The Best LGBTQ+ Anime To Watch In 2026

With Pride Month starting on June 1, now is the perfect time to dive into Japan's many, many fantastic LGBTQ+ anime. Popular enough to become separate genres, boys' love and girls' love boast a storied but complicated history filled with glorified examples of unhealthy relationships. However, recent years marked a shift in tone and content, with modern shows being far more wholesome or nuanced. While the classics have their place, you can easily stick to the newer stuff and fill up the entire month.

Anime's LGBTQ+ representation goes beyond just boys' and girls' love shows, as plenty of other series have become synonymous with the culture. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and Ranma 1/2 serve as two prime examples, but they are hardly the only ones. Anybody looking for anime to fill up Pride Month should start with these shows.

Updated on May 31, 2026 by Mark Sammut: Pride Month starts tomorrow, so I gave this article a refresher by expanding on the two new Spring 2026 anime.

Quick Picks: Best LGBTQ+ Anime To Watch By Category

Before getting into the individual anime, let's first take some time to recommend a few shows across a range of categories. Obviously, this entire article is designed to serve as guidance for anybody looking to dive into this side of the anime industry, and I recommend checking out the standalone entries as they dive into each show's strengths. However, this section intends to simply answer "what should I watch right now?"

An anime can only appear in a single category, so there will be no repeats.

1 Go For It, Nakamura!!

A Rare Boys Love Anime That Succeeds At Being Funny And Relatable

After one of the best years ever in 2025, boys' love anime largely skipped 2025 and the early parts of 2026, to the point that it seemed like the genre just randomly died overnight. Fortunately, Spring 2026 proves to be an all-around great month for LGBTQ+ shows, with two of the season's best falling squarely into boys' love and girls' love territory.

I'm just going to come and say it: Go For It, Nakamura!! is one of my favorite new anime of the year, and I'm not just talking about boys' love.

Based on Syundei's manga, Drive's show takes a refreshing approach to the genre, one that I haven't personally seen done before. Nakamura has a crush on his classmate, Hirose, but he hasn't even really talked to him yet. Therefore, he sets out to strike a friendship, and each episode revolves around a few of his attempts. Firstly, anime rarely explores unrequited love in general, but a boys' love anime devoid of romance? That's completely new territory. Secondly, Go For It, Nakamura!! is first and foremost a comedy, and a damn funny one at that. Although likable and occasionally charming, Nakamura is also a bundle of nerves, delusions, and misconceptions. In other words, an average teenager who's trying to come to grips with his first crush. Regardless of sexual preference, everybody can relate to most of these feelings.

Lastly, the anime doesn't make a big deal about his sexuality. Nakamura straight-up states his gayness in the second episode, and reaffirms it a couple more times. This is who he is, and he is comfortable with who he is. Boys' love anime typically feature characters who are not shy about their sexuality, but they tend to be aggressive about it. Nakamura is simply an awkward teenager trying to process his feelings while hoping to build a friendship.

2 Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk

Spring 2026, Alcohol, & Girls Love

• Japanese Title: Kamiina Botan, Yoeru Sugata wa Yuri no Hana
• Based on: Manga by Hey
• Studio: Soigne
• Streaming Service: Crunchyroll

Now, time for Spring 2026's girls' love anime! Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk is just as good as Go For It, Nakamura!!, but it is a wildly different show. While the latter is a sketch comedy that happens to feature boys' love, the former is a college slice of life that happens to feature girls' love. Weirdly enough, Go For It, Nakamura!! is way more open about its boys' love status, but Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk has far more moments that deliver girls' love gold.

Basically, this is a "cute girls doing cute things" anime that revolves around university students who like to drink. CGDCT shows tend to be yuri-coded, with most of them seemingly taking place in a universe without men; however, they rarely cross that line. Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk pushes the girls' feelings for each other to the forefront, even if they might need alcohol to really open up. We get almost confessions, tender scenes, and moments of solid humor. The anime has a pretty realistic tone beyond just showing that college students might like the occasional drink, and the characters are all lovable but also nuanced enough to come across as real people rather than just plot points or archetypes.

3 Sasaki And Miyano

A Feel-Good Boys Love Anime That Is Just Endearing

Sasaki and Miyano took the boys' love genre by storm in 2022. The show not only focuses on a blossoming gay relationship but also prominently features a love of boys' love manga as well — pretty meta, huh? It is widely considered to be a perfectly executed romance. Get ready for some serious chemistry when watching this one. Sasaki and Miyano's relationship grows naturally throughout the season and movie, starting as a friendship born out of somewhat mutual interest, before taking on a romantic edge. The anime is also pretty wholesome, which is not always the case with BL stories.

When it comes to strictly romance-first boys' love anime, Sasaki and Miyano represents the genre's absolute peak, and its success might have helped shape the direction these types of shows have taken in recent years. If you haven't watched this yet, make it your top priority

4 Yuri!!! on Ice

One Of The Most Popular And Accessible Anime That Touches Upon LGBTQ+ Romance

One of the most popular BL anime of all time, Yuri!!! on Ice can be slightly disappointing, depending on somebody's expectations. While Yuri and Victor's budding relationship is a constant presence throughout the show, it is somewhat subtle and does not become overt until the climax. Consequently, the anime can sometimes seem like it is not fully committed to this dynamic. That said, this is still an entertaining series.

