Black Butler marks 20 years with video, exhibition and volume 36

Black Butler reached 20 years of serialization on September 18, 2026. To mark the date, Square Enix launched an anniversary project featuring a retrospective video, a special issue of Monthly G Fantasy, the announcement of an exhibition and confirmation that manga volume 36 will be released in Japan on September 26.

The collection of announcements is not built around a single new production. Instead, it organizes two decades of a work that began as Yana Toboso’s manga in September 2006 and later expanded into anime, stage and film adaptations. Square Enix describes the “From Sep. 2006 to Beyond” video as a long-form look at that movement across media.

What Square Enix has confirmed

The anniversary video arrived alongside the dedicated 20th anniversary website and revisits characters, story arcs and adaptations that expanded Black Butler beyond the page. Its approach is historical: rather than promoting only one release, the video connects the manga’s continuing publication with the franchise’s different screen and stage forms.

The October 2026 issue of Monthly G Fantasy, released in Japan on September 18, is also dedicated to the anniversary. It places Black Butler on the cover, includes a special sticker featuring new artwork by Yana Toboso and six characters, and carries a feature looking back at the series. Those elements keep the celebration tied to the original publication even after years of adaptations.

Volume 36 is scheduled for September 26, 2026. According to the official description, the book moves the Blue Revenge arc into its southern, Brighton-set chapter, with Sebastian and Ciel infiltrating a newly opened resort hotel. This is publishing information confirmed by Square Enix, not a detail drawn from a rumor or leak.

The exhibition expands the retrospective but has no schedule yet

Square Enix has also confirmed a 20th anniversary exhibition. The announcement describes a major retrospective focused on both Black Butler and Yana Toboso’s creative work, but it does not provide a city, venue, dates or ticket-sale schedule. Until those details are released, any suggested timetable would be speculation.

The September 18 material also does not announce a new anime season. The video includes the history of the adaptations, but its stated purpose is to look back at the franchise’s development. That distinction matters because an anniversary reel can feature footage from several versions of a property without confirming a new production.

Why the anniversary package matters

The mix of announcements shows Square Enix handling the 20th anniversary in two directions. One preserves the work’s history through the video, magazine and future exhibition. The other keeps the narrative moving with a new collected volume arriving only days after the anniversary date.

From an editorial perspective, that combination is more substantial than a celebration centered only on merchandise. The same project places the archive of a multimedia franchise beside the continuing manga that created it. The exhibition still needs practical details, but the video, magazine issue and volume 36 release date are already confirmed facts that readers can act on.