Japan has officially unveiled its best summer anime of 2026

When it comes to anime, often what's popular in Japan is also popular overseas. This is seen in major mainstream anime series such as Jujutsu Kaisen or One piece. However, in other cases, some hits in Japan may be too narrow for fans abroad. In the case of the most anticipated summer anime of 2026, both Japanese and international fans agree Mushoku Tensei Season 3 is all hype.

A new Animate Times poll recently took place in Japan, asking fans which summer anime of 2026 they are most looking forward to. Despite the competition from similar series The Saga of Tanya the Evil and Smoking behind the supermarket with youMushoku Tensei Season 3 is an anime that fans are eagerly waiting to see start, and luckily, its first two episodes just dropped on July 4th, 2026.

Animate Times Summer 2026 Poll Crowns Mushoku Tensei Season 3 Most Anticipated Anime

Animate Times is an extensive digital news site in Japan that focuses on all things anime – from new articles to voice actor interviews and even polls. The outlet launched on April 27, 2016 and remains a massive destination for readers looking to read anything anime or manga related. Animate Times polls give us an idea of ​​the general opinion of Japanese netizens on various topics and series, and we were excited to see a new one that focuses on what Japanese fans consider to be the most anticipated anime series of the summer 2026 season. The results of the poll were released on June 29, 2026, with voting beginning two weeks before that, on June 15, 2026.

Specifically, we were given a look at the top 15 in the poll. Unfortunately, we don't have the sample size of the poll or the number of votes each series received, but at least we know that the Animate Times audience believes Mushoku Tensei: Reincarnation Without Work Season 3 is the most exciting news of this summer. This is not exactly a surprise, as Mushoku Tensei has become one of the most famous Isekai series in recent years.

Why Mushoku Tensei is a 2026 fan favorite in Japan and abroad

Image via Studio Bind

Mushoku Tensei is a favorite of anime fans everywhere, whether in Japan or even overseas. The story was originally created by Rifujin on Magonote as a novel that was serialized between November 22, 2012 and April 3, 2015. The story gained immense popularity, so much so that a light novel version, manga, audio drama, video game, and more were created for it. Of all these adaptations, of course the biggest and most popular rendition of the story is its TV Anime by Studio Bind, which debuted on January 11, 2021 with Season 1.

Mushoku Tensei Season 1 put the series on the radars of many fans and right now it has a completed season 2 story. Season 2 was released on July 2, 2023 and ran until July 1, 2024. Now we finally have a third season as well, which officially started this month on Crunchyroll, although it's still in its second episode, with two follow-up releases on the day of its debut. The long-awaited Mushoku Tensei Season 3 Episode 1 and Episode 2 were released two days ago on July 4, 2026 – a day earlier than fans expected. With more content coming out every week, we can see why many believe this series is the best anime of 2026.

The story of Mushoku Tensei is currently one of the most interesting Isekai. The story follows Rudeus, a man reincarnated as a child in a magical world who plans to live this new life to the fullest. The first two seasons were full of action and intrigue, and season 3 will only get better. Already, the animation and direction of this season looks incredible, and it's a big upgrade over the treatment in Season 2. The story of Mushoku Tensei Season 3 is especially something fans of the novel are looking forward to, as it covers the most anticipated story arc yet — the Turning Point 4 Arc. The Turning Point 4 Arc is set to bring dark twists that anime-only fans won't see.

Regardless, it's clear that fans are already loving this new series. With only 2 episodes out, Mushoku Tensei is climbing the charts of overseas fans on the MyAnimeList platform. Mushoku Tensei Season 3 boasts an amazing rating of 9.03/10, making it close to breaking into the Top 10. It is currently the 11th highest rated anime of all time with 230k user ratings. For context, it's currently tied with Hunter x Hunter, which also has a 9.03 on MAL, but with a much larger rating compared to it. Technically, in terms of a 2026 release, it's in third place, right behind Re:Zero Season 4 and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run. With more episodes, we could see the story take it even higher and maybe become the highest rated anime of the year. All it needs is a steady release with no drop in quality.

Another highly anticipated anime that Japan can't wait to see debut in the summer of 2026

The Animate Times 2026 Summer Poll crowned Mushoku Tensei as their most anticipated series, but through this poll we were able to explore 14 other series that Japanese fans are excited to see fully fleshed out. The final order looks like this:

1. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3

2. From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Season 2

3. Saga of Tanya the Evil season 2

4. Elusive samurai season 2

5. You and I Are Polar Opposites Season 2

6. Smoking behind the supermarket with you

7. Skeleton Knight in Another World Season 2

8. Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer dominates another world with Garbage Balancing Season 2

9. Ogre's Bride

10. The Ghost in the Shell

The summer season for 2026 isn't as strong as the winter or spring season, but it's clear that there are still some amazing anime going on. Speaking of the highly anticipated Isekai series, we also have Tanya the Evil Saga returning for a second anime season after 9 years. It debuts in a few days, on July 8th, 2026. Other standout series on the list include Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You, a new anime that has already been loved by many fans, as well as The Ghost in the Shell, which will be released tomorrow, July 7th, 2026.

Source: AnimateTimes