
- Domestic (Japan) and international anime
- Anime films
I’m going to first give you my list of recommended anime on behalf of the BrandAnime team, then I’ll break each set of releases down by genre, and give you the complete index down below.
Let’s go!
- Recommended Spring Anime 2026 from BrandAnime
- Spring Anime 2026: Romance / Romcom / Slice of Life
- Spring Anime 2026: Dark Fantasy / Seinen / “Unhinged”
- Spring Anime 2026: Fantasy / Isekai / World Building
- Spring Anime 2026: School / Strategy / Psychological
- Spring Anime 2026: Shonen / Action Headliners
- Spring Anime 2026: Anime Films
- Full Spring Anime 2026 Index (TV + Movies + ONA + OVA)
Recommended Spring Anime 2026 from BrandAnime
Here are the titles we’re throwing our weight behind this spring, from action to romance anime.
The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten Season 2
Releases April 3rd, 2026
Amane and Mahiru are back and will navigate the beginning stages of being a married couple in Season 2.
Dorohedoro Season 2
Releases April 1st, 2026
Produced by MAPPA, this violent, funny, grimy, and wierd anime is finally back for round two.
Witch Hat Atelier
Releases April 6th, 2026
After selling 7.5 million copies across the world, Shirahama Seagull’s Witch Hat Atelier is getting a TV anime adaptation produced by BUG FILMS.
Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World Season 4
Releases April 2026
The flagship sequel season of Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World is coming in April with some more levity and absolutely gruesome material.
Classroom of the Elite Season 4
Releases April 4th, 2026
Yeah, this isn’t your typical high school, slice-of-life situation. These kids are in the trenches and are coming back for a fourth season.
Dr. Stone Final Cour
Releases April 2nd, 2026
It’s the end of an era for Dr. Stone, and he’s getting ready for an ultimate confrontation with Why-Man.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run (ONA)
Releases March 19th, 2026
JoJo is back, and he’s coming to a late 1800s-American setting in this highly-anticipated production.
Mononoke: Hebigami (Film)
Releases May 29th, 2026
This arthouse/horror-mystery adaptation is the third installment of the Mononoke movie coming this May.
Akane-banashi
Releases April 4th, 2026
This anime is about Rakugo, or traditional Japanese storytelling. A lot of riding on the animation getting this genre right, and I’m invested.
Nippon Sangoku
Releases April 6th, 2026
After future Japan collapses from nuclear war, disasters, and corruption A small-time bureaucrat becomes the strategist trying to unite her country.
Agents of the Four Seasons
Releases March 28th, 2026
In this anime, the four seasons are managed by human “Agents”, and the world has to deal with Spring coming back after being kidnapped for 10 years.
The Ice Wall
Releases April 2nd, 2026
These two classmates clearly care about each other, but struggle to finally close the distance. It’s premiering in Japan first, and then on Netflix, which is a huge plus.
Ascendance of a Bookworm: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke
Releases April 2026
Myne/Rozemyne’s story is going into the Archduke-adoption arc, which means more politics, status pressure, and more… books.
Kiki’s Delivery Service (4K IMAX)
Releases March 13th, 2026
This legendary Studio Ghibli film from 1989 is coming to IMAX in 4K. I’ve never seen it, so I’m going to check it out. I’m sure I won’t be alone.
Spring Anime 2026: Romance / Romcom / Slice of Life
Here are some of my favorite romance, comedy, and slice of life coming this spring.
The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten Season 2
- Release Date: April 3, 2026
- Studio: project No.9
- How to Watch: Crunchyroll (simulcast/sub + likely dub releases in key regions)
Mahiru and Amane’s quiet neighborly relationship deepens as they navigate high school life together. What began as simple kindness gradually transforms into something more intimate.
Why We Picked This: This is peak weekly comfort anime. The pacing is right, and these two are absolutely adorable.
Aishiteru Game wo Owarasetai
- Release Date: April 2026
- Studio: TROYCA
- How to Watch: Crunchyroll simulcast (international) + domestic Japan TV broadcast in April 2026 (official simulcast partners announced alongside release)
Childhood friends Yukiya and Miku have long played a “love game” where whoever confesses first loses. As the years pass and their feelings deepen, the playful rivalry becomes an emotional stalemate neither wants to end.
