Fairy Tail Manga Returns After 9 Years: How Did the Manga End & Story Continuation Explored

Fairy Tail is a Japanese fantasy manga series written and illustrated by Hiro Mashima. This manga is about the adventures of Natsu Dragneel, Lucy Heartfilia, and their friends as they take on various missions, battle dark forces, and uncover ancient mysteries. The manga began its run in August 2006 in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine and concluded its original publication in July 2017.

However, while the sequel is nearing its end, the manga is set for another serialization starting in the summer of 2026. Let’s dive into the information regarding its release, where the story left off, and much more exciting things planned by the author and publishers.

Fairy Tail Manga Is Set for New Short Serialization

The Fairy Tail manga is officially returning to Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine on August 5, 2026. This return is to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the manga.

20周年色々発表されました！
PVのSnow fairyで泣ける。
サイン会は全国行きます。
あと、まだ発表してないけど、海外もあります。
あと短期集中連載、意外なキャラにフォーカスした話ですが、ナツたちも大暴れします。
あとあと、まだ発表されてないものがたくさんあります。…

Author Hiro Mashima confirmed the news on social media, stating that he will be writing and illustrating a new short serialization. The upcoming story will feature main characters like Natsu Dragneel, Lucy, Happy, Gray, and Erza going on a new adventure. However, Mashima noted that the story will also focus on an “unexpected character.” Considering how Hiro Mashima learns from his mistakes, we can expect this new serialization to be even better than the original manga.

This format of a short-term serialization is similar to Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo by Gege Akutami; it allows the authors to tell new stories separate from the original continuity without the pressure of a big serialization.

To promote the return, a commemorative promotional video was uploaded to the official YouTube channel of Weekly Shonen Magazine. The video uses the song “Snow Fairy” by the rock band FUNKIST. This song was one of the opening themes for the Fairy Tail anime adaptation, making it highly nostalgic for fans.

Where Did the Story End in the Original Fairy Tail Manga?

Natsu from Fairy Tail | Credits: Satelight, A-1 Pictures

The story of the original manga concluded with the Alvarez Empire Arc. Before this arc, Guild Master Makarov Dreyar proactively disbanded the Fairy Tail guild. His objective was to stall a military invasion from the Alvarez Empire, which is a hostile, militarized nation situated on the western continent of Alakitasia.

The Alvarez Empire was governed by Zeref, whose primary objective was to extract “Fairy Heart,” an incredible source of magic located beneath the Fairy Tail guildhall. Fairy Heart was a byproduct of the preserved, comatose body of the guild’s first master, Mavis Vermillion. Zeref required this infinite magic capacity to neutralize Acnologia and to manipulate the timeline to alter his own historical errors.

The disbanded guild members reformed their organization after a one-year interval and engaged in a war against the Alvarez Empire’s military forces and Zeref’s force, the Spriggan 12.

Natsu Dragneel defeated Zeref in direct physical combat. That broke a mutual curse of immortality, resulting in the deaths of both Zeref and Mavis. This theme of tragic romance is one of the primary reasons why Fairy Tail is still so popular, even if the author himself is confused about it. Furthermore, the continent’s allied wizards immobilized Acnologia using the “Fairy Sphere,” while the combined dragon slayers destroyed Acnologia’s spiritual form in an isolated dimension.

The Other Events for the 20th Anniversary Are the Cherry on Top

Lucy from Fairy Tail | Credits: Satelight, A-1 Pictures

Beyond the return of the manga, the twentieth-anniversary celebration includes several other events and projects for the fans. These announcements were made through the shounen magazine’s official website.

First, Hiro Mashima will participate in a series of in-person autograph sessions. These sessions are scheduled to take place across five major cities in Japan: Hokkaido, Tokyo, Aichi, Osaka, and Fukuoka. Details regarding the exact venues, dates, and the application process for these exclusive sessions will be announced at a later date on the official website and Mashima’s official X (formerly Twitter) account.

In fact, Mashima has indicated that there are plans for international autograph sessions, though specific countries and dates have not been officially confirmed yet. This is amazing news for the international fans of the manga, as signing sessions like these rarely happen outside Japan.

Second, a special commemorative art exhibition and sales event is currently underway. This event is organized by the company Art Vivant and features a large, curated collection of original artwork from the manga’s long history.

Are you excited for the release of the new serialization? Let us know in the comments.

Fairy Tail is available to read through Kodansha