Big Four Shonen Anime All Airing Together in 2026
Something is happening in 2026 that has not happened since 2012. One Piece, Naruto, Bleach and Dragon Ball all have new episodes airing in the same year, and the timing is not an accident. Every one of these franchises picked this moment to move.
What each series brings
Bleach kicked things off on July 25 with Thousand Year Blood War The Calamity, the final cour that gives the manga its true ending on screen. Naruto returns with four commemorative special episodes celebrating the legacy of the series. Dragon Ball comes back with an adaptation of the Beerus arc, opening the door to the newest manga material. And One Piece is moving to a new seasonal format that changes how the anime will be produced and released going forward.
For anyone who grew up trading manga volumes in the 2000s, this is a reunion year. The four pillars of shonen are standing in the same room again, and each one arrives with something meaningful rather than a cheap victory lap.
Source: FandomWire
My take: I did not expect to feel this nostalgic about a scheduling coincidence, but here we are. The big four airing together is the kind of moment that reminds you why anime became a global thing in the first place.
