Even if the Sun were to go supernova and consume the Earth, new isekai anime would, somehow, continue to materialize. More than a decade after Sword Art Online popularized the concept started by classics like Aura Battler Dunbine, isekai has nowadays become a part of everyday life. We wake up, go to work or school, come home, play a game, and then watch an anime that starts with a teenager being sent to another world and handed ridiculous powers that turn them into walking gods. Repeat.
Just to be crystal clear, none of the above is meant to be sarcastic or critical. I love isekai anime of all shapes and ambitions, be it masterpieces like Re:Zero, comedic juggernauts like KonoSuba, or the trashiest of trash like Isekai Cheat Magician. They might not entertain in the same way, but they still manage to put smiles on many people's faces, including my own. Fortunately, we always have more isekai anime to look forward to, although it can be a bit difficult to predict which shows will take the world by storm. Therefore, if you are looking to only watch the occasional otherworldly adventure, I recommend keeping an eye on these 5 new(ish) series, all of which should arrive in 2026.
Here are a few notes and criteria:
- The goal is to primarily spotlight new isekai anime and not sequels that cannot get any bigger. Mushoku Tensei, Re:Zero, Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, and Ascendance of a Bookworm will release episodes in 2026, but they are already firmly established.
- That said, we will highlight one returning anime that seems poised to propel itself to the next level.
- Only anime that are announced for 2026, and ideally specific seasons.
- We are mainly focusing on the Winter 2026 season, but two other shows releasing later in 2026 will be highlighted. Three of the upcoming shows will be available in January 2026, so you will not have to wait too long to see them.
Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing
An Upcoming Isekai Anime That Rolls All The Protagonist Archetypes Into One: OP MC, Summoner MC, And Gamer MC
- Japanese Title: Hell Mode: Yarikomizuki no Gamer wa Hai Settei no Isekai de Musou suru
- Release Date: January 2026
- Subgenres: Action, Fantasy, Adventure
- Studio: Yokohama Animation Laboratory
- Source Material: Light Novel/Manga by Hamuo
- Streaming Service: HIDIVE
Oh, yeah, this anime will either be awesome or awesomely bad; either way, it will be a fun ride. Hell Mode's subtitle explains pretty much everything you need to know about the story, but let's still go over the basics. Desperate to find a replacement for his favorite RPG that is shutting down, Kenichi decides to try out a strange game that promises to last forever, only to find himself born into a magical world that has all the role-playing mechanics he could ever want to break. Embracing his existence as Allen, the protagonist gets started on his new life, and things really begin to get interesting when he learns that he is a summoner. This class is not that well-understood in this universe, but it essentially allows him to summon and control all sorts of animals and creatures. Overpowered status, unlocked.
From all the new isekai anime airing in Winter 2026, Hell Mode is probably the most well-known, as the light novel led to a reasonably popular manga adaptation that has been ongoing since 2020. The premise combines a few popular tropes to create something that is simultaneously niche and made to target as wide an audience as possible. If done right, this could be one of the season's better "shut off your brain and enjoy" series, which are a staple of the isekai genre. Also, to be fair, there are not that many isekai summoner MCs, so that aspect is relatively novel. Yokohama Animation Laboratory's track record is not the greatest, but Sword of the Demon Hunter: Kijin Gentōshō was quite good.
Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling
The Protagonist Is An Adorable Dragon...What Else Must You Know?
- Japanese Title: Tensei shitara Dragon no Tamago datt
- Release Date: January 2026
- Subgenres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Studio: Felix Film, Ga-Crew
- Source Material: Light Novel/Manga by Nekoko
- Streaming Service: HIDIVE
Just when you think light novel and manga writers have exhausted every unique reincarnation form, a story like Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling comes around to remind you that the imagination knows no bounds. Honestly, a guy starting life as a dragon is almost ordinary compared to some of the more bizarre isekai situations out there; if nothing else, he is at least reincarnated as an inherently sentient creature rather than something absurd like a vending machine.
On a mostly unrelated note, Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon is way better than it sounds. Give it a try if you are craving a fluffy anime with occasional bursts of drama and action.
Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling is actually quite old by the standards of isekai stories, as the original light novel debuted in 2015. The manga has also been around for nearly a decade, so the anime has volumes worth of content to pull from. While that is not a guarantee of quality, it can result in an adaptation that is more confident and focused; conversely, we have seen many, many cases of an anime speedrunning the early chapters to try and get to the good stuff, only to leave behind a mess only comprehensible to those familiar with the source material. Felix Film and Ga-Crew previously collaborated on The Most Notorious "Talker" Runs the World's Greatest Clan, an unapologetically edgy anime that ended up being very entertaining. Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling should be way more lighthearted and adventurous, a blend that typically attracts an audience.
Might as well bring it up here – Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling and Hell Mode are HIDIVE exclusives, which will likely limit their reach. Nevertheless, the streaming service is always growing, and these types of shows should help that process.