Why We Picked This: This is a diabetic pick. Wholesome and competitive. Reminds me of Kaguya-Sama: Love is War, but these two have been going at this game for far longer, and the bill is due.
The Ice Wall (氷の城壁)
- Release Date: April 2, 2026 (TBS); Netflix streaming first April 3
- Studio: Studio KAI
- How to Watch: Japan: TV broadcast → TBS & affiliates. International: Netflix release starting April 3, 2026 (global streaming)
With over 160 million reads and 2 million copies in circulation, the original comic built a huge following through its painful, awkward, yet deeply sincere portrayal of adolescence. The anime follows Ko-yuki Hikawa and the tangled, fragile connections between classmates who care about each other but never seem to communicate at the right time.
Why We Picked This: This one is gonna hurt and then resolve beautifully in the end. I just know it.
Ichijyoma Mankitsu Gurashi!
- Release Date: April 2026
- Studio: PRA (as reported by seasonal news accounts)
- How to Watch: Likely Crunchyroll / HIDIVE / multi-territory simulcast (many seasonal slice-of-life titles follow this pattern)
Girl’s new life begins in… Manga cafe!? Meiko Morita, a high schooler living in Akita, is suddenly selected as a special transfer student to the prestigious girls’ school Amamiya Girls’ Academy. With both excitement and nerves, she heads to Tokyo to begin her new life. But what awaits her isn’t a typical student dorm—it’s a manga café called “Hedgehog”, which also functions as a shared dormitory! Living in a tiny one-tatami room and working at the café as part of her daily duties, Meiko finds herself surrounded by quirky fellow residents—and so begins her slightly strange, manga-filled Tokyo life!
Why We Picked This: This is a nice palette cleanser for this genre. A nice coming-of-age story about a young girl who is thrust into a wild life she did not expect.
Spring Anime 2026: Dark Fantasy / Seinen / “Unhinged”
These anime are not for the faint of heart, and that’s why I’m recommending them this spring.
Dorohedoro Season 2
- Release Date: April 1, 2026
- Studio: MAPPA
- How to Watch: Netflix (international streaming) + Japanese domestic broadcast slots
In the lawless district known as the Hole, amnesiac Caiman hunts sorcerers to uncover the truth behind his reptilian head. As factions clash and secrets unravel, violence and dark humor collide in an increasingly chaotic power struggle.
Why We Picked This: I’ve never seen an anime quite like Dorohedoro. It’s one ofthe most violent anime I’ve ever seen but weirdly cozy. Looking forward to the second season after all of these years.
Mononoke: Hebigami (Film)
- Release Date: May 29, 2026
- Studio: EOTA
- How to Watch: Japan (Theaters)
Following the fierce battles against the Karakasa and the Fire Rat, peace seems to return to the Ōoku. However, the Medicine Seller senses an unsettling presence that refuses to fade. When Sachiko, the official wife of the Emperor, tragically dies after giving birth to a long-awaited heir, a chain of dark conspiracies begins to unravel within the Ōoku. Her unfulfilled hopes and deep resentment gradually transform into a powerful curse.
Soon after, strange earthquakes, mysterious scales, and brutal murders plague the inner palace. The Medicine Seller comes face to face with a terrifying Mononoke known as the Snake God, a monstrous entity born from centuries of hatred and sorrow tied to the very origins of the Ōoku. To defeat it, he must uncover its Form, Truth, and Reason, tracing its roots back 150 years to a hidden, shocking truth that once shook the nation.
As the Snake God’s overwhelming power pushes him into his most dangerous battle yet, unforeseen calamities strike one after another. With his life on the line, the Medicine Seller confronts the embodiment of the Ōoku’s dark history in a fight that will decide his fate.
Why We Picked This: Visually elite. If you care about artistic direction and stylized horror, this is your spring movie.
