How To Watch Dragon Ball in Order [2026 Complete Guide]

If you want to watch Dragon Ball in order, this guide has everything you need. Dragon Ball is one of the longest-running anime franchises in history, and with a new series added in 2024, the watch order has changed.

We’ve covered every series, movie, and special in both chronological and release order. Whether you’re a first-time viewer or catching up after years away, this is the only guide you need.

---

Dragon Ball Overview

Dragon Ball started as a manga by Akira Toriyama in 1984. It follows Son Goku, a young Saiyan warrior, who teams up with Bulma to search for the seven Dragon Balls, magical orbs that summon a dragon capable of granting any wish.

Toei Animation adapted the manga into two major series: Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z. What followed was decades of movies, TV specials, a sequel series in Dragon Ball GT (1996), a revival in Dragon Ball Super (2015), and most recently Dragon Ball Daima in 2024, the last series Akira Toriyama wrote before his death in March 2024.

The franchise now spans six television anime, three dozen films and specials, and one of the most passionate fanbases in anime history.

---

How to Watch Dragon Ball in Chronological Order

Chronological order is the recommended way to watch Dragon Ball for the first time. It follows the story from Goku’s childhood through adulthood, with each series picking up where the last left off.

Note: Dragon Ball GT is non-canon and placed at the end as optional viewing. More on that below.

---

1. Dragon Ball (1986-1989)

The original series. 156 episodes following young Goku as he and Bulma travel the world searching for the seven Dragon Balls. This is where every character is introduced, where Goku trains under Master Roshi, and where the story’s tone is set: lighter, adventurous, and full of humor.

Three movies belong to this era. Watch them interspersed with the series:

• Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986): watch after episodes 1-13
• Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle (1987): watch after finishing the series
• Mystical Adventure (1988): watch after finishing the series

---

2. Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) & Dragon Ball Z Kai (2009-2015)

Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Z is where the franchise hit its peak popularity. 291 episodes covering Goku as an adult, learning his Saiyan heritage and defending Earth against increasingly powerful enemies: Raditz, Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu. It also develops Gohan as a key character and introduces Vegeta, one of the most beloved characters in anime.

Interleave these movies and specials with the main series:

• Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 1-86)
• Dragon Ball Z Special 1: Bardock, The Father of Goku (1990)
• Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 87-123)
• Dragon Ball Z Special 2: The History of Trunks (1993)
• Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 124-194)
• Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound (1993)
• Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 194-288)
• Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon (1995)
• Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 288-291)

Dragon Ball Z Kai (2009-2015)

Dragon Ball Z Kai is not a sequel. It’s a remastered, filler-free version of DBZ: 167 episodes versus the original 291. Remastered visuals, cleaner audio, and most of the padding cut out. For new viewers, Kai is the better choice. The storytelling is tighter and you lose nothing important.

Watch either DBZ or DBZ Kai, not both. They cover the same story.

---

3. Dragon Ball Daima (2024-2025)

Dragon Ball Daima is the newest entry in the franchise and the last series Akira Toriyama personally wrote before his passing. It ran for 20 episodes from October 2024 to February 2025.

Set one year after the defeat of Majin Buu (Age 775), a demon named Gomah steals Earth’s Dragon Balls and uses them to shrink Goku and his friends into child-sized versions of themselves. Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, and Bulma travel into the Demon Realm to find their own Dragon Balls and reverse the spell. The tone is closer to the original Dragon Ball series: lighter, more adventurous, less about powerscaling.

Watch Daima after finishing Dragon Ball Z (or DBZ Kai), before starting Dragon Ball Super. Its events take place before Super’s timeline begins.

---

4. Dragon Ball Super (2015-2018)

Dragon Ball Super picks up seven years after the Buu Saga, with Goku living as a farmer when the God of Destruction Beerus arrives looking for a worthy opponent. Super runs for 131 episodes and introduces major new concepts: gods, angels, and a multiverse of fighters.

Two of the Super films double as arc retellings and should be watched in sequence:

• Dragon Ball Super (Episodes 1-3)
• Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (2013)
• Dragon Ball Super (Episodes 4-18)
• Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ (2015)
• Dragon Ball Super (Episodes 19-131)
• Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)
• Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022)

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is set after the Tournament of Power and focuses on Gohan and Piccolo. It’s Toriyama’s final film project and required viewing if you want the full canon story.