Yuri!!! on Ice is first and foremost a sports anime, and it follows that genre's structure fairly closely. The romance element might be the main draw for a lot of viewers, but they will need to enjoy Yuri's journey to regain his confidence as a figure skater as well. Ultimately, Yuri!!! on Ice's quality is high enough to warrant a recommendation to BL and sports anime fans, although an appreciation for both would be ideal.

5 Bloom Into You

The Best Girls Love Anime In Terms Of Exploring The Start Of A Relationship

What happens when a girl who adores romance stories and love songs finally has a boy confess his love, only to feel nothing? Bloom Into You focuses on a high-schooler named Yuu coming to terms with the fact that she might have more feelings for her classmate Touko than any man could muster.

It's a fantastic coming-of-age lesbian romance sure to stir the hearts of viewers. Bloom Into You builds an interesting dynamic between Yuu and Touko, with the former still unsure of how she feels about the latter and her own sexuality. The anime, unfortunately, ends just as the relationship starts to really get going; fortunately, the manga is fairly accessible.

As a sequel seems unlikely at this point, fans should just read the manga.

6 Wandering Son

A Powerful Depiction Of A Transgender Protagonist

Wandering Son is the best anime in terms of transgender representation in existence. Shuuichi and Yoshino's adventures in discovering their identity will hit home with many viewers, as one is trans-masculine and the other trans-feminine. The struggles of entering puberty, approaching romance, and more are all shown in a gorgeous watercolor art style that viewers are sure to love.

It's quite rare for an anime storyline to feature multiple transgender experiences within a single storyline without falling into stereotypical pitfalls. However, Wandering Son provides a well-executed rendition of Nitori and Takatsuki's journey toward self-acceptance as they take the leap of faith to cross the gender spectrum.

Nitori normally hides his feminine side, but the urge to present as a female is becoming greater by the day. Meanwhile, Takatsuki finds encouragement in Anna Suehiro's blatant approach to gender fluidity and decides to embrace this lifestyle wholeheartedly. This coming-of-age tale discusses the growing pains of transitioning, delivered by a lovable cast of colorful LGBTQ+ friendly teenager characters.

7 Doukyusei: Classmates

A Simple And Beautiful Romance

Like most romances, many boys love anime lean into melodrama, which is not a bad thing in and of itself. For the longest time, the genre seemed to consist of only these types of stories, and they had a habit of featuring questionable relationships. However, over the last decade or so, BL stories seemed to shift towards healthier and age-appropriate dynamics, and Doukyusei: Classmates was one of the earliest examples of this movement.

At just one hour, the movie takes viewers on a short and sweet journey as they watch two classmates, Hikaru and Rihito, gradually set the foundation for a relationship. With a soft color palette and realistic characters, Doukyusei radiates warmth and comfort.

8 Revolutionary Girl Utena

A Complex Anime Masterpiece Rich In Subtext And Thought-Provoking Themes

When the system at Ohtori Academy is rigged to objectify women as helpless Rose Brides, Utena Tenjou's good conscience cannot allow her to sit idly by. Instead, she takes up the role of a prince and fights to free the other girls from their undesirable fate. With a sword and signet ring in tow, Utena evolves into the Prince Charming of every girl's dreams and becomes the cog in the well-oiled machine of women's oppression.

Anyone with Utena alongside them would consider themselves blessed. However, Anthy Himemiya receives the bulk of the esteemed prince's affection, and their blossoming courtship is explored extensively in the film "Adolescence of Utena." Overall, Revolutionary Girl Utena takes great care in prioritizing shojo themes over ecchi fan service and is considered by many to be the best LGBTQ+ anime of its time.

9 Flip Flappers

Searching And Finding Acceptance

While not as overt as some other shows, Flip Flappers certainly has LGBTQ+ themes fans have picked up on. Cocona and Papika's budding relationship feels like something deeper than just friendship, as they have to go so far as to synchronize their feelings to use their powers.

These vibes of this show are especially apparent in episode 7, "Pure Component." Papika ends up changing between multiple personalities, including being a boy at times, and Cocona still cares about them deeply, no matter their presentation. It's the kind of acceptance any LGBTQ+ person longs for in their relationships.

10 Given & Given Movies

A Challenging And Unforgettable Boys Love Anime

Given was arguably responsible for transforming the boys' love genre, healing its somewhat negative reputation by delivering a powerful drama grounded in reality. While arguably the best BL anime ever, Given is not an easy watch and, consequently, can be overwhelming for viewers craving a primarily heartwarming and relaxing series. Still, the show and its movie sequels are a must-watch for anybody interested in not only LGBTQ+ stories but also romances in general.

Revolving around a band, Given features a couple of different couples, all of whom are dealing with unique challenges. Mafuyu and Ritsuka are the show's main duo, but the movies shift their attention to the secondary couples. The anime tackles grief and self-destructive behavior, all the while providing powerful demonstrations of love and growth.