Best Anime of 2026: Top-Rated Shows This Year
The highest-rated anime of 2026 based on average scores, including Frieren, Re:ZERO, and Witch Hat Atelier.
Best Anime of 2026: Top-Rated Shows This Year
2026 has produced some genuinely impressive anime halfway through the year. The top of the leaderboard is crowded with sequels that earned their high scores, but a few newcomers crashed the top 10 and changed the conversation. Here's the current ranking and what each entry actually brings to the table.
How this list is built
Scores are AniList community averages. I've noted where sequels benefit from nostalgia inflation versus where a season genuinely outdoes its predecessors.
| Rank | Title | Score | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 | 88 | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy |
| 2 | Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 4 | 88 | Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Psychological, Romance |
| 3 | Witch Hat Atelier | 86 | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy |
| 4 | JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 3: The Culling Game Part 1 | 86 | Action, Drama, Supernatural |
| 5 | 【OSHI NO KO】Season 3 | 86 | Drama, Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural |
| 6 | Steel Ball Run JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 1st STAGE | 88* (special) | Action, Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Sports, Supernatural |
| 7 | Fate/strange Fake | 83 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, Supernatural |
| 8 | Medalist Season 2 | 83 | Drama, Psychological, Sports |
| 9 | Dorohedoro Season 2 | 83 | Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery |
| 10 | Hell's Paradise Season 2 | 82 | Action, Adventure, Mystery, Supernatural |
Note on rank 6: The JoJo special is a single episode, so it sits separately. For ongoing series, Frieren and Re:ZERO are tied at the top.
The newcomers that changed the list
Witch Hat Atelier at rank 3 is the story worth calling out. It's a fantasy series with no established fanbase entering 2026 and it outscored most established franchises. The animation consistency and world-building density are genuinely unusual for a non-sequel entry.
Medalist Season 2 also overperformed — the figure skating choreography research is meticulous in a way that most sports anime skip.
The sequel scores you should treat with caution
Frieren and Re:ZERO both carry massive audience pools from their earlier seasons. New viewers should know that both shows hit different if you start from the beginning versus dropping in at Season 2 or 4. The scores reflect cumulative fan investment, not just the current season's quality.
What's missing from the conversation
The scores above tell you what's popular, but not what's interesting. Dorohedoro Season 2 retains the gritty, chaotic tone that made the first season beloved, yet it sits at rank 9 because the audience is smaller. If you want something that feels distinct from the rest of the lineup, start there.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest-rated anime of 2026?
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 and Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 4 are tied at the top with AniList scores of 88. Witch Hat Atelier follows at rank 3 with a score of 86, making it the highest-rated non-sequel entry.
Are sequels dominating the 2026 rankings?
Yes, the top of the leaderboard is crowded with sequels that earned their scores through cumulative fan investment. However, newcomers like Witch Hat Atelier and Medalist Season 2 have cracked the top 10, proving that original entries can still compete.
Is Witch Hat Atelier worth watching?
Yes, Witch Hat Atelier is a fantasy series with no established fanbase entering 2026 that outscored most established franchises. Its animation consistency and world-building density are genuinely unusual for a non-sequel entry, making it a standout.
How are anime scores calculated?
AniList community averages are used for these rankings. Scores reflect cumulative fan investment across all seasons, so sequels benefit from their established audience. New viewers should note that starting from Season 2 or 4 can feel different than beginning from the first season.