The Next Manga Awards 2026 (Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Taisho 2026) has revealed the winners of its Web Manga Category, highlighting the online manga series that readers believe have the potential to become the next major hits.
The results were announced on September 16, 2026, during the awards ceremony for the 12th edition of the event. Across both the Physical Manga and Web Manga categories, this year’s awards received 7,952 entries and approximately 380,000 votes.
While Samuwan Hertz took first place in the Physical Manga Category, the Web Manga Category was won by Okaeri Suiheisen, a human drama currently serialized on Shonen Jump+.
Okaeri Suiheisen Wins Web Manga Category
Okaeri Suiheisen (Home At The Horizon) by Taiyo Watabe took the No. 1 spot in the Next Manga Awards 2026 Web Manga Category.
Published by Shueisha and serialized on Shonen Jump+, the manga is a human drama set in a small seaside town.
The story follows high school student Ryoma Kakiuchi, who lives in a small bathhouse near the sea.
His life changes when Reomi Shibasaki, a boy claiming to be his late father’s secret child, enters his life. The two begin living under the same roof and gradually develop a bond with each other.
The manga received praise from readers for its emotional storytelling, with fans describing it as a series that can make them cry from its very first chapter while also leaving them with a warm, nostalgic feeling.
A special illustration was also released to celebrate Okaeri Suiheisen winning the Web Manga Category.
Hitoner Takes Second Place
Taking second place is Hitoner by Tomohiro Yagi, published by Shueisha.
The manga secured the runner-up position in this year’s Web Manga Category after receiving strong support from readers.
A special illustration was also unveiled following the awards announcement.
Haimiya-senpai wa Kowakute Kawaii Ranks Third
Haimiya-senpai wa Kowakute Kawaii by Sumu Kamiyama took third place.
The manga is published by Square Enix and rounds out the Top 3 of this year’s Web Manga Category.
Like the other Top 3 titles, it received a special commemorative illustration following the results announcement.
Next Manga Awards 2026 Web Manga Category Top 10
Here is the complete Next Manga Awards 2026 Web Manga Category Top 10:
| Rank | Manga | Author | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Okaeri Suiheisen (Home At The Horizon) | Taiyo Watabe | Shueisha |
| 2 | Hitoner | Tomohiro Yagi | Shueisha |
| 3 | Haimiya-senpai wa Kowakute Kawaii (Haimiya Is Scary Cute) | Sumu Kamiyama | Square Enix |
| 4 | Otona Taisen (War Of The Adults) | Kappy / Masaaki Tsuzuki | Shueisha |
| 5 | Toshi Densetsu Senpai (The Urban Legend Files) | Kazuki Hiraoka | Shueisha |
| 6 | Haruno-san no Koto Nante Zenzen Suki (It’s Not like I Like Haruno-san at All!) | Yasaka Yui | Nananan |
| 7 | Idolatory | Original story: Shin Otaka / Manga: Homare | Kodansha |
| 8 | Kumizawa Yoshihiko no Gyōko (Kurumizawa’s Folly) | Yohi Tokiwa | Shueisha |
| 9 | WITCHRIV | Hakuri | Shueisha |
| 10 | Kaisha to Shiseikatsu – On to Off – (On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance) | Shinnosuke Kanazawa | Square Enix |
Shueisha dominates the Web Manga Category Top 10, with multiple titles appearing throughout the ranking, including the No. 1 winner Okaeri Suiheisen.
Special Awards Announced Alongside Web Manga Rankings
The 2026 Next Manga Awards also featured several special prizes alongside the two main categories.
The U-NEXT Award for the Web Manga Category went to WITCHRIV by Hakuri, which also placed ninth in the overall Web Manga ranking.
Meanwhile, Okaeri Suiheisen took the main Web Manga Category award, putting it at the center of this year’s recognition of promising online manga.
Next Manga Awards Fair Begins Across Japan
Following the announcement, the Next Manga Awards Fair will begin on September 17, 2026, at approximately 2,000 bookstores across Japan.
Participating stores will offer special promotions connected to the winning manga, including a campaign where customers purchasing award-winning titles can receive special illustrated cards.
The official Next Manga Awards website will also feature the rankings from 11th to 20th place, along with thank-you illustrations and comments from the Top 3 manga.
For readers looking for new manga to add to their reading lists, the 2026 Web Manga Category provides several titles that have already attracted significant support from Japanese manga readers. Bookmark Otaku Mantra for more anime and manga news and updates!
About Next Manga Awards
The Next Manga Awards (Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Taisho) is an annual Japanese manga award focused on discovering and recognizing manga that are expected to become major hits in the future.
The awards are divided into two main categories: the Physical Manga Category, which focuses on manga published in physical volumes, and the Web Manga Category, which focuses on manga primarily published online.
The 2026 edition is the 12th edition of the awards. A total of 7,952 works were entered across both categories, with approximately 380,000 votes cast by readers.
The awards are designed to give attention to manga while they are still emerging, helping readers discover series that could become major titles in the future.
Source: Ddnavi