Nippon Sangoku
- Release Date: April 5, 2026 (Amazon Prime); April 6th, 2026 (Everywhere else)
- Studio: Studio Kafka
- How to Watch: International: Amazon Prime Video (exclusive worldwide streaming from ~April 5). Japan: Broadcast on Tokyo MX / BS NTV / other local stations starting April 6, 2026
Set in a near-future Japan devastated by nuclear war, natural disasters, and political corruption, civilization has collapsed. The nation is divided into three rival powers, entering a new “Three Kingdoms” era as factions battle for supremacy. At the center of the story is Aoki Misumi, once a minor local bureaucrat, who rises through the ranks using his deep knowledge and sharp rhetoric. Determined to reunify Japan, he begins a path that will earn him recognition as a brilliant military strategist.
The legend of a future master tactician begins.
Why We Picked This: This is a strategy drama full of a bunch of different factions and power plays. We’ll definitely pencil this in as a must-watch for fans of dystopia.
Spring Anime 2026: Fantasy / Isekai / World Building
There aren’t many forms of art like Japanese fantasy, and I’ve assembled all of my best picks below.
Witch Hat Atelier
- Release Date: April 6, 2026
- Studio: BUG FILMS
- How to Watch: Crunchyroll (international simulcast) + Japan broadcast schedule
After discovering that magic is drawn through special glyphs, a young girl enters a hidden world of sorcerers. Under her mentor’s guidance, she seeks to master spellcraft and uncover forbidden truths.
Why We Picked This: This is a super popular manga finally getting a TV adaptation, so it’s definitely going on our list.
Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World Season 4
- Release Date: April 2026
- Studio: White Fox
- How to Watch: Crunchyroll (international simulcast) + domestic broadcast Japan
Subaru continues his battle against fate in a world where death rewinds time. As new political forces and enemies emerge, he must confront deeper trauma and increasingly complex timelines.
Why We Picked This: RE:Zero never misses.
Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring
- Release Date: March 28, 2026
- Studio: WIT STUDIO
- How to Watch: Tokyo MX & Other Domestic Networks (See our post for complete deails)
In a world where seasons are governed by human agents, the long-absent Agent of Spring returns after years of captivity, forcing the balance of nature to reset.
Why We Picked This: Kana Akatsuki (Violet Evergarden author) + WIT Studio (Attack on Titan and Spy x Family) is a “watch me” combo. Expect drama, romance, and that high-polish visual storytelling.
Always a Catch! (How I Punched My Way into Marrying a Prince)
- Release Date: April 2026
- Studio: Troyca (animation) / TMS Entertainment (production & planning)
- How to Watch: TBA; Likely Domestic
In this world, “Agents of the Four Seasons” are living gods who travel the land, using divine power granted by seasonal deities to maintain the natural cycle of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. However, when the Agent of Spring, Hinagiku Hanaba, is abducted and goes missing, spring itself disappears from the country for ten years.
After a decade of searching, her loyal guard Sakura Himekawa is reunited with Hinagiku, setting into motion a journey to restore spring and reclaim the time that was unjustly taken. What follows is a story of loss, devotion, renewal, and the determination to protect what matters most.
Why We Picked This: There are so many Cinderella-style fantasy romance titles, but this one has a physical comedy + assertive heroine angle that can make it pop.
Ascendance of a Bookworm: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke
- Release Date: April 2026;
- Studio: WIT Studio
- How to Watch: Likely Crunchyroll
Rozemyne’s journey continues as she is formally adopted into noble society. With greater status comes greater responsibility, political tension, and the ongoing challenge of spreading books and literacy in a world resistant to change.
Why We Picked This: This series has a rare “competence fantasy” feel that isn’t just fighting. Also, WIT taking over production is a big headline for quality-watchers.
Spring Anime 2026: School / Strategy / Psychological
There’s only one anime here, and it’s definitely deserving of its own category.
Classroom of the Elite Season 4
- Release Date: April 4, 2026
- Studio: BONES FILM
- How to Watch: Crunchyroll (international simulcast) + Japan broadcast
At Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, students compete in a ruthless meritocracy where class status determines survival. As a new academic year begins, Ayanokōji continues manipulating the system from the shadows.
