How to Watch Fairy Tail in Order: Anime, Movies & OVAs

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Anime expert Dianté Richard shares the best way to start watching Fairy Tail

Co-authored by Dianté Richard and Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: September 1, 2026 Fact Checked

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Release Order

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Chronological Order

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Watch Order with OVAs

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Where to Watch

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All Arcs & Movies, Explained

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Late to the Fairy Tail party? No problem! If you’re ready to experience the popular shonen anime and don’t know where to get started, we’ve got you covered. Fairy Tail is best experienced in release order, watching each season and movie in the order they originally came out. But if you’re a seasoned fan and want to shake things up, you can also try a chronological watch order. Whatever the case, we chatted with an anime expert so we could show you the best ways to watch Fairy Tail—and introduce you to each exciting story arc!

Fairy Tail Watch Order: Chart

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A visual guide on how to watch Fairy Tail in release order.

Anime expert Dianté Richard says that first-time viewers should watch Fairy Tail in release order, starting with the anime’s first season. Here’s how to watch Fairy Tail in release order:

Fairy Tail, Season 1 (Episodes 1 - 124)
Fairy Tail - The Movie: Phoenix Priestess
Fairy Tail, Season 1 (Episodes 125 - 175)
Fairy Tail, Season 2 (Episodes 176 - 277)
Fairy Tail, Season 3 (Episodes 278 - 284)
Fairy Tail the Movie: Dragon Cry
Fairy Tail, Season 3 (Episodes 285 - 328)
FAIRY TAIL 100 YEARS QUEST (Episodes 1 - 25, ongoing series)

Section 1 of 5:

How to Watch Fairy Tail in Release Order

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Release order is the ideal way to watch Fairy Tail. According to Richard, watching Fairy Tail in release date order is perfectly fine.^{[1]
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Dianté Richard
Anime Expert and Cosplayer

Expert Interview} This includes all three seasons and two movies (plus the follow-up series, 100 YEARS QUEST). So, if it’s your first time seeing the Fairy Tail anime, we recommend sticking to the following watch order:^{[2]
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- Fairy Tail, Season 1 (Episodes 1 - 124)
- Fairy Tail - The Movie: Phoenix Priestess
- Fairy Tail, Season 1 (Episodes 125 - 175)
- Fairy Tail, Season 2 (Episodes 176 - 277)
- Fairy Tail, Season 3 (Episodes 278 - 284)
- Fairy Tail the Movie: Dragon Cry
- Fairy Tail, Season 3 (Episodes 285 - 328)
- FAIRY TAIL 100 YEARS QUEST (Episodes 1 - 25, ongoing series)
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Dianté Richard (aka D-Rich) is an anime expert and cosplayer. He’s been making content about anime, cartoons, TV, and movies for about six years.

Section 2 of 5:

How to Watch Fairy Tail in Chronological Order

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Fairy Tail’s chronological order is very similar to its release order. The only real difference is a prequel arc from season two; to watch the series chronologically, just watch that prequel arc first (before starting season one). However, the series was meant to be watched in release order, so we don’t recommend watching chronologically unless you’ve already seen Fairy Tail and you’re looking for a different kind of watch experience this time!^{[3]
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- Fairy Tail, Season 2 (Zero Arc, Episodes 266 - 275)
- Fairy Tail, Season 1 (Episodes 1 - 124)
- Fairy Tail - The Movie: Phoenix Priestess
- Fairy Tail, Season 1 (Episodes 125 - 175)
- Fairy Tail, Season 2 (Episodes 176 - 265)
- Fairy Tail, Season 3 (Episodes 278 - 284)
- Fairy Tail the Movie: Dragon Cry
- Fairy Tail, Season 3 (Episodes 285 - 328)
- FAIRY TAIL 100 YEARS QUEST (Episodes 1 - 25, ongoing series)
  - It’s a lot of episodes to cover—but luckily, you can just consult our guide to find out which Fairy Tail episodes are filler!

Section 3 of 5:

