After waiting through another long break, Hunter x Hunter followers finally have a concrete date to circle on their calendars. The beloved manga series, created by Yoshihiro Togashi, is making its return with a brand new volume release. This marks the first collected edition in nearly two years, giving hope to millions of readers worldwide who have been patiently waiting for the story to continue.
New Hunter x Hunter Volume Arrives This July
Publisher Shueisha has officially announced that Hunter x Hunter Volume 39 will hit shelves in Japan on July 3, 2026. This release ends a break of one year and ten months since Volume 38 came out in September 2024. The new volume contains 208 pages and collects chapters 401 through 410, which were the most recent chapters published before the series went on another break in December 2024. These chapters continue the Succession Contest arc, which takes place on a massive ship heading toward the mysterious Dark Continent.
The volume is priced at 572 yen (around $3.58 USD) in Japan. International release dates for English translations typically follow a few months after the Japanese launch, though official dates have not been announced yet.
Yoshihiro Togashi Shares Progress on Future Chapters
The mangaka has been active on his X account (formerly Twitter) , giving fans regular looks at his work. On April 8, 2026, Togashi shared that he finished the inking for chapter 430. He also revealed that he has completed work on chapters 411 through 420, with dialogue and specifics all finished. This means roughly 20 completed chapters are ready or near completion, waiting for the right time to be published in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine.
“No. 421 dialogue and cover coloring completed.”
Togashi has been working on the series while dealing with ongoing health problems that have caused multiple breaks over the years. His regular updates on social media have become a way for fans to track his progress.
The Long Road Back From Hiatus
The path to this return has been slow. The manga stopped after chapter 400, which came out in the December 26, 2022 issue of Weekly Shonen Jump. The series then came back with chapter 401 in the October 7, 2024 issue and ran weekly for a short time. But by December 2024, Shueisha announced another break starting with the January 2025 issue. The last chapter published so far is chapter 410, which appeared on December 9, 2024.
Now, with Volume 39 on the way, many believe the series is getting ready to start publishing new chapters again. The timing could be around August 2026 or early Fall, based on how Shueisha usually schedules these things.
What to Expect From the Dark Continent Arc
The story is currently in the middle of the Dark Continent Expedition Arc and the Succession Contest Arc. These arcs take place on a huge ship called the Black Whale, where multiple groups are fighting for power and survival. Kurapika, one of the main characters, is deeply involved in the dangerous royal succession war on board. The Phantom Troupe is also active on the ship, setting up major conflicts.
The Hunter x Hunter manga has sold over 84 million copies worldwide, including digital versions. The series started in 1998 and follows Gon Freecss, a young boy who wants to find his missing father and become a licensed Hunter.
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When Will New Chapters Start Coming Out
While the July 3 volume release is confirmed, Shueisha has not yet announced when the weekly serialization will restart. Togashi mentioned that releasing chapters from 420 onward is waiting on the Jump editorial team’s announcement about the timing. This means the chapters are ready, but the magazine is picking the best time to start running them again.
Fans in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, and other countries will need to wait for official English translations of both the volume and any new weekly chapters. The English version of Volume 39 will likely come out through VIZ Media later in 2026 or early 2027.
The series has sold over 84 million copies globally and continues to be one of the most talked-about manga even during its long breaks. The upcoming volume proves that Togashi is still committed to finishing his story, one chapter at a time.
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