After Black Clover, This Major Shonen Series Is Confirmed to End in 2026

Shonen anime and manga fans are no strangers to emotional goodbyes, but 2024–2026 is shaping up to be a era of major closures for beloved franchises. First up: Black Clover officially entered its final arc earlier this year, with creator Yuki Tabata confirming the long-running series will wrap its story sooner than many expected.

Now, industry insiders and official statements point to another heavyweight shonen series following close behind, with a 2026 conclusion practically locked in. Here’s everything we know so far.

Black Clover’s Final Arc: What We Know

Tabata first teased Black Clover’s final saga in late 2023, sharing that the manga had entered its "last chapter" phase. As of October 2024, the series has released over 30 chapters of its final arc, focusing on Asta’s final showdown with Lucifero and the reconstruction of the Clover Kingdom.

Leaks from Shueisha’s editorial team suggest the manga will conclude by Q4 2025, with the anime’s final season already confirmed to adapt the closing arc shortly after. For fans who’ve followed Asta’s journey from a magicless orphan to a Wizard King candidate, the end is finally in sight.

The Next Big Shonen Ending: My Hero Academia in 2026

While Black Clover wraps its run, My Hero Academia is set to be the next major shonen to say goodbye. Creator Kohei Horikoshi announced the start of MHA’s final arc in July 2022, and recent updates from Shueisha confirm the series is on track to conclude in 2026.

Horikoshi previously stated the final arc would span roughly 2–3 years, a timeline that aligns perfectly with a 2026 wrap. The current "Final War" arc has already seen major losses for Class 1-A, with Deku’s final battle against All For One ramping up in recent chapters.

Why 2026 Is Locked In for MHA

Several factors make a 2026 conclusion for My Hero Academia all but certain:

• Official Shueisha release schedules list MHA manga chapters through late 2025, with no new arc announcements beyond the current final war.
• Horikoshi has reduced his public appearances and side projects to focus exclusively on wrapping the series, a common sign of a creator approaching a series end.
• Merchandise and anime production schedules for MHA are already shifting to "final season" planning, with Studio Bones confirming the last anime season will air in 2026 to align with the manga’s conclusion.

How Fans Are Reacting

Social media has been flooded with reactions to both endings, with #ThankYouBlackClover and #MHAFinalArc trending globally for weeks. Long-time fans are sharing fan art, throwback clips, and personal stories about how the series impacted their lives.

“I grew up with Asta and Deku both,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Losing both in back-to-back years is going to hurt, but I’m just grateful we got such amazing stories.”

What’s Next for Shonen?

With two of the "Big Three" of modern shonen (alongside Jujutsu Kaisen) ending in quick succession, the genre is poised for a shift. New series like Kaiju No. 8 and Sakamoto Days are already stepping up to fill the gap, with strong early manga sales and anime adaptations in the works.

Industry analysts predict 2026 will be a turning point for shonen, as legacy series make way for a new generation of creators and stories.

Conclusion

The next two years will be bittersweet for shonen fans. Black Clover’s conclusion in 2025 will pave the way for My Hero Academia’s 2026 send-off, closing the book on two of the most influential series of the 2010s and 2020s.

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual viewer, now’s the time to catch up on both series before their final chapters drop. Mark your calendars: 2026 is going to be a big year for shonen goodbyes.