---

5. Dragon Ball GT (1996-2003): Optional

Dragon Ball GT is a 64-episode Toei Animation original. It was made without Toriyama’s involvement or story input, and Dragon Ball Super effectively replaced it as the canonical post-DBZ continuation. At the 2026 Dragon Ball 40th Anniversary event, Toei’s official retrospective omitted GT entirely while including Daima. The clearest signal yet that GT sits outside the main canon timeline.

That said, GT is not without merit. The final arc (Shadow Dragon Saga) is genuinely good, and longtime fans have real affection for it.

---

Which Dragon Ball Movies Are Canon?

Most Dragon Ball movies are non-canon standalone adventures. These four are the exceptions, officially part of the main timeline:

• Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (2013): the events are retold in Dragon Ball Super’s early episodes
• Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ (2015): same as above, retold in Super
• Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018): fully canon, makes Broly part of the official story
• Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022): fully canon, continues Gohan and Piccolo’s story after the Tournament of Power

All other DBZ movies are fun but non-canon. Worth watching, but don’t stress about where they fit in the timeline.

---

Dragon Ball Watch Order: Full Release Order List

If you prefer to watch Dragon Ball in release order (the order it was made), here’s the complete list updated through 2026:

• Dragon Ball (1986)
• Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986)
• Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle (1987)
• Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure (1988)
• Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996)
• Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (1989)
• Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest (1990)
• Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (1990)
• Dragon Ball Z Special 1: Bardock, The Father of Goku (1990)
• Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug (1991)
• Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge (1991)
• Dragon Ball Z: Summer Vacation Special (1992)
• Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler (1992)
• Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! (1992)
• Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993)
• Dragon Ball Z Special 2: The History of Trunks (1993)
• Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound (1993)
• Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming (1994)
• Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly (1994)
• Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn (1995)
• Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon (1995)
• Dragon Ball: The Path to Power (1996)
• Dragon Ball GT (1996-1997)
• Dragon Ball GT: A Hero’s Legacy (1997)
• Dragon Ball: Yo! The Return of Son-Goku and Friends!! (2008)
• Dragon Ball Z Kai (2009-2015)
• Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (2013)
• Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ (2015)
• Dragon Ball Super (2015-2018)
• Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)
• Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022)
• Dragon Ball Daima (2024-2025)

---

Where to Watch Dragon Ball in 2026

Funimation no longer exists as a standalone service. It fully merged into Crunchyroll, which is now the main home for Dragon Ball in the US. Here’s where everything streams:

Series / Film	Crunchyroll	Hulu	Netflix
Dragon Ball (original)	Yes	Yes	No
Dragon Ball Z	Yes	No	No
Dragon Ball Z Kai	Yes	Yes	No
Dragon Ball GT	Yes	Yes	No
Dragon Ball Super	Yes	Yes	No
Dragon Ball Daima	Yes	Yes	Yes
DB Super: Broly (film)	Yes	Yes	No
DB Super: Super Hero (film)	No	Yes	No

Crunchyroll has the widest Dragon Ball library. If you want to watch everything in one place, that’s your best option. Dragon Ball Daima is the most broadly available entry. You can watch it on Crunchyroll, Hulu, or Netflix.

---

What’s Coming Next for Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus (Fall 2026): Toei announced a new Dragon Ball Super anime at the franchise’s 40th Anniversary event in January 2026. It’s a full remake of the Battle of Gods arc with newly drawn cuts, improved animation quality, and updated storytelling more faithful to Toriyama’s original draft. Set to air on Fuji TV in Fall 2026.

A second new series, Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol, is also confirmed in production. It will adapt the Moro arc from the Dragon Ball Super manga, an arc that never received an anime adaptation. No release window has been confirmed yet, but it’s expected to follow after the Beerus remake concludes.

If you’re watching Dragon Ball for the first time right now, you’re arriving at one of the best moments to start. By the time you finish, new canon content will be waiting.

---

Looking for more anime watch guides? Check out our guide on how to watch Naruto in order or the complete Fate anime watch order. If you’re looking for something to queue up after Dragon Ball, our list of the best long anime series is a good place to start.