How to Watch Fairy Tail in Order with OVAs

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Fairy Tail’s OVAs are essentially bonus content. You don’t need to watch them to follow the series’ overall plot, and beyond that, they aren’t streaming on Crunchyroll or any official streaming platforms—so finding them in the first place is fairly difficult. That said, you’re welcome to try and track them down if you want to watch every piece of Fairy Tail content out there; here’s the anime’s complete watch order with OVAs included:
- Fairy Tail, Season 1 (Episodes 1 - 74)
- Fairy Tail: Welcome to Fairy Hills!! (OVA 1)
- Fairy Tail, Season 1 (Episodes 75 - 84)
- Fairy Tail: Fairy Academy (OVA 2)
- Fairy Tail, Season 1 (Episodes 85 - 117)
- Fairy Tail: Memory Days (OVA 3)
- Fairy Tail, Season 1 (Episodes 118 - 124)
- Fairy Tail - The Movie: Phoenix Priestess (First movie)
- Fairy Tail, Season 1 (Episodes 125 - 150)
- Fairy Tail x Rave (OVA 4)
- Fairy Tail, Season 1 (Episodes 151 - 154)
- Fairy Tail: Fairies’ Training Camp (OVA 5)
- Fairy Tail, Season 1 (Episodes 155 - 170)
- Fairy Tail: The Exciting Ryuzetsu Land (OVA 6)
- Fairy Tail, Season 1 (Episodes 171 - 175)
- Fairy Tail, Season 2 (Episodes 176 - 203)
- Fairy Tail: Fairies’ Penalty Game (OVA 7)
- Fairy Tail, Season 2 (Episodes 204 - 233)
- Fairy Tail: Natsu vs. Mavis (OVA 8)
- Fairy Tail: Fairies’ Christmas (OVA 9)
- Fairy Tail, Season 2 (Episodes 234 - 277)
- Fairy Tail, Season 3 (Episodes 278 - 284)
- Fairy Tail the Movie: Dragon Cry (Second movie)
- Fairy Tail, Season 3 (Episodes 285 - 328)
- FAIRY TAIL 100 YEARS QUEST

Section 4 of 5:

Where to Watch Fairy Tail

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Fairy Tail is available to stream on Crunchyroll. Every season of Fairy Tail, its two movies (Phoenix Priestess and Dragon Cry), plus 100 YEARS QUEST are all streaming on Crunchyroll’s platform; you can watch them with a Crunchyroll subscription. As mentioned above, the Fairy Tail OVAs unfortunately aren’t streaming anywhere, although you might be able to find them posted on YouTube or elsewhere.
- You can also watch Fairy Tail on Amazon Prime or YouTube—but you’ll still need to connect a Crunchyroll subscription to either platform.

Section 5 of 5:

