Through every battle, loss, and victory, one thing never changed: the bond between the guild members. And now, that epitome of true friendship is returning after 20 years.
Fairy Tail, a manga created by Hiro Mashima, debuted in 2006 in Weekly Shonen Magazine and concluded in 2017. Now, nearly a decade later, it celebrates its 20th anniversary with a brand-new short story, set to begin on 5 August 2026.
Mashima will return to write and illustrate this special story, featuring the original character Natsu Dragneel and the guild, while also shining the spotlight on new characters.
The anime series of the same name aired for the first time in Japan in 2009. At its heart, the series follows Lucy Heartfilia, who joins a chaotic guild after meeting fire-wielding wizard Natsu and his flying cat Happy. What begins as simple jobs soon turns into battles against powerful enemies and world-threatening forces, all while Natsu searches for his dragon father, Igneel. Through it all, their unbreakable bond turns every fight into a story of friendship, loyalty, and never giving up.
The short-run serialisation will appear in Weekly Shonen Magazine’s combined Issue 36–37, as confirmed by Kodansha, a Japanese publishing company.
With over 70 million copies in circulation, Fairy Tail remains one of the best-selling manga series of all time.
