Dragon Ball officially enters a new era in this year of 2026, a period that promises to be the most significant for the franchise since the debut of Dragon Ball Super in 2015. The changing of the guard comes after a practically uneventful 2025, but with a crucial event scheduled for January 25th, the Dragon Ball Genkidamatsuri. At this event, which will bring together legendary figures like voice actress Masako Nozawa, Toei Animation and mangaka Toyotarou are expected to reveal the future of the series, marking the beginning of the first creative phase without the direct involvement of the late master Akira Toriyama.
The relevance of this moment is historic, as we are talking about the world’s most iconic anime and manga franchise, which now moves forward under new leadership. The reason for so much excitement are the strong rumors circulating, suggesting everything from a remake of the Dragon Ball Super series to a new movie, the continuation of the manga, and unprecedented games. Thus, after a drought of original content, Brazilian fans can finally expect a flood of announcements that promise to redefine the universe created by Toriyama.
The Rumors That Warm the Hearts of Fans
No project has been officially confirmed, however, the evidence is strong and numerous. The most substantial rumor points to a remake of the Dragon Ball Super anime, based on a leak of concept art of the Super Saiyan God ritual, which was removed by a copyright notice. Furthermore, the announcement of the first movie since Super Hero (2022) is very likely, a possibility that was even hinted at by Kazuhiko Torishima, Toriyama’s original editor.
The manga, in turn, is expected to resume its publication under the care of Toyotarou, who continued to produce art of Ultra Instinct Goku, Beast Gohan, and the highly anticipated Black Freeza during the hiatus. On the other hand, in the field of games, the reveal of the successor to Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, released in 2024, is expected. In other words, the January 25th event has all the makings of a landmark, announcing multiple fronts of expansion for the saga.
A Four-Decade Journey and Four Eras
To understand the magnitude of this turning point, one must look at Dragon Ball’s over 40-year history. The first era (1984-1997) covered the original manga, the anime adaptations, and Dragon Ball GT. Soon after, came a period between 1998 and 2012, often called the “dark age,” with few significant releases. The current era began in 2013, with the movie Battle of Gods, and was fully supervised by Toriyama, including projects released after his passing in 2024.
Therefore, the January 2026 revelations should inaugurate the franchise’s fourth era, the first entirely led by Toyotarou and Toei’s creative team, without the involvement of the original creator. Despite this, Toriyama’s legacy remains the foundation. If the projects are as ambitious as the rumors suggest, the hype for a new chapter of this story will be palpable, proving that Dragon Ball’s strength is far from exhausted.
