On June 21, 2026, the official website of Bleach announced that BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4 – The Calamity will premiere in Japan on July 25, 2026, at 11:00 PM JST. The announcement also revealed the artists performing the opening and ending theme songs, setting the stage for the final installment of Tite Kubo’s iconic story.
While the exact episode count for Part 4 has not yet been confirmed, it is widely expected to run for 13 episodes, in line with the previous courses of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. In addition, the official X account (formerly Twitter) for Bleach shared a new visual from the anime, teasing the long-awaited clash between Ichigo and Yhwach.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4 Unveils Its Theme Songs
Every part of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War has been remembered for its music, and the upcoming Part 4 – The Calamity is no exception. The opening theme song, “I-BULL,” will be performed by jo0ji, while the ending theme song, “Rasen,” will be performed by 9Lana.
The ending theme song, “Rasen,” whose English translation is “Spiral,” serves as a fitting metaphor for a finale that spirals toward its long-awaited conclusion. Just like the earlier arcs, these new theme songs are performed by rising Japanese artists, giving this final chapter its own special feel.
Earlier courses featured Tatsuya Kitani’s “Scar” and SennaRin’s “Saihate” (Part 1), w.o.d.’s “Stars” and Yoh Kamiyama’s “Endroll” (Part 2), and Six Lounge alongside Suisoh for Part 3, each helping shape the emotional texture of their respective arcs. According to Anime News Network and Anime Corner, jo0ji and 9Lana have now been entrusted with providing the music for the franchise’s final chapter.
The Final Battle Begins in Bleach: The Calamity
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity picks up at one of the most critical moments in the story. The Thirteen Court Guard Squads join forces with the remaining Quincies and launch an assault on the Royal Palace, only to discover that it has already fallen under the control of the Wandenreich. The once-sacred palace has been transformed into the Wahr Welt, setting the stage for the final battle that will decide the fate of the Soul Society and the world itself.
The upcoming anime will adapt manga chapters 664–686, which bring Bleach’s mainline story to a close. Ichigo and Yhwach will enter their final battle, with Uryu making up for his prior betrayal as he goes toe to toe with Haschwalth. The final season is expected to run for at least 13 episodes, with a grand one-hour finale.
Studio Pierrot is in charge of the animation under its PIERROT FILMS label, with chief director Tomohisa Taguchi, who has directed all four cours, returning to close out his work on the franchise.
A Franchise That Refuses to Go Quietly
Given the series’s long history, it’s hard to measure the level of anticipation surrounding Bleach’s final season. Bleach originally aired from 2004 to 2012, spanning 366 episodes and becoming one of Weekly Shonen Jump’s most iconic series alongside One Piece and Naruto. Since the debut of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, the franchise has enjoyed a major resurgence in popularity. The anime was voted MyAnimeList’s Anime of the Year in 2022 and later won Anime of the Year at the 2024 Anime Trending Awards.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War continued to show its massive popularity in 2025. Content shared by Viz Media generated more than 25 million views and over 105 million impressions across social media.
The final anime season completes Studio Pierrot’s ambitious adaptation, nearly four years in the making. For millions of fans who have followed Ichigo Kurosaki since his very first fight against Hollows, The Calamity is more than a season premiere. It is the end of a generational journey.
