Dragon Ball Watch Order (2026): Z, Kai, GT, Super & Daima
The short answer: how to watch Dragon Ball in order
The cleanest Dragon Ball watch order for a first run in 2026 is release order, trimmed of the filler that makes the classic run feel endless. Follow this and you get the whole story without contradictions.
- Dragon Ball (153 episodes) — Goku's childhood adventures.
- Dragon Ball Z (291 episodes) or Dragon Ball Z Kai (167 episodes, condensed) — pick one, not both.
- Dragon Ball Daima (20 episodes) — slots in after the Buu arc.
- Dragon Ball Super (131 episodes) — the canon sequel to Z.
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly, then Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero — the two canon films that close the timeline so far.
Dragon Ball GT is optional and no longer treated as canon. The four canon movies are Battle of Gods, Resurrection ‘F’, Broly, and Super Hero. Everything below explains why the order sits this way, and where each entry streams in 2026.
Building a shelf while you binge? Akibato ships Dragon Ball figures, gashapon, and Ichiban Kuji prizes from Japan — the current Dragon Ball collection is a good place to start.
Dragon Ball watch order at a glance (2026)
Every core entry, in the order most fans recommend for a first watch, with episode counts and canon status. Numbers come from the official series histories.
| Entry | Type | Episodes | Years | Canon? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Ball | TV series | 153 | 1986–1989 | Yes |
| Dragon Ball Z | TV series | 291 | 1989–1996 | Yes |
| Dragon Ball Z Kai | Recut of Z | 167 | 2009–2015 | Yes (= Z) |
| Dragon Ball GT | TV series | 64 | 1996–1997 | No |
| Dragon Ball Daima | TV series | 20 | 2024–2025 | Yes |
| Dragon Ball Super | TV series | 131 | 2015–2018 | Yes |
Dragon Ball Z Kai tells the same story as Z, so you watch one or the other. Daima is the newest TV series and the only entirely new animation added to the main timeline since Super ended.
Release order vs chronological order: which to pick
There are two ways to sequence Dragon Ball, and for a first watch they lead to almost the same list.
Release order follows how Toei Animation aired each series. It is the order most guides and the studio itself recommend, because reveals and callbacks land the way the creators intended.
Chronological order re-sorts everything by in-universe timeline. The only real change for a first-timer is where Daima sits: it takes place inside the Z timeline, after the Buu arc, even though it aired decades later. That single move is why we drop Daima into the middle of the list below rather than at the end.
Recommendation: watch in release order, but insert Daima after you finish Z (or Kai). You get the intended pacing and the correct story placement at the same time.
Dragon Ball (1986): where to start
Start with the original Dragon Ball. It is 153 episodes of Goku as a child, searching for the seven Dragon Balls with Bulma, training under Master Roshi, and fighting in the World Martial Arts Tournament.
The tone is lighter and more comedic than Z, but it sets up nearly every character and rule the later shows rely on. Skipping it is possible, yet you lose the foundation that makes Z's stakes hit.
Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Z Kai?
This is the single biggest decision in the whole order. Both cover the same saga — Saiyans, Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu — so you only need one.
Choose Dragon Ball Z Kai if you are new
Dragon Ball Z Kai is a 2009 remaster that recuts Z to follow the original manga more closely. It removes most filler and drops the run from 291 episodes to 167, including the later batch known as The Final Chapters. For a first watch in 2026, Kai is the faster, tighter experience.
Choose the original Dragon Ball Z for the full nostalgia
The original 291-episode Z keeps every filler episode, the longer power-up sequences, and the original score many fans grew up on. Pick it if you want the complete 1990s version rather than the trimmed cut.
Where Dragon Ball Daima fits (2024)
Dragon Ball Daima is set after the events of the Majin Buu Saga but before Z's ten-year time skip — so it lands between the end of Z and the start of Super. It is a direct Z sequel that also works as a prequel to Super.