There Was A Cute Girl In The Hero's Party, So I Tried Confessing To Her
A Demon Falls In Love With A Priestess...Also, Isekai
- Japanese Title: Yuusha Party ni Kawaii Ko ga Ita node, Kokuhaku shitemita.
- Release Date: January 2026
- Subgenres: Comedy, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
- Studio: Gekkou
- Source Material: Light Novel/Manga by Suisei
- Streaming Service: Crunchyroll
Isekai and romance have an odd history. The two cross streams frequently, but their marriages have birthed very few genuinely memorable couples. More often than not, love and romance are substituted with devotion and harems, making for a show that prioritizes fulfilling all tastes rather than supplying a single satisfying meal. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a harem anime, but it is refreshing to get a more traditional isekai romance every once in a while. There was a Cute Girl in the Hero's Party, so I Tried Confessing to Her will be that anime for the early parts of 2026, although "traditional" might not be the best way to describe Youki and Cecilia's relationship.
After battling a car and losing, Youki starts over as a demon so powerful, he could reign supreme if he pleases. As he is not interested in that type of life, he initially opts to act as one of the demon lord's underlings and help out humans who try to take down the big bad. In due time, he grows weary of this routine and craves change; more importantly, he falls head over heels for Cecilia, the priestess of a hero party defeated by him. As Youki has a spine, he confidently declares his love, largely as a way to force himself to leave the demon lord's orbit and begin fresh as a (disguised) human adventurer. Before long, he is hired by Cecilia, giving the two plenty of time to get to know each other. The above might sound like a lot, but it all happens in the first two chapters of the manga. It is just the setup for the rest of the story, which is mostly just cute.
There was a Cute Girl in the Hero's Party, so I Tried Confessing to Her should be a fun little adventure anime with a healthy helping of romantic shenanigans. Youki is delightful as a strong protagonist who occasionally gives in to his chuunibyou urges, and Cecilia has more going for her than just acting as the MC's cheerleader. The isekai element is hardly essential to the story, but it does influence Youki's dramatic nature.
Magic Knight Rayearth
An Isekai Anime Minor Classic Gets A New Lease On Life
- Japanese Title: Majikku Naito Reiāsu
- Release Date: 2026
- Subgenres: Action, Adventure, Mecha
- Studio: TBA
- Source Material: Manga by Clamp
In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of anime remakes, with most of the projects seemingly focusing on '90s classics. Trigun and Ranma 1/2 are probably the biggest examples, and the trend will not end anytime soon. While those two are masterpieces in every form, Magic Knight Rayearth is arguably a more interesting choice for a reboot, as the original series is good but has room for improvement.
18 Great Isekai Anime With No Harems At All
With compelling narratives and layered characters, these isekai anime make do without any of the usual harem antics of this genre.
Released way before isekai was part of the popular zeitgeist, Magic Knight Rayearth blends magical girl, sword and sorcery, mecha, and isekai to create a character-driven epic that gradually becomes more mature as it goes along. The original series is accessible nowadays through several streaming services, and I would recommend it for those who have never seen it. That said, the anime has pacing issues and inconsistent animation, both of which could be improved by a reboot.
More importantly, Magic Knight Rayearth will have a chance to reach a brand-new generation in an era when anime is far more accepted and celebrated than during its initial run.
Reincarnated as a Sword (Season 2)
The 2026 Isekai Anime Sequel That Should Be Huge
- Japanese Title: Tensei shitara Ken deshita
- Release Date: Fall 2026
- Subgenres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Studio: C2C
- Source Material: Light Novel/Manga by Yuu Tanaka
Here it is, the one sequel that warrants an exception. Reincarnated as a Sword aired its first season in 2022, and it grew in stature with every new episode. Although it reflects the inciting incident, the title makes the anime seem way more gimmicky than it actually is, and it does not remotely highlight the story's strongest element: the father-daughter dynamic between Teacher (the sword) and Fran. Although the protagonist is powerful, he is limited by the fact that he is, well, a sword, and every blade needs the right wielder. In comes Fran, a beast girl who has been through hell and has mostly given up on herself and the world, only to rediscover her smile as she develops a bond with her talkative weapon.
By the time season 2 airs, four years will have passed since its predecessor, which can feel like a lifetime for a new release. However, Reincarnated as a Sword has had enough staying power to, hopefully, set the stage for the sequel to inspire an explosion in popularity. If you missed the first season, find some time and give it a watch. You will not regret it.
Just To Be Thorough, Here Are Some Other Exciting Isekai Anime Sequels Coming In 2026:
- Ascendance of a Bookworm: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke (Spring 2026)
- Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Season 4 (Spring 2026)
- The Beginning After the End Season 2 (Spring 2026)
- The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior Season 2 (Spring 2026)
- Farming Life in Another World Season 2 (2026)
- Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 (2026)
- Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 4 (2026)
The Best Isekai Anime Set In Games
Isekai loves its MMORPGs. Here are the top isekai anime about being trapped in a game.