Why We Picked This: This franchise lives on the kind of tension and manipulation you see in legendary shows like Death Note. It’s not as grim, but every episode is a knife fight from the shadows.
Spring Anime 2026: Shonen / Action Headliners
Take a look at our top picks for Shonen and action anime in 2026.
Dr. Stone Final Cour
- Release Date: April 2, 2026
- Studio: TMS Entertainment
- How to Watch: Crunchyroll (international simulcast) + Japan broadcast
Senku and the Kingdom of Science push forward toward humanity’s ultimate revival. As the final arc intensifies, scientific innovation becomes humanity’s greatest weapon in a battle for the planet’s future.
Why We Picked This: Completion value + long-term investment payoff. Easy seasonal anchor. The end is finally here.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run (ONA)
- Release Date: March 19, 2026
- Studio: David Production
- How to Watch: Likely international simulcast (Crunchyroll / Netflix / BDs TBA closer to spring)
A cross-continental horse race across America becomes a battle between Stand users as jockey Johnny Joestar pursues redemption and the mystery of the Steel Ball Run.
Why We Picked This: A cross-country horse race across America with Stands involved. Enough said.
Akane-banashi
- Release Date: April 4, 2026
- Studio: ZEXCS
- How to Watch: Japan: Broadcast on TV Asahi’s IMAnimation block & BS Asahi. International: YouTube (official free stream in North America & Latin America)
After her father is expelled from the rakugo world, Akane vows to master the traditional storytelling art herself and restore her family’s honor. Entering a rigid and competitive apprenticeship system, she must prove that her talent and passion can reshape a centuries-old stage.
Why We Picked This: This is a “prestige shonen” type of competitive art drama we need for this list. Plus, I’m interested to see how close this adaptation sticks to rakugo as the source material.
KILL BLUE
- Release Date: April 2026
- Studio: Studio CUE
- How to Watch: Likely Crunchyroll simulcast + domestic Japan TV broadcast (simulcast platforms historically pick up Weekly Shonen Jump titles). Confirmed platforms TBA closer to premiere.
A legendary assassin is de-aged into a middle schooler after a mysterious incident. Forced to enroll in school to complete a mission, he balances adolescence and the underworld while searching for a cure.
Why We Picked This: The hook is instantly clickable (action + identity switch + comedy), and it’s the kind of premise that can generate weekly reaction clips if the direction is sharp. Oh, and this anime is coming from the successful Weekly Shonen Jump manga from Tadatoshi Fujimaki, the Kuroko’s Basketball. I probably buried the lede there a bit.
Spring Anime 2026: Anime Films
This list of anime films will cover both domestic (日本) debuts, co-productions, and international releases.
Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway
- Release Date: April 10, 2026
- Studio: TMS Entertainment
Conan, Ran, Sonoko, and Kogoro head to Yokohama’s Minato Mirai district, where the “Kanagawa Motorcycle Festival” is being held, together with motorcycle enthusiast Makoto Sera.
Suddenly, a mysterious “black motorcycle” appears, leaping over the car Conan and the others are riding in as it speeds recklessly through the streets. Chasing after it is someone Ran once saw referred to as the “Goddess of the Wind” — Chihaya Hagiwara of the Kanagawa Prefectural Police Traffic Enforcement Unit.
However, after an intense car chase, Chihaya’s motorcycle is destroyed, and the suspect narrowly escapes.
Later, when Conan and the others arrive at the Yokohama festival venue, a demonstration of a cutting-edge white motorcycle called “Angel” is underway.
Meanwhile, news breaks that the runaway “black motorcycle” has appeared again in the city and even shaken off the Metropolitan Police’s pursuit. Though the motive behind its reckless rampage remains unknown, it is discovered that the vehicle closely resembles “Angel.”
The black Angel is dubbed “Lucifer,” and the pursuit continues.
Who is the culprit, and what is their true objective—
And why do memories surface in Chihaya’s mind of her younger brother Kenji Hagiwara and his academy classmate Jinpei Matsuda…?
The Irregular at Magic High School: Yotsuba Succession Arc
- Release Date: May 8, 2026
- Studio: 8bit
Set in the year 2096, the story follows siblings Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba as they approach the winter of their second year in high school. An invitation to the Yotsuba family’s New Year gathering sets major events in motion, as the next head of the powerful Yotsuba clan is to be named.
