This article contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling series.
Fans of Solo Leveling franchise has been hanging around since the end of Season 2, which returned in early 2025. It goes without saying that 2025 was an absolutely huge year for the franchise which is Solo Leveling. But fans didn't get the update they were waiting for after the conclusion of the second season of the series.
Although 2025 is now over, Solo Leveling Season 3 is yet to be announced. In fact, fans don't even know if Solo Leveling Season 3 is happening or not. The production team has kept future plans for the franchise largely to themselves, raising doubts almost everywhere in the fanbase.
Solo Leveling Season 3 Could Kill The Anime Forever
Solo Leveling Season 3 hasn't even been confirmed yet. The long wait can kill the hype.
At this time, it's safe to assume that Solo Leveling Season 3 won't be coming in 2026. Had that been the case, fans would have already received at least a production update on the series, and of course potentially even a teaser or a key image. It's safe to assume that fans will have to wait longer for Solo Leveling Season 3. it could be a great replacement on the wayespecially when recent reports are considered.
Solo Leveling Season 3 is not coming in 2026
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Solo Leveling Studio does not plan to release Season 3 at this time
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The goal is to aim for a larger project
Solo Leveling Season 3 was quite easily one of the most anticipated anime of 2026. This goes without saying, especially when you look at the success the franchise has enjoyed over the past two years. It would be disingenuous to say that Solo Leveling wasn't always massive. Manhwa was incredibly big in Korea, and even globally among fans. However, it was not as mainstream as it has become after the release of the first season of the series. Solo Leveling Season 1 absolutely took the world by storm, breaking all kinds of records on Crunchyroll. If Season 1's success was huge, then Season 2 managed to level it and become even bigger, breaking some records that fans thought were untouchable and beating shows like One Piece when it comes to reviews on platforms like Crunchyroll.
Solo Leveling Season 1 was even voted Anime of the Year at the 2025 Crunchyroll Awards and it's up for Anime of the Year again in 2026, thanks to its incredible second season. For a franchise as big as this, its future remains in the dark, and as previously mentioned, Season 3 doesn't look like it's happening in 2026. This is incredibly unfortunate for fans, especially considering how big it is right now, and how much it could grow with what could be the biggest season in history.
Solo Leveling Season 3 has a replacement in the works, but a release date isn't set in stone
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A new Solo Leveling movie may be coming soon
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Fans are hoping for a Canon adaptation
Although Solo Leveling Season 3 does not have a confirmation or a release date yet, fans know that the studio, A-1 Pictures, as well as Aniplex, have been brainstorming and they have some plans for the future of the series. Solo Leveling, it seems, plans to replicate Demon Slayer's success. 2025 was absolutely huge for Demon Slayer, and that's largely due to the Infinity Castle movie. It blew everything out of the water and set the bar so high that other franchises can only hope to ever come close to half of its success. Solo Leveling is a franchise that fans believe has a chance to aim for the top.
As a Japanese person living in Japan, the anime is not at the level of Dragon Ball, One Piece or Naruto. But if season three happens, that's when I really want to break that line. — Solo Leveling Producer
New Solo Leveling movie reportedly coming in 2026
Solo Leveling gets unexpected content – a brand new cinematic. This movie could come as early as 2026.
Of course, it will still be impossibly difficult to topple Demon Slayer, but it is now possible to reach new heights for the franchise.
That is precisely why, based on the production committee's report from A-1 Pictures, it seems that the next step for the Solo Leveling series is to deliver a top-notch theatrical release. If that is indeed the plan, then that fits with why there is no confirmation for Solo Leveling Season 3. It could simply be that there will be a movie before Solo Leveling Season 3 happens, which is why things are taking as long as they are.
Plans for a 2026 solo film are already underway
Based on the Production Committee's report, Solo Leveling's movie will be released in 2026. Unfortunately, the production committee's report does not clearly state what the content of this movie is, but any logical person would conclude that it is a continuation of the anime and picks up right where season 2 left off. If Solo Leveling wants to make a name for itself in the movie department, it needs to follow the formula that Demon Slayer has set for adapting canon material to movies. This means that the next arc i.e. Double Dungeon will most likely be featured in the upcoming Solo Leveling movieand the fans should be happy about it.
I am the record of your battles, the proof of your resistance and the reward of your sufferings. I am death, I am eternal rest, I am horror. – Ashborn to Sung Jinwoo, Solo Leveling Manhwa
As for the 2026 release date, there is no exact month or day that has been given to fans yet. The production report also states that the film is in the pre-production phase, which means that the release date may actually even be pushed back.
If delayed, the next Solo Leveling project will be released in 2027
If there is any kind of delay in the production phase, or things simply take longer than expected, then fans should expect the Solo Leveling movie to be released in 2027possibly at the beginning of the year. If that really happens, fans will have to spend 2026 without Solo Leveling.
For a franchise as big as Solo Leveling, it's really disappointing not to have a major release in 2026, but at least fans have an idea of where the franchise is headed for now. As long as the big theatrical release highlighted in the production committee's report is delivered, fans should be largely satisfied. It might take a little more patience on their part, but Solo Leveling could actually be bigger than ever before with the upcoming project, and fans just need to hang in there a little longer.
Solo Leveling has two seasons out right now, one with 12 episodes and the other with 13, for a combined episode count of 25 episodes available to watch right now. The series can be streamed on Crunchyroll for fans to enjoy while they wait for more news about the third season. There has been no major announcement about a third season so far. Fans can get more Solo Leveling content via the Manhwa.
