Hunter x Hunter fans have reason to celebrate after getting a major update

Still from the anime
Still from the anime - Source: Studio Madhouse

Hunter x Hunter is one such shonen manga that has kept its fandom hooked with its stories for a long time. But this series is also known for one thing, and that is the mangaka takes a prolonged haitus due to his health. So while the series itself is popular and the narrative itself is captivating, the updates take a long time. This time, fans have something to look forward to, as it has been officially confirmed that Hunter x Hunter Volume 39 is going to be released in Japan.

According to the announcement, the release date for this volume is going to be on July 3, 2026. Once again, this shonen series is about to get into the spotlight and fuel fan speculations regarding its future. A major reason why fans will be looking forward to this update is that Volume 38 was released in September 2024. It has been almost two years now, and we are finally getting the next volume.

Still from the manga - Source: Shueisha
Still from the manga - Source: Shueisha

Although it is also important to note that this announcement did not reveal any information surrounding the manga's serialization schedule. But the fandom currently believes that getting a new volume could be a positive sign that new chapters might be released soon. Longtime fans of Hunter x Hunter treat the release of a new volume as a special event in itself.

This series has spent almost the last two decades dealing with indefinite haitus, and despite all of these interruptions, they are still enthusiastic. In the manga community, many agree that fans of this series have the most understanding fanbase. Even if everyone is invested in the story and wants to know what happens next, they are understanding about the creator's health and make that a priority over pressuring Yoshihiro Togashi to keep on working.

Now Hunter x Hunter Volume 39 will have chapters from 401-410, which were published in the Weekly Shonen Jump. This chapter will have continuity with the Succession Contest Storyline, which had left everyone eager to see what happens next aboard the Black Whale. Currently, this series does not follow a traditional weekly schedule; the manga now returns in short bursts whenever Togashi is able to complete a batch of chapters.


Could new chapters for Hunter x Hunter be coming soon?

Still from the anime - Source: Studio Madhouse
Still from the anime - Source: Studio Madhouse

The biggest question surrounding the Volume 39 announcement is whether it signals the end of the current hiatus. Fans have noticed an interesting trend in recent years. When Volume 38 was released in September 2024, a new batch of chapters began appearing in Weekly Shonen Jump just one month later.

Because of that timing, many readers believe a similar strategy could be used again this year. Adding fuel to the speculation are Togashi's own updates on social media. The manga creator has periodically shared progress reports on upcoming chapters and revealed that he has already completed work well beyond Chapter 410. Earlier this year, he indicated that chapters extending into the 420s had reached advanced stages of production.


Final thoughts

In the history of manga, Hunter x Hunter has carved a space for itself, and looking at how fans still react to it, one thing is for sure: The hype is not going to die down anytime soon. As Volume 39 is getting ready to be released, fans are also hoping to get some solid updates from the creator about new chapters, as they are eager to see the progress in the story.

Edited by Nisarga Kakade