2026 is shaping up as a sequel-heavy year that mostly delivered. We ranked the year's strongest shows by their SenpaiRanks score so you can see which ones actually earned the hype — and where to stream each.
Quick answer
According to SenpaiRanks, the best anime of 2026 so far is Re:Zero Season 4 at 8.75, followed by [Oshi no Ko] Season 3 at 8.45 and Witch Hat Atelier at 8.34. Every title below is ranked on our dual-axis system — Consensus and Quality — rather than a single averaged score, so you can tell the crowd-pleasers from the ones that hold up.
The read on 2026
The year leaned on continuations, and the board reflects it: fourth seasons, third seasons and long-running returns fill the top. But two newer adaptations — Witch Hat Atelier and Akane-banashi — muscled in on reputation alone, and per ANN's weekly summer standings the momentum shows in the cumulative rankings too. If you skipped the year assuming it was all filler sequels, the scores say otherwise.
The ranked list
1. Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu Season 4 — 8.75
The isekai benchmark keeps climbing. SenpaiRanks tracks the fourth season at 8.75, the highest 2026 score on the board — Subaru's suffering has never been better animated.
2. [Oshi no Ko] Season 3 — 8.45
The idol-industry thriller holds 8.45 into its third season, still one of the sharpest showbiz satires running.
3. Witch Hat Atelier — 8.34
Tongari Boushi no Atelier is the year's best new adaptation at 8.34 — a magic-school story carried by some of the most detailed art of 2026.
4. Mushoku Tensei III — 8.23
The genre's most divisive flagship sits at 8.23 in its third season, still the production benchmark other isekai measure against.
5. Dr. Stone: Science Future Part 3 — 8.08
Senku's science epic holds 8.08 as it heads into its final stretch — the rare shonen where the payoff is a working invention, not a punch.
6. Dorohedoro Season 2 — 8.08
MAPPA's gonzo dark-fantasy returns at 8.08, as gory and funny as the first season promised.
7. Wistoria: Wand and Sword Season 2 — 8.03
The swordsman-in-a-mage-world underdog holds 8.03 into its second season.
8. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 — 7.53
The follow-up to an all-time great is still finding its footing at 7.53 — high expectations are a hard bar, and the first season set it near the top of our all-time board.
9. Akane-banashi — 7.55
The rakugo drama is 2026's quiet surprise at 7.55 — a performance-art story that turns storytelling itself into the sport.
Where to watch
Most of the 2026 slate lives on Crunchyroll, with Dorohedoro on Netflix and a few titles surfacing on Hulu by region. Open any card above for the current per-region links — we list every platform, not just the one paying for placement.
The call
A year-in-progress ranking moves as votes come in and cours finish. The dual-axis score is the crowd's current read; your rating is the tie-breaker. Rate any show on its page and you shift the 2026 board in real time. Planning ahead? See our best fall 2026 anime and what to watch this fall, or measure 2026 against history on the all-time list.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is the best anime of 2026?
A: According to SenpaiRanks, the best anime of 2026 so far is Re:Zero Season 4 at 8.75, ahead of [Oshi no Ko] Season 3 (8.45) and Witch Hat Atelier (8.34).
Q: What is the best new anime of 2026?
A: Among fresh 2026 adaptations, Witch Hat Atelier leads at 8.34, with Akane-banashi the year's quiet standout at 7.55.
Q: Where can I watch the top 2026 anime?
A: Most stream on Crunchyroll, with Dorohedoro on Netflix and some titles on Hulu by region. Open each show's SenpaiRanks page for its links.
Q: How does SenpaiRanks rank the year's anime?
A: We score each title on two axes — Consensus and Quality — then rank the year by score, a MyAnimeList alternative that separates broadly-liked shows from ones that hold up.
Q: Can I change the 2026 ranking?
A: Yes. Rating a show on its page feeds the live aggregate, so your vote moves where it sits on the year's board.