All Fairy Tale Arcs & Movies, Explained

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1
Macao ArcThis is the first arc in the anime—and a very short one, as it’s really just here to introduce the series’ main characters, Natsu and Lucy. Lucy Heartfilia is a mage determined to join the Fairy Tail guild, and runs into member Natsu Dragneel. Of course, Natsu might not be all he seems…but the two of them team up and begin working together!^{[4]
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- Episodes: 1 - 2
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Daybreak ArcThe second arc is just as quick as the first—two episodes long. It follows Natsu tricking Lucy into helping him complete a mission (specifically, pilfering something from a corrupt politician, although the item in question quickly complicates things more than either Lucy or Natsu expects).
- Episodes: 3 - 4
3
Eisenwald ArcNow we have the Eisenwald arc, which introduces another of the series’ major characters: the famous mage Erza. Tasked with dismantling a corrupt guild endangering the lives of everyone in Fiore, Erza joins forces with Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Happy—forming the iconic group that becomes the strongest in Fairy Tail.
- Episodes: 5 - 10
4
Sub-Zero Emperor Lyon ArcIn this arc, Natsu, Happy, Lucy, and Gray embark on an S-Class mission on the island of Galuna, which appears to be cursed. But as the group learns more about Galuna’s curse, they also learn the truth about Gray’s past.
- Episodes: 11 - 20
5
Phantom Lord ArcThe group departs Galuna Island and heads back to the Fairy Tail guildhall, only to discover it’s been destroyed. Thus, they take it upon themselves to find out what happened, learning from another member that the Phantom Lord guild is behind the guildhall’s destruction—and all-out war between the two guilds soon begins.
- Episodes: 21 - 29
6
Loke ArcBy the beginning of the Loke arc, the Fairy Tail headquarters has thankfully been restored—and Erza has decided to form a more permanent team with Lucy, Natsu, Happy, and Gray. Setting out on what should be a simple job, the group instead runs into trouble with a fellow Fairy Tail member named Loke (and his troubled past).
- Episodes: 30 - 32
7
Tower of Heaven ArcIt’s Erza’s turn for her past to be revealed in the Tower of Heaven arc. Erza’s old friends make an appearance, only to kidnap Erza and Happy, bringing them to the dangerous Tower of Heaven. Erza must face her friend Jellal while the rest of the team races to her aid, and the Magic Council decides how to deal with the Tower of Heaven itself.
- Episodes: 33 - 40
8
The Battle of Fairy Tail ArcAfter the previous arc’s tumultuous events, the Fairy Tail gang is ready to kick back at Magnolia’s annual Harvest Festival. However, S-Class mage and grandson of the Master, Laxus, decides to stir up trouble; he forces the guild into a battle royale to the death—all to prove that he’s the strongest member of Fairy Tail.
- Episodes: 41 - 51
9
Oracion Seis ArcSeveral Guild Masters (including the Master of Fairy Tail) decide to ally against Oracion Seis, a dark and sinister guild. At the same time, Erza’s old friend Jellal reappears, seemingly unaware of what happened in the past—and the Fairy Tail team sets out to take down Oracion Seis.
- Episodes: 52 - 68
10
Daphne ArcRumors of dragon sightings begin to swirl, leading Natsu, Wendy, and Gray to investigate…and discover Gray’s apparent betrayal. This arc is also entirely exclusive to the anime, meaning you won’t find it in the manga!
- Episodes: 69 - 75
11
Edolas ArcWendy is allowed membership to Fairy Tail, just as everyone in Magnolia (save Natsu, Happy, Wendy, and Carla) is thrown into a parallel universe. The four stragglers plunge into the portal to try and set things right, discovering a dangerous plot involving Mystogan’s father and dragon slayers in the process.
- Episodes: 76 - 95
12
Tenrou Island ArcThe S-Class Mage Promotion Trial is nigh, and this time, only one mage will be allowed to pass. To make matters more complicated, the dark guild Grimoire arrives on Tenrou Island, and a shadowy killer is stalking among the island’s people.
- Episodes: 96 - 122
13
X791 ArcIt’s time for a time-skip! The X791 arc takes place seven years after the end of the Tenrou Island arc, and the island itself is still missing. But those lost souls left on the island begin to reappear, suggesting that everything once lost could still be recovered.
- Episodes: 123 - 124
Phoenix Priestess is the first Fairy Tail movie; it follows Natsu and his friends as they track down another band leader with a price on his head. Their mission is left in jeopardy after Lucy makes a mistake, but there’s a new thread to follow: a girl named Eclair with no memories and a strange hatred of magic.
15
Key of the Starry Sky ArcFairy Tail’s first (and longest) season continues with the Key of the Starry Sky arc—in which Lucy’s cousin turns up with a memento that belonged to Lucy’s father. Lucy and company set out in search of an ancient device called the Infinity Clock, coming up against a secretive order called Legion Corps along the way (not to mention the Dark Guild and Reborn Oracion Seis).
- Episodes: 125 - 150
16
Grand Magic Games ArcThe Grand Magic Games arc is actually split into two parts: one at the end of season 1, and the other at the beginning of season 2. In part 1, Fairy Tail joins a competition called the Grand Magic Games (in which Fiore’s guilds compete in a show of strength). And in part 2, team Fairy Tail fights to win the entire competition…while Natsu and friends embark on a separate mission to break Lucy out of prison.
- Episodes: 151 - 175 (Season 1), 176 to 203 (Season 2)
17
Eclipse Celestial Spirits ArcAll is well after the harrowing Grand Magic Games—at least until the Twelve Zodiac Gates stop responding when summoned by celestial mages. Lucy and the rest of the team head out, determined to set things right, contending with rebels called the Beacon of Rebellion along the way.^{[5]
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- Episodes: 204 - 226
18
Sun Village ArcThe Sun Village arc follows Natsu and the team as they follow up on a few different requests for help from clients. One such client is Warrod Sequen, one of the Wizard Saints, whose request takes the team to Sun Village—where residents are frozen (but alive) in ice.
- Episodes: 227 - 233
19
Tartaros ArcThe Fairy Tail guild goes up against Tartaros, a rival guild responsible for several other guilds’ disappearances. Meanwhile, former members of the Magic Council have also fallen under attack, with both guilds attempting to reach them (albeit with different motivations in mind).
- Episodes: 234 - 265
20
Zero ArcThis is a prologue arc—it follows Natsu, and it’s set a long while before the rest of the series. But it’s still worth watching in release order because there are certain spoilers—questions that get answered—in Zero, and it can be a little anticlimactic to get those spoilers right off the bat!
- Episodes: 266 - 275
21
Avatar ArcThis is another two-part arc, taking place across the end of the second season and the beginning of the third. A year after the end of the Tartaros arc, Natsu and Lucy set out to reunite Fairy Tail and their old friends—but soon realize a dangerous organization has begun enacting its schemes in a bid for power.
- Episodes: 276 - 277 (Season 2), 278 - 284 (Season 3)
Dragon Cry is the second of Fairy Tail’s movies; this one is about the Dragon Cry, an artifact that could have the power to destroy the entire world. Stolen from a temple in Fiore, it’s been delivered to the kingdom of Stella—and team Fairy Tail has to get it back.
23
Alvarez ArcAlvarez is the final arc of the original Fairy Tail series; the Alvarez Empire is gearing up for open war to capture the Lumen Histoire, a supposedly secret artifact. And if that wasn’t bad enough, a powerful dragon is also rearing its head, making itself known as a threat, too.
- Episodes: 285 - 328
24
100 YEARS QUEST100 YEARS QUEST is a sequel series to Fairy Tail, and it’s ongoing. There’s currently one season with 25 episodes available, but more will be added in the future (though it’s unclear exactly when). In this series, the Fairy Tail gang returns to take on the “100 Years Quest,” something more difficult even than an S-Class quest. Their mission is to find the first wizard’s guild ever—a task nobody has ever accomplished before.^{[6]
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- Episodes: 1 - 25
- Richard says that 100 Year Quest is keeping the Fairy Tail story alive, and that he believes the show will “keep going until [it] can’t anymore.”^{[7]
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  Dianté Richard
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