When Are Naruto’s 4 New Episodes Releasing In 2026?

Naruto's 20th Anniversary Project was announced all the way back in 2023, however, since the announcement of delay, there's been only silence.

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SUMMARY

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The four special episodes of the Naruto anime, commemorating the 20th anniversary, have faced significant scheduling setbacks since their initial announcement. Originally announced in 2023, the project seemed to have suspended indefinitely by the production committee, as there was no other news.

Recent unverified reports and online leaks now indicate a tentative release window scheduled for sometime in 2026. Despite these persistent rumors, the studio has not provided official confirmation regarding a specific premiere date or current production status.

Naruto’s 20th Anniversary Celebration

Studio Pierrot initially announced the four-episode special in March 2023. The project was announced alongside the broadcast conclusion of the first part of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. These episodes were announced specifically to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the original Naruto anime, which first aired in Japan in October 2002.

In the original announcement on the official website, the production committee established a September 2023 release window for the episodes. Official promotional materials confirmed the storyline would center on the primary characters: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and FLOW’s favorite character, Kakashi Hatake.

The story that would be adapted is strictly confined to the original anime timeline, taking place well prior to the time skip and the subsequent events of Naruto: Shippuden. This allows the writers to explore individual stories set during the team’s early days under Kakashi’s mentorship, detailing missions that were excluded from the original manga.

Why Naruto’s New Episodes Haven’t Been Released Yet

In August 2023, approximately one month before the scheduled September premiere, the Naruto Anime Production Committee issued a formal statement announcing an indefinite postponement. The committee mentioned that they want to elevate the overall quality of the final product.

According to the official statement, the studio determined that additional production time was required to ensure the episodes met the technical and visual standards expected for a major 20th-anniversary project. Releasing substandard animation for a major milestone event carries a high risk of audience rejection.

Certain theories suggested the delay was caused by the studio expanding the four episodes into a comprehensive remake of the original series. To be honest, that would be the ideal outcome, as that would also resolve some of the mysteries that keep fans awake even now.

Studio Pierrot opted for a delay rather than delivering a compromised product that failed to match the visual fidelity of their recent work on other series. Following the initial delay announcement, the studio maintained complete silence regarding the project.

We can even be wishful about other projects set in the Naruto verse that are not about Naruto. However, there is no confirmed news as of yet. The most accurate assessment is that the project remains a standard four-episode addition to the classic continuity.

Until the Naruto Anime Production Committee provides a direct, public update, the exact release date remains unknown.

Are you excited for the anniversary special? Tell us in the comments.

Naruto is streaming on Crunchyroll.

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