Most Anticipated Upcoming Donghua of 2026: Best New Series You Can’t Miss
The donghua world is leveling up in 2026. Major Chinese studios are finally releasing new series with fresh worlds, new heroes, and high-quality animation — not just sequels. And the best part? All the titles in this list already have their trailers available on YouTube, so fans can instantly see the art style and vibe.
In this post, we’ll break down the most anticipated upcoming donghua of 2026, focusing only on confirmed new series backed by official platforms like Tencent Video and iQIYI. No rumors. No leaks. No guesswork.
If you’re searching for new donghua 2026, this is the list worth bookmarking.
1. The Sacred Ruins (圣墟 / Sheng Xu)
Release Window: 2026
Platform: Tencent Video / WeTV
Studio: Build Dream Animation (铸梦动画)
Source Material: Web novel by Chen Dong
Genre: Xianxia, Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy
Trailer: YouTube
What’s It About?
The Sacred Ruins is easily one of the biggest new donghua releases of 2026. It adapts the final part of Chen Dong’s legendary trilogy (Perfect World → Shrouding the Heavens → The Sacred Ruins).
The story takes place in a mysterious future Earth where living beings start evolving again. Strange creatures appear, ancient ruins reawaken, and the main character, Chu Feng, gets caught in a massive supernatural shift.
Why Fans Are Hyped
- Huge novel fanbase
- 52-episode Season 1 (rare for a new donghua)
- Built as Tencent’s next major flagship
- High-quality animation from a proven studio
Famous Work by Studio:
🔥 Renegade Immortal — known for strong visuals and faithful storytelling.
2. Fierce Blade in the Snow (雪中悍刀行)
Release Window: Late 2026
Platform: Tencent Video
Studio: Build Dream Animation
Source Material: Popular wuxia novel
Genre: Wuxia, Martial Arts, Adventure
Trailer: YouTube
What’s It About?
This series dives into the jianghu — the classic martial world. The story follows Xu Fengnian, a prince who leaves his palace life to wander among swordsmen, assassins, monks, and warriors.
Expect stylish sword fights, emotional character arcs, and a full martial-arts atmosphere that modern donghua rarely explore.
Why Fans Are Hyped
- Gorgeous 3D trailer
- Deep wuxia worldbuilding
- Adaptation of a very famous novel
Famous Work by Studio:
🔥 Renegade Immortal (same studio as above, dominating 2026)
3. Deep Sea Embers (深海余烬 / Shen Hai Yu Jin)
Release Window: 2026–2027
Platform: Tencent Video
Studio: VisualHold
Source Material: Novel by Yuantong (same author as Lord of the Mysteries)
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Mystery
Trailer: YouTube
What’s It About?
Imagine a haunted ocean full of distorted worlds, ghost ships, and ancient beings. Deep Sea Embers mixes sci-fi with cosmic horror as Captain Duncan and his mysterious crew explore a broken sea filled with supernatural secrets.
Why Fans Are Hyped
- Author is the same person behind Lord of the Mysteries
- Stunning dark 3D animation
- Fresh genre — horror donghua is rare
- Atmosphere-focused storytelling
Famous Work by Studio:
This is VisualHold’s first big project, but the team includes top artists from Disney and YamatoWorks.
4. Dao of the Bizarre Immortal (火旺 / Huo Wang)
Release Window: 2026
Platform: Tencent Video
Studio: DRock-Art
Source Material: Novel
Genre: Psychological Horror, Cultivation, Mystery
Trailer: Youtube
What’s It About?
This donghua blends Taoism, horror, and surreal illusions. The main character, Li Huowang, enters a twisted world filled with hallucinations and ancient rituals. Reality breaks apart, and the story keeps you guessing what’s real.
Why Fans Are Hyped
- Dark tone (rare for cultivation donghua)
- Creepy atmosphere in the trailer
- Loyal fanbase from the novel
Famous Work by Studio:
🔥 Painting Rivers and Lakes — gritty martial-arts series with adult themes.
5. Reincarnation Paradise (轮回乐园 / Lun Hui Leyuan)
Release Window: 2026
Platform: Tencent Video
Studio: Dacheng Impression
Source Material: Web novel
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Death Game
Trailer: YouTube
What’s It About?
This one is for fans of Solo Leveling or Tower of God. The world runs on contracts, missions, trials, and deadly challenges. Each “reincarnation round” becomes more dangerous as the main character fights to survive inside a brutal game-like dimension.
Why Fans Are Hyped
- Very popular web novel
- Futuristic combat + detailed 3D action
- Tencent is pushing this as a major new IP
Famous Work by Studio:
🔥 Spare Me, Great Lord! — a chaotic but fan-loved fantasy donghua.
NOTE: If you love discovering hidden gems, you can also check out my guide on the Top 10 Underrated Donghua to Watch in 2025
New Donghua Releasing in 2026 (Official)
| Donghua Title | Chinese Title | Release Year | Platform | Studio | Genre | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sacred Ruins | 圣墟 (Sheng Xu) | 2026 | Tencent Video / WeTV | Build Dream Animation | Xianxia, Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy | Web Novel (Chen Dong) |
| Fierce Blade in the Snow | 雪中悍刀行 | 2026 | Tencent Video | Build Dream Animation | Wuxia, Martial Arts, Adventure | Web Novel |
| Deep Sea Embers | 深海余烬 | 2026–2027 | Tencent Video | VisualHold | Horror, Sci-Fi, Mystery | Web Novel (Yuantong) |
| Dao of the Bizarre Immortal | 火旺 | 2026 | Tencent Video | DRock-Art | Psychological Horror, Cultivation | Web Novel |
| Reincarnation Paradise | 轮回乐园 | 2026 | Tencent Video | Dacheng Impression | Sci-Fi, Action, Death-Game | Web Novel |
Final Verdict
The donghua world is finally bringing fresh stories in 2026 instead of just more sequels. These five new shows are fully confirmed, have trailers, and look promising for both new fans and long-time viewers.
With horror, wuxia action, sci-fi, and death-game battles, 2026 has a mix of everything. These new series are set to make a big impact on the future of Chinese animation.
FAQ – Most Anticipated Upcoming Donghua of 2026
What are the new donghua releasing in 2026?
The confirmed new donghua for 2026 include The Sacred Ruins, Fierce Blade in the Snow, Deep Sea Embers, Dao of the Bizarre Immortal, and Reincarnation Paradise. All of these are brand-new series, not sequels, and they already have official trailers on YouTube.
Which donghua studios are producing the new 2026 series?
Major studios include Build Dream Animation, VisualHold, DRock-Art, and Dacheng Impression. These studios are known for popular works like Renegade Immortal, Painting Rivers and Lakes, and Spare Me, Great Lord!.
Are these donghua confirmed by official sources?
Yes. All listed titles have been confirmed through Tencent Video, official studio announcements, press events, or public PV trailers released on YouTube.
Where can I watch the trailers for these upcoming donghua?
Each series has an official PV trailer available on YouTube through Tencent’s official channels or their animation partners.
Are these donghua adaptations or original stories?
Most of the 2026 donghua are premium adaptations of popular Chinese web novels, including works by authors like Chen Dong and Yuantong. A few are original creations developed by Tencent-backed studios
Are these donghua sequels?
No. This list includes only brand-new donghua coming in 2026, not Season 2, Season 3, or continuations of existing shows.
Which new donghua of 2026 has the most hype?
The Sacred Ruins is considered the biggest release of 2026 due to its massive fanbase, high-budget production, and 52-episode first season.
