Anime News Network released its weekly audience rankings for August 5–11, capturing viewer preferences during the final stretch of summer 2026. The data reflects sustained interest in a range of genres and story types across the season.

Goodbye, Lara claimed the #2 position in this week's standings, drawing consistent viewership as the series progresses. The Ghost in the Shell held steady at #3, while Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia landed at #4. Saga of Tanya the Evil II rounded out the top five, maintaining its foothold in the rankings.

Established series continued to perform well. One Piece stayed in the #14 spot, while That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime held at #10—both series showing the staying power of long-running franchises even as new titles compete for attention. Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3 (#25) and Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation III (#35) also appeared on the list, indicating continued audience investment in multi-part adaptations.

The rankings highlight the breadth of what aired this summer. Romance-focused titles like You and I Are Polar Opposites (#7) and I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day (#15) sat alongside action series, comedies, and fantasy adaptations. The Elusive Samurai debuted on the list at #22, signaling viewer interest in its period-action premise.

Both debuts and long-runners occupied the lower half of the top 50, suggesting summer 2026 offered something for different audience segments. Several series entered or re-entered the rankings this week, including Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games (#21) and The Cat and the Dragon (#17), which topped its week's rankings when it aired.

The rankings are calculated using cumulative scores from previous weeks' episodes, meaning each series' position reflects sustained viewership rather than a single week's bump. As summer approaches its end, final episodes and season conclusions are likely to shift these standings in the coming weeks.