From returning favourites to new bangers, this season has it all.
It has been some time since the Winter 2026 anime season began. With returning heavy hitters like Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, Frieren Season 2, and Oshi no Ko Season 3, fans have been understandably excited. However, the new titles this season are not far behind either! With a dark fantasy, a few romcoms, and a new josei title, the Winter 2026 anime season has been a warm treat in every way.
Returning titles of Winter 2026
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3
The third season of Jujutsu Kaisen was probably the most awaited return of the Winter 2026 roster, and we are glad to say that MAPPA has delivered well so far. The latest season adapts the Culling Game arc of Gege Akutami’s manga, which introduces a host of new characters and action scenarios.
With wonderful animation and phenomenal voice acting performances, the third season of JJK is truly enjoyable for fans. If you haven’t started watching it yet, it’s high time for you to do so as some of the most exciting fights of the season will be happening in the next few episodes!
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2
Another long-anticipated return that fans have been waiting for since the first season ended in 2024. Although it was one of the late arrivals of the Winter 2026 season, Frieren has made up for all the anxious waiting with its visually stunning and emotionally well-developed first episode.
Watching the first episode of the returning season feels like meeting your favourite people after a long time. Madhouse continues to do a great job with the production, so even though the story isn’t too fast-paced, it doesn’t feel boring at all. Like all the fans, we are excited to see where Frieren and her friends’ journey takes them next.
Hell’s Paradise Season 2
Staying within the fantasy realm but taking a sharp turn away from Frieren’s calmer, grounded nature, we arrive at Hell’s Paradise Season 2. Fans have been waiting for this action-focused dark fantasy anime since 2023, and the first episode of the second season has not let them down.
Instead of easing the audience back into the story, the first episode of Hell’s Paradise Season 2 thrusts them smack into the tension-filled action surrounding Gabimaru and his allies. Twin Engine and MAPPA are working on the season together, and so far have done an amazing job with the animation production. Hopefully, the rest of the season will be able to maintain the same quality.
Oshi no Ko Season 3
One of the most controversial anime titles is back here with its third season. The final episode of the second season ended on a pretty dark note, and the effects of it have continued into the third season. Ruby has gone through a pretty intense change, and will be more involved with the story now.
Aqua, on the other hand, has begun forgiving himself a little, and seems to be heading towards a character development arc. The first episode of the second season focused mainly on everyone’s career growths as we got to see how much popularity B Komachi has gained. Although the start has been pretty standard for Oshi no Ko, fans are eagerly waiting for more tense plot points to appear soon.
Fire Force Season 3 Cour 2
The final cour of the beloved anime is finally here! The original Shinra is back, and he seems to be horrified about what he has done in the last three months when he was unconscious. The pillars that started appearing all around Tokyo continue to grow in numbers, and with them grow the cases of spontaneous combustion. It seems that someone from Benimaru’s past is also part of these new developments.
The starting of the cour has been pretty intense, which is pretty normal for Fire Force. As the story heads towards the grand finale, more and more secrets will be unveiled. If you are someone that has been keeping this series on your watchlist, now might be the perfect time to catch up before the story concludes.
New titles of Winter 2026
Sentenced to be a Hero
A dark fantasy series with an emotional storyline and unending bloodbath? Sign me up! Based on a novel series written by Rocket Shōkai and illustrated by Mephisto, the anime takes place in a world where the worst criminals from society receive the punishment of becoming ‘heroes’. They are forced to fight dangerous demons head-on and even if they die, they’re brought back to life and forced to fight again.
The protagonist, Xylo Forbartz, is one such hero who has received this punishment after committing a serious crime in his previous life as a knight commander. Things change when Xylo meets a goddess named Teoritta, who has some plans of her own. To take revenge on those who wronged him, Xylo makes a deal with the goddess. What comes forth is a story filled with violence and revenge. So far, the series has provided fans with great storytelling and masterful animation. It seems that Sentenced to be a Hero is well on its way to become the next big dark fantasy title.
Kaya-chan isn’t Scary
Have you ever noticed that horror media involving children are somehow creepier? If you agree, then you might want to indulge in Kaya-chan isn’t Scary, the Winter 2026 season’s horror title based on Taro Yuri’s manga series. The story follows kindergartener Kaya, who is seen as the problem child. However, her new teacher Chie realises that when Kaya stops the other kids from doing things, it’s because she wants to protect them from vengeful spirits lurking around in the school. As it turns out, Kaya is actually the strongest psychic.
The series will make you anxious for the safety of these little children, and also make you feel terrible for Kaya, who is constantly misunderstood for trying to help. The plot point involving Kaya’s mother, who seems ‘sick’ to other people but hides a much darker secret will also take shape as the series progresses. If you are someone who enjoys a good scary series from time to time, you might want to add this anime to your watchlist for the season.
There was a Cute Girl in the Hero's Party, so I Tried Confessing to Her
This one is for all the romance lovers! This fantasy series, based on the popular light novel series written by Suisei and illustrated by La-na, follows Yōki, a man who is reborn as a demon in another world after losing his life in an accident. He starts working as one of the Demon Lord’s subordinates. But things change when one day, a hero’s party attacks the Demon Lord’s castle, and Yōki falls in love with the party’s cute priestess Cecilia.
The priestess is horrified at first, and rejects him. But Yōki doesn’t give up, and slowly, her heart starts to waver. The sweet and romantic love story between these unlikely people will definitely warm your heart in this cold!
Ikoku Nikki
If you prefer heartfelt, realistic, and mature storytelling over mindless action and high school romance, then Ikoku Nikki is your anime of the season. Based on Tomoko Yamashita’s josei manga, this series centers around Makio, a 35-year-old loner novelist, and her 15-year-old niece Asa, who was orphaned after her parents’ death in an accident.
Although Makio brings Asa home on a whim after she gets fed up with how her extended family treats the young girl like a burden, living together soon turns both of their lives around. A story of grief, love, acceptance, and finally learning to live your life on your own terms, this series will make you stand face to face with your own emotions and insecurities. Ikoku Nikki is definitely the underrated gem of this season.
Tamon’s B-Side
We are ending this article on a positive note with one of this season’s funniest romcoms. Tamon’s B-Side takes the ‘moe-gap’ trope to the next level with its titular character, Tamon. Although a charming and charismatic idol on stage, in real life, Tamon is a loner who is incredibly pessimistic, gloomy, and socially inept. When his die-hard fan Utage accidentally ends up going to his apartment as a cleaner for her part-time job, she starts to support Tamon in his day-to-day life so he can gain some confidence and continue his idol activities.
The comedy of this anime stems mostly from Tamon and Utage’s relationship, which goes from a zero to 100 depending on which side of Tamon she’s dealing with. The other members of Tamon’s idol group, F/ACE, also have moe-gap personalities, which will be revealed slowly throughout the series. Overall, the funny and sweet romance anime is a perfect treat for the shoujo lovers.