Hakusensha officially announced on Thursday that Mizuho Kusanagi’s beloved fantasy adventure manga Yona of the Dawn (Akatsuki no Yona) will reach its conclusion in the second 2026 issue of Hana to Yume magazine, scheduled for release on December 19, 2025.
The manga, which briefly went on hiatus in July 2025, made its return to serialisation on October 3, setting the stage for its long-awaited finale.
About Yona of the Dawn
Originally launched in 2009, Yona of the Dawn follows Princess Yona, the sheltered, red-haired daughter of a peaceful king. Her idyllic world collapses on her 16th birthday when betrayal leads to the murder of her father and the loss of her kingdom. Forced to flee with her loyal bodyguard Hak, Yona embarks on a dangerous journey of survival, growth, and self-discovery as she seeks to reclaim her throne and restore peace to her land.
Viz Media, which holds the English license for the series, describes the story of Volume 1 as a tale of loss, courage, and transformation — from a naive princess into a determined leader willing to fight for justice and freedom.
Manga Publication and Legacy
Kusanagi has been serialising Yona of the Dawn in Hana to Yume magazine for over 16 years. Hakusensha published the 46th compiled volume on June 20, 2025, and plans to release the 47th and final volume on February 20, 2026. Meanwhile, Viz Media brought the 44th English volume to North America on June 3, 2025.
Back in June 2024, Kusanagi confirmed that the series had officially entered its final arc, signalling that the end of Yona’s long journey was in sight.
The success of Yona of the Dawn extends far beyond its manga pages. The series inspired a 24-episode anime adaptation in 2014, produced by Studio Pierrot, which remains one of the most praised fantasy shoujo anime of the decade. It was followed by three OAD (Original Anime DVD) episodes released between 2015 and 2016, expanding upon key story arcs from the manga.
Funimation later brought the anime to home video, introducing a new generation of fans to Yona’s world.
The franchise has also seen multiple stage play adaptations, including:
- A first-stage play in March 2016,
- A second performance in November 2018,
- A third stage play in November 2019, and
- A musical adaptation performed in July 2024 in Tokyo.
Each adaptation has helped solidify Yona of the Dawn’s reputation as one of the most iconic and enduring shoujo fantasy stories of its time.
As the series prepares to close its final chapter this December, Yona of the Dawn stands as a remarkable journey of resilience, love, and personal strength. Kusanagi’s work has touched millions of readers across the globe, blending political intrigue, romance, and mythology into a sweeping narrative that defined a generation of fantasy manga fans.
With its upcoming conclusion, Yona of the Dawn will leave behind a lasting legacy — one that continues to inspire fans and creators alike more than 15 years after its debut.
