Fairy Tail RE:FANTASIA: Volume 1 arrives on October 16 with a special edition

The first collected volume of Fairy Tail RE:FANTASIA will go on sale on October 16, 2026. Kodansha is publishing it in two versions: the standard one and a special one with a set of 16 postcards featuring illustrations by various guest artists and classic scenes from the series.

Hiro Mashima resumed the story of Natsu and friends on July 29 in Weekly Shonen Magazine. This new arc, conceived as a tribute for the 20th anniversary of the original manga, marks his return to the main Fairy Tail series after about two years without publishing it in the magazine.

The standard edition will cost 627 yen (tax included), while the special edition goes up to 1,650 yen. Both share the volume's 208 pages; the only difference is the postcard extra, available exclusively in the pricier version.

A story centered on the harvest festival

The RE:FANTASIA arc takes place in Magnolia during the harvest festival. Everyone's attention is on the guild's beauty contest, but a shadow threatens to spoil the party. And this time the target is Laxus. The official synopsis plays with the idea that not everything will be celebration and leaves it up in the air whether the final parade can go ahead without problems.

Mashima has us used to mixing comedy, fights, and moments of guild camaraderie, and this chapter promises to follow that line. If you followed the original series, you know that Fairy Tail festivals never end the way they start.

Postcards with top-tier guests

The big draw of the special edition is its set of 16 postcards. It includes illustrations by other manga artists to celebrate the anniversary, magazine covers, and iconic panels from the story. Among the confirmed creators are Yoshihiro Togashi (Hunter x Hunter), George Morikawa (Hajime no Ippo), and Yudetamago (Kinnikuman), along with Miki Yoshikawa, Kouji Seo, and Atsuo Ueda.

It's not common for a tribute to bring together creators from different publishers and magazines, which is why Kodansha highlights it as one of the major points of the celebration. The postcards won't be available separately: either you buy the special edition, or you miss out.

Fan art contest starting on release day

On October 16 itself, a fan illustration contest kicks off. To enter, you need to follow the official account @mashima_tantou on X, draw a Fairy Tail character, and post it with the hashtag #FAIRYTAILandMe. The deadline is October 31 at 11:59 PM Japan time.

Two prize categories will be awarded. The Mashima Prize will select five winners who can choose between an X avatar drawn by the author or a signed shikishi with their name. The Editorial Prize, another five, will receive a promotional kit not sold commercially, with a poster and reproductions of original art. However, prizes can only be shipped to addresses within Japan.

Volume 1 of Fairy Tail RE:FANTASIA will be in Japanese bookstores on October 16. There's no news yet about a possible English license, but with the 20th anniversary underway, it wouldn't be surprising if a publisher jumps on it soon.