A New Era Is Coming After years of silence, Dragon Ball Super is finally preparing for a return and 2026 looks to be the year it happens.
Fans across the world have been waiting since the Tournament of Power arc ended in 2018, and although the manga continued with new stories like Moro and Granolah, the anime never came back.
Now, all signs point toward a big relaunch in 2026 that could change the future of the Dragon Ball universe.
Why the Anime Went Silent
The long pause wasn’t random.
In 2024, the Dragon Ball team went through a difficult transition after the passing of Akira Toriyama, the creator who shaped every part of the franchise.
His final confirmed work was Dragon Ball Daima, and after that, the manga went on a break.
According to reports from AnimeHunch and Diario AS, the editorial team decided to step back and rethink how to continue the story while honoring Toriyama’s vision.
Toyotarou, the artist behind the Super manga, said in an interview that continuing without Toriyama is “not impossible, but not easy.”
That single line told fans everything — the series needed time to reset before moving forward.
Behind the Delay — The Real Reasons
Several reasons explain why Dragon Ball Super 2 didn’t arrive sooner:
- Creative reset. Toei Animation and Shueisha wanted to make sure the new direction fits with Toriyama’s legacy and sets up a long-term future.
- New projects in development. Toyotarou and the editorial team have been working quietly on new manga material expected to sync with the next anime launch.
- Global marketing timeline. The 40th-anniversary celebrations of Dragon Ball started in 2024 and will continue through 2026. The comeback aligns with that global push.
Everything suggests that the production team used this gap to build something much larger — not just another season, but a complete new phase for the series.
What 2026 Could Bring
Many insiders believe the new season will adapt the Moro and Granolah arcs first, bringing them to animation for the first time.
Others think the new series might start fresh, blending the Super Hero movie timeline with Toyotarou’s manga events.
The 2026 Genkidamatsuri anniversary event is expected to reveal the official announcement trailer.
This event has already been teased as the biggest Dragon Ball celebration yet, which makes it the perfect time to confirm Super’s return.
If the schedule follows past patterns, the first key visuals could appear in late 2025, with the anime premiering by mid-2026 on Fuji TV and streaming worldwide soon after.
What Fans Can Expect
The next Dragon Ball Super is rumored to feature new gods, new transformations, and a storyline that goes beyond the Tournament of Power.
There’s also strong speculation about the reappearance of Broly and Uub, bridging the gap between Super and GT-era ideas.
Most fans expect the tone to be more emotional, reflecting Toriyama’s final influence while letting Toyotarou lead the creative path.
Social media is already full of theories, fan posters, and countdown pages.
The words “Dragon Ball Super 2026” are trending almost every week on X (Twitter) and Reddit.
The Countdown to 2026
It’s rare for a series to stay silent this long and still grow stronger with every rumor.
That alone shows how deeply Dragon Ball still connects with its audience.
The wait has been long, but this comeback is more than just another season — it’s the rebirth of a world that shaped anime history.
Fans are ready, and the Dragon Ball energy is building again.
When 2026 arrives, the Super saga will finally continue — and it might be the biggest one yet.
