As of April 2026, both Kadokawa and Studio Madhouse have not officially announced or renewed Overlord Season 5, but there are many signs from the industry that it has been approved and is probably in the early stages of development.

Season 4 (2022), which went to the end of Volume 14 (the last published light novel), ends dramatically with Ainz’s forces dominating the Re-Estize Kingdom and positions the characters for future conflicts with the Slane Theocracy, Dragon Lords, and Nazarick’s plans to rule the world. A 2024 movie release, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom, was released to cover some additional lore but left the main narrative open-ended. Kadokawa’s website posted a small “To Be Continued” type banner after the film, which may indicate that the franchise will continue.

In September 2024, reliable leaker Sugoi Lite revealed that Season 5 had been approved for production internally. At this time, there has been no trailer, key art, staff, or release date announced. Sources believe an announcement will occur in 2026, with a tentative release date around July 2026 or even as late as Fall 2026/Early 2027, depending on how production flows (Season 4 was announced about 14 months before its release).

The biggest hurdle is that the source material is not complete. Author Kugane Maruyama is expected to finish writing the series at Volume 18, with Volume 17 being worked on for a possible September 2026 release, and Volume 18 subsequently. Since Madhouse typically waits for sufficient novels to complete production, there could be delays with respect to the release of subsequent season(s).

Current knowledge (as of 2026): Season 5 is thought to adapt the remaining of the major arcs to bring a conclusion to this story or to lead into some of these events (Theocracy’s vs. Dragon Lords). There have been no rumors about the show being canceled. It has shown great popularity over the past 10 years and has performed well in theaters, so it’s safe to say that it most likely will continue. Fans should expect to hear about an official announcement at anime conventions, via the Overlord website, or in its social media channels.

The show has not been canceled and has supposedly been renewed, but has not received any sort of official announcement or new novels. Expect a 2026–2027 release date; keep your eyes open; Nazarick’s conquest isn’t done yet.