Kiki’s Delivery Service (4K IMAX)
- Release Date: March 13, 2026 (US/Canada IMAX)
- Studio/Distributor: Studio Ghibli / GKIDS (NA)
A young witch named Kiki leaves home for a year of independent training, discovering friendship, self-doubt, and purpose in a seaside town.
Etoile Blooming in Paris (theatrical)
- Release Date: March 13, 2026 (Japan theaters)
- Studio: ARVO Animation
Set in early 20th-century Paris, two aspiring young women chase artistic dreams against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world, forging friendship and ambition along the way.
Girls und Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu! Part 3
- Release Date: March 3rd, 2026 (Japan theaters)
- Studio: Actus
Putting schoolgirls in vintage military tanks and letting them run amok on a battlefield may sound completely crazy, but that’s Tankery, the addictive sport/history lesson/free-for-all that’s exploding at schools across Japan! Except at Oarai Academy, which is why Miho Nishizumi chose to hide there after drawing her “gun-fu” legend Mother’s ire. Then Oarai is caught up in a Tankery competition to save the school, and the resulting arms build-up requires Miho to say farewell to her arms! It’s a Tank Heaven for not so little girls as they blow things up in the most delightful ways in the uber-sized and bomb-tastic OVA and TV series collection of GIRLS UND PANZER!
Love Live! Hasu no Sora Bloom Garden Party
- Release Date: March 13, 2026 (Japan theaters)
- Studio: Bandai Namco Filmworks
The members of Hasu no Sora High School’s idol club prepare for a major performance, strengthening their bonds and chasing the dream of shining on stage together.
Full Spring Anime 2026 Index (TV + Movies + ONA + OVA)
Here is our complete list of anime premiering in Spring 2026.
| Title | Release Date | Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Aishiteru Game wo Owarasetai | April 2026 | TROYCA |
| Akane-banashi | April 4, 2026 | ZEXCS |
| Always a Catch! (How I Punched My Way into Marrying a Prince) | April 2026 | TROYCA |
| Ascendance of a Bookworm: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke | April 2026 | WIT Studio |
| Classroom of the Elite Season 4 | April 4, 2026 | BONES FILM |
| Dorohedoro Season 2 | April 1, 2026 | MAPPA |
| Dr. Stone Final Cour | April 2, 2026 | TMS Entertainment |
| Ichijyoma Mankitsu Gurashi! | April 2026 | PRA |
| JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run (ONA) | March 19, 2026 | David Production |
| KILL BLUE | April 2026 | Studio CUE |
| Nippon Sangoku | April 5–6, 2026 | Studio Kafka |
| Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World Season 4 | April 2026 | White Fox |
| The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten Season 2 | April 3, 2026 | project No.9 |
| The Ice Wall (氷の城壁) | April 2, 2026 (TV) / April 3 (Netflix) | Studio KAI |
| Witch Hat Atelier | April 6, 2026 | BUG FILMS |
| Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring | March 28–29, 2026 | WIT Studio |
| Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway | April 10, 2026 | TMS Entertainment |
| Etoile Blooming in Paris | March 13, 2026 (Japan) | ARVO Animation |
| Girls und Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu! Part 3 | March 3, 2026 (Japan) | Actas |
| Kiki’s Delivery Service (4K IMAX) | March 13, 2026 (US/Canada) | Studio Ghibli (GKIDS distribution NA) |
| Love Live! Hasu no Sora Bloom Garden Party | March 13, 2026 (Japan) | Bandai Namco Filmworks |
| Mononoke: Hebigami | May 29, 2026 | EOTA |
| The Irregular at Magic High School: Yotsuba Succession Arc | May 8, 2026 | 8bit |
Dante is Editor-in-Chief (Lord Hokage), which means he runs editorial and operations at BrandAnime. That means this whole thing was his idea, and he spends his time making stuff work and covering the latest anime and games. When he’s not doing 100 things at once, he’s usually… watching anime or playing games. His life isn’t that interesting, honestly.
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