Japanese streaming platform U-Next has announced the top 10 most-watched anime series for the first half of 2026 based on viewership data.
Per PR Times, the ranking features major releases that debuted this year, including Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2. Alongside these franchises, newer titles such as Nippon Sangoku and Daemons of the Shadow Realm also left their mark on the list.
Notably, Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World Season 4 failed to place in the top 10 despite dropping some of the highest-rated anime episodes this year. Similarly, Witch Hat Atelier, which received critical acclaim for its animation quality and worldbuilding, did not make the final cut.
U-Next calculated the rankings based on total viewer counts recorded for the anime titles between Jan. 1 and June 8, 2026, on its platform. The website hosts more than 400,000 titles across movies, dramas and anime, making it the largest streaming service in Japan by volume of hosted content. The top-ranked anime on the platform so far can be viewed below.
The 10 Top-Ranked Anime of 2026 (So Far), According to U-Next
- Jujutsu Kaisen: Culling Game Part 1
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2
- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4
- Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None
- Noble Reincarnation: Born Blessed, So I’ll Obtain Ultimate Power
- Oshi no Ko Season 3
- Nippon Sangoku
- Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord
- Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing
- Daemons of the Shadow Realm
Jujutsu Kaisen, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime are easily the most popular titles to be featured in the list, and this popularity has translated into high viewership numbers for them. Jujutsu Kaisen: Culling Game Part 1 continues the story of Yuji Itadori and his fellow sorcerers as they deal with the immediate aftermath of the Shibuya Incident and enter the Culling Game orchestrated by Kenjaku.
The second season of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End maintained high viewership numbers despite lacking a single overarching plot line. However, it set the stage for the introduction of the antagonist Macht and the Golden City arc. Meanwhile, Oshi no Ko Season 3, which premiered in the same window as Frieren, was a consistent fixture in the rankings throughout its run.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 leads the isekai titles in the list with a third-place finish. It follows protagonist Rimuru Tempest as he navigates new political conflicts and confronts a new foe in the Rozzo family while expanding the Jura-Tempest Federation. Alongside Slime, the top 10 list features three other reincarnation anime adaptations that debuted this year.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm Continues Its Top-Rated Run in 2026
In terms of debut anime titles, Nippon Sangoku once again attracted viewers with its politically charged narrative, performing strongly on the U-Next platform. The series, regarded as one of the best post-apocalyptic anime to release this year, follows protagonist Aoteru Misumi as he attempts to reunify Japan following the effects of a catastrophic nuclear war.
The ranking is rounded off by the anime adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa’s ongoing manga, Daemons of the Shadow Realm. The project marks studio Bones’ return to animating an original work by Arakawa following Fullmetal Alchemist, continuing to cement its status as a worthy successor.
Looking ahead, there are many more exciting titles for viewers airing this season, including Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3, Science Saru’s Ghost in the Shell and the highly-awaited second season of Saga of Tanya the Evil, all of which have already been dubbed the best anime of Summer 2026.