Daima ran for 20 episodes from October 11, 2024 to February 28, 2025. The story turns Goku and his friends small again through the Demon Realm, and Akira Toriyama was closely involved in its creation before his passing. Watch it once you finish Z or Kai, then move on to Super.
Dragon Ball Super and the canon movies
Dragon Ball Super is the canonical continuation of Z, running 131 episodes from 2015 to 2018. It introduces gods of destruction, the multiverse, Super Saiyan Blue, and the Tournament of Power.
Battle of Gods and Resurrection ‘F’ are retold inside Super
The films Battle of Gods (2013) and Resurrection ‘F’ (2015) are canon, but Super's first two arcs re-adapt and expand both stories. If you are watching the Super series, you can treat these two films as optional — the show covers the same ground in more detail.
Broly and Super Hero close the current timeline
Two canon films continue past the Super series. Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018) reintroduces Broly as canon and follows the Tournament of Power arc. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022) is the most recent canon entry, centered on Gohan, Piccolo, and the Red Ribbon Army's return. Watch both after the Super series, in that order.
Is Dragon Ball GT canon? Where it fits
Dragon Ball GT is a 64-episode series from 1996–1997 that continued the story after Z with minimal involvement from Toriyama. In 2026 it is no longer treated as part of the main canon; Super's timeline effectively replaces it.
GT is still worth watching for its Super Saiyan 4 designs and the Shadow Dragons arc. If you do watch it, slot it after Z or Kai and before Super — watching GT after Super creates timeline contradictions.
Where to watch Dragon Ball in 2026 (streaming)
Availability shifts by region and over time, but as of 2026 the main options in the US are:
- Crunchyroll — the widest catalog, carrying Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball Daima, and the movies.
- Hulu — carries Dragon Ball Z Kai, Super, and Daima.
- Netflix — carries Dragon Ball Daima.
Because Kai is the entry most often split across services, check which platform has it in your region before you commit to the streamlined order. Daima Blu-ray sets also arrive through Crunchyroll on March 3, 2026 for collectors who want a physical copy.
Skippable filler: what you can pass on
If you want the leanest run, these are the safe skips:
- Watch Kai instead of Z to remove most Z-era filler automatically.
- Skip Dragon Ball GT on a first watch — it is non-canon and Super moves past it.
- Treat Battle of Gods and Resurrection ‘F’ as optional if you are watching the Super series, since both are retold there.
Everything else on the streamlined list is core story you should not skip.
Dragon Ball watch order FAQ
Do I need to watch Dragon Ball GT?
No. GT is non-canon and Super replaces its place in the timeline. Watch it only as an optional side story, and if you do, place it before Super.
Is Daima before or after Super?
Before. Daima is set after the Buu arc and before Z's time skip, which puts it ahead of Dragon Ball Super in the timeline even though it aired in 2024.
Can I skip Dragon Ball Z and just watch Kai?
Yes. Kai covers the same saga as Z with most filler removed, so watching Kai instead of Z is the recommended shortcut for newcomers.
What is the most recent Dragon Ball release?
Dragon Ball Daima (2024–2025) is the newest series, and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022) is the most recent canon film.
What to collect while you watch
Dragon Ball has one of the deepest figure and prize catalogs in anime, so a marathon is a natural time to start a shelf. Ichiban Kuji sets and gashapon capsules are the easiest entry points because they are affordable and rotate constantly.
Akibato ships Dragon Ball figures and Ichiban Kuji prizes from Japan — browse the in-stock Dragon Ball collection if the rewatch has you wanting Goku and Vegeta on the shelf. For upcoming prize waves, see our October 2026 Ichiban Kuji calendar, and for premium sculpts the NYCC 2026 Tamashii Nations exclusives include an SS4 Goku S.H.Figuarts. Playing along at home? Our Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 preview covers the next game, and the most wanted anime figures of 2026 guide helps you prioritize.