Image Credit: Crunchyroll/Tohoi
Table of Contents
Best Anime Releasing in January 2026: Anime releases are coming with some of the biggest shows of the year. This is the first month of the Winter 2026 season, and it will be packed with new anime series, returning sequels, and exciting films.
If you love anime and want to know what’s coming, this guide will help you pick the best anime to watch in January 2026.
Why January 2026 is the Best Month for New Anime
The winter 2026 anime season is already being called “the best in decades” by fans and critics worldwide. More than 57 new anime shows are scheduled to premiere during this season, with January hosting most of the biggest releases.
What makes January 2026 so special for anime lovers?
- Multiple big sequels – Shows like Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, Frieren Season 2, and Oshi no Ko Season 3 are all set to start in January.
- New original stories – Fresh anime that have never been on TV before are arriving.
- Major franchise debuts – Fate/strange Fake is coming to TV for the very first time.
- Series finales – Golden Kamuy and Fire Force are ending their stories in January.
This combination of old favorites and new surprises makes January 2026 the most exciting anime month in recent years.
Top Anime Sequels and New Seasons Starting in January 2026
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 – The Culling Game (January 8, 2026)
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is one of the most-awaited anime series of 2026. The new season is titled “The Culling Game Part 1” and premieres on January 8, 2026, on Crunchyroll.
This season brings the manga’s biggest and most dangerous arc. The story follows Yuji Itadori as he enters a deadly battle called the Culling Game. The fights will be more intense, the stakes will be higher, and fans will finally see major changes in the power of sorcerers and curses.
Best for: Fans who love action, battles, and serious anime. If you like shonen anime with smart fighting and real danger, you must watch Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll (streaming worldwide)
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2 (January 16, 2026)
Frieren Season 2 starts on January 16, 2026, and fans have been waiting for years for this return. Millions of people around the world loved the first season for being beautiful, sad, and smart.
Season 2 follows Frieren and her friends Fern and Stark as they travel to the Northern Plateau. They will take the First-Class Mage Exam, which is one of the most complex tests in the world. Along the way, the show will explore deep ideas about time, memory, and what it means to live a long life.
Best for: People who like fantasy, sad stories, and beautiful art. If you want an anime that will make you think and feel, Frieren is perfect for you.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll (streaming worldwide)
Oshi no Ko (Star-Struck) Season 3 (January 14, 2026)
Oshi no Ko Season 3 returns on January 14, 2026, with the same drama and mystery that made fans love this show. This season will focus more on Ruby Hoshino as she works hard in the entertainment industry.
Ruby is trying to become an idol while using lies and tricks to hide her true self. The big mystery of the show is about her parents’ deaths, and Season 3 will bring viewers closer to the truth.
Best for: Fans of mystery, drama, and entertainment stories. If you enjoy shows about idols and the secrets behind the entertainment world, Oshi no Ko is for you.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll and Netflix (in select regions)
Fire Force Season 3 – Part 2 (January 2026)
Fire Force Season 3 Part 2 is the final part of this dark fantasy anime, and it comes out in January 2026. The studio is still confirming the exact date.
This is the ending of the Fire Force story. Shinra and his team at Company 8 will face the Great Cataclysm – a huge disaster that threatens to destroy everything. The final battles will show major secrets about humanity and the world.
Best for: People who love dark fantasy, firefighters, and action-packed stories. If you have watched the first two seasons, you won’t want to miss the ending.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll (streaming worldwide)
Brand New Anime Series Starting in January 2026
Fate/strange Fake (January 3, 2026)
Fate/strange Fake is finally becoming a TV anime series for the first time! This show starts on January 3, 2026, at the A-1 Pictures studio. Fans have been asking for this anime for many years, and now it’s here.
The story takes place in a city called Snowfield in America. A Holy Grail War is happening, a battle where Masters and Servants fight to the death. But in this version, the rules are broken, and strange Servants appear. The battles will be chaotic, crazy, and unpredictable.
Best for: Fans of the Fate series and people who like supernatural battles. If you love action and magic, Fate/strange Fake is a must-see.
Where to watch: A-1 Pictures (streaming details coming soon)
Dead Account (January 10, 2026)
Dead Account is a brand new anime starting January 10, 2026, on SynergySP studio. This is a dark and modern anime about digital ghosts and spiritual powers.
The main character is Soji Enishiro, a popular online streamer who suddenly gains the power to see ghosts. The ghosts are stuck inside dead people’s digital accounts – their social media, emails, and online profiles. Soji must help these ghosts pass on to the next world.
Best for: People who like supernatural stories and modern technology mixed together. If you enjoy horror and mystery, Dead Account is perfect for you.
Where to watch: SynergySP (streaming platform details coming soon)
In the Clear Moonlit Dusk (January 11, 2026)
In the Clear Moonlit Dusk (also called “Uruwashi no Yoi no Tsuki”) is a beautiful romance anime starting January 11, 2026. The animation studio East Fish Studio is making this show.
The story is about two “princes” of their school – Yoi and Kohaku. Yoi is a girl with short black hair who looks like a boy, and Kohaku is a cool boy with white hair and earrings. They meet under the moonlight and discover that they see each other’s real selves, not the fake “prince” image they show to everyone else. It’s a sweet love story with gorgeous animation.
Best for: People who love romance, school life, and beautiful art. If you like slow, sweet love stories, this anime is for you.
Where to watch: East Fish Studio (streaming details to be announced)
Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer (January 9, 2026)
Hell Mode is an isekai anime (a show where someone goes to another world) starting January 9, 2026, on Yokohama Animation Lab. If you like stories about gamers and strategy, this is your anime.
