For the millions of Hunter x Hunter fans around the world, following Yoshihiro Togashi on social media has become a routine filled with hope and anxiety. The beloved manga creator, known for his masterpiece that debuted in 1998, has been posting regular updates about his work on the series. These updates are not just simple messages. They are proof that despite his long-standing health issues, Togashi is still dedicated to continuing the story of Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio.
The big question on everyone’s mind is simple: when will the Hunter x Hunter manga actually come back? The series has been on another one of its infamous hiatuses, with the last chapter published in December 2024 . But the news coming directly from Togashi’s official X account (formerly Twitter) in late 2025 and early 2026 has given the fandom more reasons to be optimistic than they have had in years.
The Latest Work From Togashi’s Desk
Yoshihiro Togashi has been surprisingly active online, sharing rough sketches, storyboard progress, and completion notices for several chapters. As of mid-February 2026, the mangaka has confirmed that he has finished the manuscripts for chapters all the way up to Chapter 418 . This is a significant milestone. On February 10, 2026, Togashi posted a simple but powerful message on X: “No.418่ฉฑใๅ็จฟๅฎๆใ” which translates to “Chapter 418, manuscript complete.” .
This update follows a steady stream of progress reports. Earlier in the year, fans learned that the dialogues and cover coloring for Chapter 421 were also completed . To accompany that news, Togashi shared a small but heartening sketch of the series’ protagonist, Gon Freecss, which was the first official drawing of the character in years .
Reports indicate that Togashi has completed specifics and dialogue for chapters 411 to 420, meaning ten new chapters are essentially in the pipeline . This pattern of work is very important. It matches exactly how the manga has returned in the past. Instead of releasing chapters weekly, Togashi works at his own pace and then delivers a batch of chapters to Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump for publication.
How Hunter x Hunter Typically Returns
To understand the current status, it helps to look back at the history. Hunter x Hunter has been on a regular schedule of long breaks followed by short runs for nearly a decade . The pattern is very clear. The manga returns, publishes around 10 new chapters, and then goes on another hiatus to allow Togashi to recover and prepare the next batch.
Looking at the last ten years:
- In 2016, it returned in April with about 10 chapters.
- In 2017, it came back in June with another 10 chapters.
- In 2018, a September return gave fans 10 more chapters, followed by a four-year break.
- In October 2022, the series resumed with a batch of 10 chapters.
- Most recently, in October 2024, Hunter x Hunter came back with its last set of 10 chapters .
Given this history, the current situation looks very promising. Togashi has now completed manuscripts up to Chapter 418, which is eight chapters into the new batch (since the last published chapter was 410). With Chapter 421 already having its dialogue and cover done, he is very close to completing the standard batch of 10 new chapters .
The Health of Yoshihiro Togashi
The reason for these irregular schedules is no secret. Yoshihiro Togashi has been suffering from chronic back pain for many years. The physical toll of drawing manga, a notoriously demanding job, became too much for him. At one point, he mentioned that the pain was so severe it made even simple tasks difficult .
However, there has been positive news on this front as well. Togashi previously shared that after years of struggling, his back had recovered enough for him to draw while sitting in a chair again . He also underwent a surgical procedure in the past year to address the chronic pain, which seems to have allowed him to return to work more consistently . He has made it clear that he intends to keep drawing at his own pace, and fans have widely accepted this, preferring a slow and steady approach over the risk of the series never continuing.
When Could the Manga Return in 2026?
So, what does this all mean for a release date? While Shueisha and Weekly Shonen Jump have not made any official announcement about the serialization resuming, the math based on Togashi’s progress points to a likely window.
Considering that the last batch of chapters was released in October 2024, and Togashi has been working steadily since then, many analysts and news outlets are predicting a return in October 2026 . This timeline fits the historical pattern perfectly. It gives Togashi enough time to finish the remaining manuscripts, for the editorial department to prepare them, and for the series to make a grand return almost exactly two years after the last one.
Some sources are even more optimistic, suggesting a possible return by the summer of 2026 . With the dialogue and cover for Chapter 421 already done, the production is clearly ahead of schedule compared to previous hiatuses.
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What to Expect From the New Chapters
When the manga does return, readers will be thrown right back into the deep end. The series is currently in the middle of the “Succession Contest” arc, which takes place on the voyage to the Dark Continent. This arc is incredibly dense, focusing heavily on Kurapika and the political intrigue involving the princes of the Kakin Empire fighting for the throne.
The recent sketch of Gon caused a lot of excitement, but fans should not expect him to play a major role in these upcoming chapters. The story is currently centered on other characters, and Gon is resting back at home on Whale Island . However, seeing Togashi draw him again is a reminder that the creator hasn’t forgotten his main characters, and it keeps the door open for their eventual return in the far future.
A New Game for Fans to Enjoy
While waiting for the manga, fans have something else to look forward to this year. A new video game titled Hunter x Hunter Nen x Survivor is scheduled for a global release in 2026 . Developed by Bushiroad and WonderPlanet, this game is described as the first survival rogue-lite game in the series. It will allow players to explore the world of Hunter x Hunter in a brand new way, which should help pass the time until Togashi’s new chapters finally hit the shelves.
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