Bleach is one of the Big Three anime alongside Naruto and One Piece — and with the release of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War (TYBW), it has made one of the biggest comebacks in anime history. If you’re planning to start watching Bleach in 2026, this complete guide will show you the correct watch order, which filler to skip, and everything you need to know before diving in.
Quick answer: Watch Bleach (Episodes 1–366) then Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. Skip the filler episodes listed below for the best experience.
The correct Bleach watch order in 2026
Here is the full recommended watch order for Bleach from start to finish:
| # | Series / arc | Episodes | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bleach (original series) | 366 eps | Yes — start here |
| 2 | Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 1 | 13 eps | Yes — canon |
| 3 | Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2 | 13 eps | Yes — canon |
| 4 | Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 | Ongoing 2026 | Yes — canon |
| 5 | Bleach: Memories of Nobody (movie) | 1 movie | Optional |
| 6 | Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion (movie) | 1 movie | Optional |
| 7 | Bleach: Fade to Black (movie) | 1 movie | Optional |
| 8 | Bleach: Hell Verse (movie) | 1 movie | Optional |
Bleach arc watch order — all arcs in order
The original Bleach series is divided into several major arcs. Here they are in the correct order:
Arc 1
Agent of the Shinigami Arc
Episodes 1–20 | No filler | Essential — introduces Ichigo and the core story
Arc 2
Soul Society: The Sneak Entry Arc
Episodes 21–41 | Minimal filler | Ichigo and friends enter Soul Society to rescue Rukia
Arc 3
Soul Society: The Rescue Arc
Episodes 42–63 | Minimal filler | One of the best arcs in the series — do not skip
Arc 4
The Arrancar Arc
Episodes 110–131 | Skip filler eps 128–137 | Introduces Aizen’s army
Arc 5
Hueco Mundo Arc
Episodes 132–167 | Skip filler eps 147–149 | Ichigo travels to Hueco Mundo
Arc 6
Fake Karakura Town Arc
Episodes 190–212, 214–229 | Skip eps 213, 228–229 | Epic battles — fan favourite
Arc 7
The Lost Substitute Shinigami Arc
Episodes 343–366 | No filler | Final arc of the original series
Arc 8
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War
Parts 1–3 (2022–2026) | No filler | The ultimate Bleach arc — stunning animation
Bleach filler episodes — complete list to skip
Bleach is notorious for having a large number of filler episodes. Here are all the filler episodes you can safely skip without missing any main story content:
| Episodes | Filler arc name | Skip? |
|---|---|---|
| 33, 50, 64–109 | Bount Arc (entire arc) | Yes — skip entirely |
| 128–137 | Arrancar filler | Yes — skip |
| 147–149 | Hueco Mundo filler | Yes — skip |
| 168–189 | Amagai Arc | Yes — skip entirely |
| 204–205 | Filler episodes | Yes — skip |
| 213 | Filler episode | Yes — skip |
| 228–229 | Filler episodes | Yes — skip |
| 230–265 | Gotei 13 Invading Army Arc | Yes — skip entirely |
| 266–316 | Fullbring filler | Partial — check episode guide |
| 317–342 | Zanpakuto Unknown Tales | Yes — skip entirely |
If you skip all of these, you’ll go from 366 episodes down to roughly 160 canon episodes — a much faster and more enjoyable watch.
Should you watch Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War?
Absolutely yes. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is the anime adaptation of the final manga arc that was never animated in the original series. It was released in 2022 and is considered one of the best anime productions in recent years — with stunning animation from Studio Pierrot, an incredible soundtrack, and the epic conclusion to Ichigo’s story that fans had been waiting over a decade for.
TYBW Part 3 is currently airing in 2026, making right now the perfect time to start watching Bleach so you can catch up to the ongoing episodes.
Where to watch Bleach in 2026
- Hulu — streams the complete original Bleach series
- Disney+ / Hulu — streams Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War exclusively
- Crunchyroll — original Bleach series available
- Amazon Prime Video — available in select regions
Note: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is exclusive to Disney+ / Hulu in most regions. Make sure you have access before starting.
Is Bleach worth watching in 2026?
Yes — especially now. Bleach was often criticised in the past for its slow pacing and excessive filler. But with TYBW bringing the story to a stunning conclusion, the entire series has been reevaluated by the anime community. If you use the filler skip list above, the original series moves at a great pace and builds up to one of the most satisfying finales in anime history.
Frequently asked questions
How many episodes of Bleach are there?
The original Bleach series has 366 episodes. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War currently has 26 episodes across Parts 1 and 2, with Part 3 airing in 2026. In total there are around 390+ episodes of Bleach content available.
Can I skip the original Bleach and start with Thousand-Year Blood War?
No — you should not skip the original series. TYBW builds directly on characters, relationships and events from the original Bleach. Watching it without context will make the story very difficult to follow and will significantly reduce the emotional impact of key moments.
What is the Bount Arc and should I watch it?
The Bount Arc (episodes 64–109) is a filler arc that was not written by the original creator Tite Kubo. Most fans recommend skipping it entirely as it adds nothing to the main story. You can go straight from episode 63 to episode 110 without missing anything important.
How long does it take to watch all of Bleach?
Watching the full original Bleach series (366 episodes at approximately 23 minutes each) takes around 140 hours. With filler skipped this reduces to roughly 60–70 hours. Adding TYBW Parts 1 and 2 adds around 10 more hours.
Is Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War better than the original?
Most fans consider TYBW to have significantly better animation and pacing than the original series. The production quality is on par with modern anime like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen. Many fans who dropped the original Bleach have returned specifically for TYBW and have loved it.
Final thoughts
Bleach is a landmark anime series and one of the most rewarding watches for any anime fan in 2026. Use the filler skip list, power through the original series to build up your attachment to the characters, and then experience Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War — it’s worth every episode.
Looking for more anime watch guides? Check out our complete Naruto watch order, our Dragon Ball Z watch order guide, and our picks for the best anime posters for room decor in 2026.