The main character, Kenichi Yamada, chooses the hardest difficulty – “Hell Mode” – in a game and becomes a different person in another world. He was born as a serf (a slave) named Allen with no special powers. He must become strong by learning the Summoner class secrets. There are no guides, no help, and no easy way.
Best for: People who like isekai (another world) stories and gaming. If you enjoy seeing characters grow stronger through hard work, Hell Mode is good to watch.
Where to watch: Yokohama Animation Lab (streaming details coming soon)
The Darwin Incident (January 6, 2026)
The Darwin Incident starts on January 6, 2026, and it’s a brand new anime from a studio making their first show ever. BELLNOX FILMS is a brand-new animation studio, and this is their first anime.
The main character is Charlie, who is half-human and half-chimpanzee. Charlie enters high school and makes a friend named Lucy. But soon, dangerous eco-terrorists (people who do extreme things for nature) start hunting Charlie. It’s a mix of science fiction, action, and thriller.
Best for: People who like sci-fi stories and unique characters. If you want something different and new, The Darwin Incident is worth watching.
Where to watch: BELLNOX FILMS (streaming details to be announced)
More Anime Sequels Coming in January 2026
When and Where to Watch January 2026 Anime
Best Streaming Platforms for January 2026 Anime
Crunchyroll is the biggest platform for anime in 2026. Most of the biggest shows are on Crunchyroll:
Netflix has some anime, too:
Amazon Prime Video and other smaller platforms will have some anime, but Crunchyroll will be where most January 2026 shows stream.
How to Plan Your January 2026 Anime Watching Schedule
With so many anime starting at the same time, it’s hard to watch everything. Here’s a simple plan:
If you like action: Watch Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, Fire Force Season 3 Part 2, and Fate/strange Fake.
If you like Slice of Life and emotional stories: Watch Frieren Season 2 and Oshi no Ko Season 3.
If you like romance: Watch In the Clear Moonlit Dusk and You and I Are Polar Opposites.
If you like new ideas: Watch Dead Account, Hell Mode, and The Darwin Incident.
If you like sports and racing: Watch MF Ghost Season 3 and Medalist Season 2.
You don’t have to watch everything – just pick the shows that sound interesting to you. Many anime in January 2026 are only 12-13 episodes long, so you can finish them in a few weeks.
Ranked by Fans in Japan: Top Anime of Winter 2026
According to fan surveys in Japan, here are the most popular anime for January 2026:
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2 – Most fans in Japan think this is the best anime coming in January
- Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3: The Culling Game – The second most popular show
- Oshi no Ko Season 3 – Fans are excited for Ruby’s story
- Medalist Season 2 – Figure skating fans love this show
- Golden Kamuy: The Final Chapter – People want to see how the gold hunt ends
- Hell’s Paradise (Jigokuraku) Season 2 – An exciting new season of this dark anime
- MF Ghost Season 3 – Racing fans are waiting for this
- Fire Force Season 3 Part 2 – The final battles of this dark anime
Important Dates to Remember for January 2026 Anime
- January 3 – Fate/strange Fake starts
- January 4 – MF Ghost Season 3 starts
- January 5 – Golden Kamuy Final Chapter starts
- January 6 – The Darwin Incident starts
- January 8 – Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 starts
- January 9 – Hell Mode starts
- January 10 – Dead Account starts
- January 11 – In the Clear Moonlit Dusk and You and I Are Polar Opposites start
- January 14 – Oshi no Ko Season 3 starts
- January 16 – Frieren Season 2 starts
- January 24-25 – Medalist Season 2 starts
Simple Tips for Enjoying January 2026 Anime
- Pick 2-3 shows to start with – Don’t try to watch all the anime at once. Pick a few that sound fun and watch them first.
- Use streaming sites you already have – If you have Crunchyroll, start with shows on Crunchyroll. Most of the big anime are there.
- Watch with friends – Talk about anime with your friends. It’s more fun to watch together and discuss what happens.
- Don’t miss the big ones – Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, Frieren Season 2, and Oshi no Ko Season 3 are shows that everyone will be talking about.
- Try something new – If you normally watch action anime, try a romance like In the Clear Moonlit Dusk. You might find a new favorite.
- Set a watching schedule – Watch anime at the same time every week. It makes it easier to keep up with episodes.
Final Thoughts: January 2026 is the Year of Anime
January 2026 anime releases are shaping up to be some of the best shows ever made. With multiple big sequels, exciting new stories, and series finales all happening at the same time, this is the perfect time to be an anime fan.
Whether you’re looking for the best anime to watch in January 2026, new anime series starting this month, or anime sequels you’ve been waiting for, this guide has everything you need. The winter 2026 anime season is packed with shows that will excite you, make you sad, make you laugh, and keep you thinking about the story long after you finish watching.
So pick your favorite shows from this list, grab your favorite snacks, and get ready for the biggest month in anime. January 2026 is here, and it’s going to be amazing.
FAQs
Q: How many episodes will the January 2026 anime have?
A: Most anime in January 2026 will have 12-13 episodes. Some, like Fate/strange Fake, may have more. Check the streaming site for exact numbers.
Q: Will anime from January 2026 be available outside Japan?
A: Yes! Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video will have most of these anime in English subtitles or dubbing. They usually release at the same time in Japan and worldwide.
Q: Can I watch anime from January 2026 for free?
A: Some free anime sites exist, but the best way is to pay for Crunchyroll or Netflix. It supports anime creators and delivers high-quality video.
Q: Which January 2026 anime should I start with if I’m new to anime?
A: If you’re new, try Frieren Season 2, In the Clear Moonlit Dusk, or Hell Mode. These shows are easy to understand and very fun.
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