Japan's official TV ratings for the week of July 6–12 put Sazae-san, Detective Conan, and Chibi Maruko-chan on top — the same family staples that win every week. Useful if you live in Japan and own a TV. Useless if you're an anime fan trying to figure out what's actually worth your time this season. So here's the other list: the summer 2026 shows anime watchers are ranking right now on SenpaiRanks, sorted by our dual-axis board instead of household reach.
Quick answer
According to SenpaiRanks, the standout currently-airing summer 2026 anime by fan ranking — not broadcast ratings — are Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Infinity Castle era), and Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation III, followed by The Elusive Samurai Season 2, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, and The 100 Girlfriends Season 3. Japan's household TV ranking that week was topped by Sazae-san and Detective Conan — a reminder that broadcast ratings and anime-fan rankings measure two different things.
The ranked list (by anime-fan taste, not TV ratings)
1. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity
The final cour of Studio Pierrot's TYBW premieres July 25. High on our Quality axis — the rare comeback that fans rank above the original run. Full breakdown in our Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War guide.
2. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Still one of the most-rated names on the board, and the Infinity Castle arc keeps it there. See our Demon Slayer Infinity Castle coverage.
3. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation III
The genre benchmark isekai, now with its English dub live. Where to watch and how it ranks in our Mushoku Tensei Season 3 guide.
4. The Elusive Samurai Season 2
CloverWorks' stylish historical action returns to Crunchyroll in late July — strong early reviews. More in our Elusive Samurai Season 2 guide.
5. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
A perennial fan favorite that outranks its household-rating slot — proof that broadcast numbers and fan enthusiasm diverge.
6. The 100 Girlfriends Who Really Love You Season 3
The comfort-comedy pick of the season, now dubbed on Crunchyroll. Also worth a look: Ascendance of a Bookworm's newest season, holding its quiet-but-devoted following.
Ratings vs ranking — why the lists disagree
Japan's household TV ranking measures who's watching broadcast TV — which is why children's and family franchises dominate it. SenpaiRanks measures something different: how anime fans rank a show on two axes. Consensus captures how broadly a show is liked; Quality captures how well it holds up. MyAnimeList blends everything into one number, and IMDb dilutes anime scores with a general audience. Our board keeps the two axes separate and keeps the voter base anime-native — so "top anime right now" means the shows fans actually rate, not the ones with the biggest living-room reach. Want to move the board? Rate what you're watching. Browse more of the season in best summer 2026 anime sequels and best isekai anime 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What are the top anime airing right now in summer 2026?
A: By SenpaiRanks' fan ranking: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, Demon Slayer, Mushoku Tensei III, The Elusive Samurai Season 2, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, and The 100 Girlfriends Season 3.
Q: Why don't these match Japan's TV ratings?
A: Household TV ratings measure broadcast reach, so family staples like Sazae-san and Detective Conan top them. Anime-fan rankings measure how enthusiasts rate a show — a different question.
Q: How is SenpaiRanks different from MyAnimeList?
A: MAL gives one blended score. SenpaiRanks splits it into Consensus (how broadly liked) and Quality (how well it holds up), with an anime-native voter base.
Q: Where can I watch these shows?
A: Coverage varies — Crunchyroll, Disney+, Hulu, and others depending on the title. Each show's SenpaiRanks page lists its platforms without platform bias.
Q: How do I get my taste into the ranking?
A: Rate any show on its SenpaiRanks page. Your ratings move the Consensus and Quality boards directly.