
Naruto’s New Story: Everything We Know About the Future of the Franchise
Naruto is about to enter another major chapter. More than two decades after the original anime premiered, the franchise is preparing to reveal details about a completely new anime project at New York Comic Con 2026.
The announcement comes at a particularly interesting moment for fans. Naruto remains one of the most recognizable anime franchises in the world, while the wider story continues through Boruto: Naruto Next Generations and the ongoing Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga.
Now, the original Naruto anime is once again at the center of attention.
A New Naruto Anime Is About to Be Revealed
The official Naruto website has confirmed that a special panel called “NARUTO: What’s Next?” will take place at New York Comic Con on October 10, 2026.
The panel is scheduled for Naruto Uzumaki’s birthday and will feature Junko Takeuchi, the Japanese voice actress behind Naruto, as well as Noriaki Sugiyama, the voice of Sasuke Uchiha. A producer from PIERROT FILMS will also appear.
Most importantly, the official announcement promises the world premiere of information about a completely new Naruto anime.
The event will also be streamed worldwide through the official Naruto and Boruto YouTube channel, giving international fans the opportunity to follow the announcement as it happens.
Is This the Naruto Anime That Was Delayed in 2023?
This is one of the biggest questions surrounding the announcement.
In 2023, a new four-week Naruto anime project was announced as part of the franchise’s 20th-anniversary celebrations. The special was originally scheduled to begin airing in September of that year.
However, the production committee announced that the broadcast would be postponed because the team wanted additional time to improve the project’s quality. A new release date was never announced at the time.
The project has now returned to the spotlight.
However, the official announcement for New York Comic Con does not clearly state whether the “completely new anime” is the same four-episode project that was postponed in 2023 or a different production.
That uncertainty is likely to make the upcoming panel even more important for fans.
What Could the New Anime Be About?
At the moment, there is no official story synopsis.
That means fans should be careful with rumors and speculation circulating online.
The announcement only confirms that new information about a completely new anime will be revealed. Until the official panel takes place, details such as the number of episodes, story, release date and exact connection to the original series remain unknown.
There are several possibilities.
The project could revisit Naruto and Sasuke during a previously unexplored period of the original story. It could adapt material that has not yet received a full anime treatment, or it could introduce an entirely new story within the Naruto universe.
For now, however, none of these possibilities has been officially confirmed.
Naruto’s Future Goes Beyond the New Anime
The new anime announcement isn’t the only major Naruto project currently in development.
The franchise is also moving forward with a Hollywood live-action movie.
Lionsgate and filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton have begun a worldwide casting search for the young versions of Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno. Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto is involved with the project, while Cretton is attached to direct.
Meanwhile, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex continues the manga’s story, giving the franchise another major narrative running alongside its upcoming anime projects.
There is also a large-scale Naruto stage production planned for Kyoto beginning in 2027, showing just how many different areas of entertainment the franchise is currently expanding into.
Why This Announcement Matters
Naruto’s original television anime premiered in Japan in 2002, meaning the franchise has now been part of anime culture for more than two decades.
That longevity makes the upcoming announcement particularly significant.
A completely new Naruto anime could bring the original characters back to the screen, introduce a new story, or potentially connect different eras of the franchise.
It also arrives at a time when major anime properties are receiving renewed attention from both longtime fans and newer audiences.
For fans who grew up watching Naruto, the possibility of seeing the characters return in a new animated project is particularly exciting.
When Will We Learn More?
The major reveal is scheduled for October 10, 2026, during the “NARUTO: What’s Next?” panel at New York Comic Con.
The official worldwide livestream will begin on October 11 in Japan, corresponding to the October 10 event in New York.
Until then, the biggest questions remain unanswered:
- What exactly is the new anime?
- Is it the delayed 2023 anniversary project?
- How many episodes will it have?
- When will it premiere?
- Will Naruto, Sasuke and the original cast return?
- Will the story connect directly to Boruto?
For now, fans will have to wait a little longer.
But one thing is already official: Naruto’s next anime chapter is coming into focus, and the franchise’s future is about to become much clearer.
Final Thoughts
Naruto has already had an enormous impact on anime, but the franchise clearly isn’t finished yet.
With a new anime announcement coming at New York Comic Con, a Hollywood live-action adaptation in development and Boruto: Two Blue Vortex continuing the story, Naruto is entering another interesting period.
The biggest reveal is just days away.
And for millions of fans around the world, October 10 could mark the beginning of the next major Naruto era.


