Top 19 The Arts manga you should read right now. [2026 List]

19. Blue Period

Yatora is the perfect high school student, with good grades and lots of friends. It’s an effortless performance, and, ultimately…a dull one. But he wanders into the art room one day, and a lone painting captures his eye, awakening him to a kind of beauty he never knew. Compelled and consumed, he dives in headfirst — and he’s about to learn how savage and unforgiving art can be!

Blue Period is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ブルーピリオド, The Blue Period., النقطة الزرقاء, 藍色時期, Blue Period.

18. Kakunaru Ue wa

Uehara-kun loves 2-dimensional characters and his dream is to become a manga artist!

One day, a gal in his class, Miyamoto-san, sees his manuscript and starts a pseudo-romance with him that's a little too close to comfort, to help him with his manga!

This is a manga artist x adolescent love comedy!

Now That We Draw is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 描くなるうえは, Kakunaru Ue wa

17. [Oshi no Ko]

"In the world of showbiz, lies are weapons." Goro works as an OB-GYN in the countryside, a life far removed from the entertainment industry. Meanwhile, his favorite idol, Ai Hoshino, has begun her climb to stardom. The two meet in the "worst possible way," setting the gears of fate in motion! The amazing Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari team up to depict the world of showbiz from a completely new perspective in this shocking series!

【OSHI NO KO】 has finished publishing and it has 168 Chapters. It is also Known as: 【推しの子】, My Favorite's Child, Favorite Girl, My Idol's Child, Oshi no Ko, [Mein*Star], เกิดใหม่เป็นลูกโอชิ

16. Alabaster no Kisetsu

Maeda Gin is a student who enjoys drawing graffitis at an abandoned apartment complex building near his school, with his friends and acolytes, Teppei and Kon-chan. One night, while they're at work on one of their masterpieces, they're interrupted by a mysterious ghastly pale-skinned woman who scares them. In the process of fleeing, Gin loses his sketchbook to her and then from this point onwards, his life will change in a major way! Some nude painting with his beautiful and attractive art teacher? Welcome to Season of Alabaster.

Season Of Alabaster has finished publishing and it has 18 Chapters. It is also Known as: アラバスターの季節, Alabaster no Kisetsu

15. Momoiro Montage

Tamamon, a girl who loves painting, is aiming for the world's best pornographer! What makes a painting erotic? She is going to research this topic in depth.

Momoiro Montage has finished publishing and it has 23 Chapters. It is also Known as: ももいろモンタージュ, Momoiro Montage

14. Ero Mangaka Onee-san to Otukare Ryman

Ero Mangaka Onee-san to Otukare Ryman has finished publishing and it has 35 Chapters. It is also Known as: エロ漫画家おねーさんとお疲れリーマン, Ero Mangaka Onee-san to Otsukare Riman, Ero Mangaka Oneesan to Otsukare Ryman, Ero Mangaka to Otsukare Riman

13. Sora wo Matotte

Namiji Ogawa is a high school student who teaches himself oil painting every day in order to draw the ultimate nude. After an encounter with a certain "witch", the goal is to take the entrance exam to Tokyo University of the Arts...!?

Wear the sky is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 空をまとって, Sora wo Matotte

12. Kasane

Beautiful people are loved and revered. They have everything they desire right at their fingertips... Even if that beauty is a complete illusion.

Before Kasane's mother died, she was given a special tube of lipstick from her mother. She was told that if times ever got really really hard, she should wear the lipstick and kiss whatever she really desires.

But is this keepsake a blessing? Or a curse?

Kasane has finished publishing and it has 126 Chapters. It is also Known as: 累－かさね－, Rui

11. Watashi no Kouguchi-Sensei

Kouguchi Ruri, a skilled yet socially awkward male manga artist, has built a career creating niche "loli" manga. His carefully structured life takes a chaotic turn when Shiina Karen, an energetic young woman claiming to be a university student, joins him as his assistant.

While Karen appears eager to learn, she harbors a mysterious secret and ulterior motives for working with Kouguchi. As they navigate the creative challenges of manga production, their quirky relationship evolves, blending humor, tension, and unexpected revelations.

This workplace romantic comedy dives into the challenges of collaboration, personal growth, and the surprising connections that emerge in the unlikeliest of circumstances.

My Kouguchi Sensei is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: わたしの工口先生, Watashi no Kouguchi-Sensei

10. Imouto ga Oshi Sugiru

When they were children, Shirabe Yamada encouraged her brother Minoru to become a mangaka, but years later, and now that she's a high-school-age streamer, she can barely stand him. Now a university student and amateur mangaka, Minoru does his best to keep his craft a secret from her, but on the day his manga is cancelled by the publisher, Shirabe accidentally discovers his studio at his room and that he's the mangaka 'Aoi Ringo'.

Shirabe then confesses to him: she's Aoi-sensei's diehard fan!

My Little Sister is My Diehard Fan has finished publishing and it has 18 Chapters. It is also Known as: 妹が推すぎる, Imouto ga Oshi Sugiru

9. Sketchbook

Sora is a quiet girl who finds her niche in the high school art club. When she isn't out capturing images of the neighbourhood in her trusty sketchbook, she can almost certainly be found befriending the local cats.

Sketchbook has finished publishing and it has Chapters. It is also Known as: スケッチブック, Sketchbook

8. Itookashi

Itookashi follows Owari Hajime's story before she ended up at the Shikadas' dagashi shop. Originally published in the 2019 January 16th issue of Weekly Shounen Sunday.

Itookashi has finished publishing and it has 1 Chapters. It is also Known as: いとおかし, То, чего я хочу

7. Act-age

Kei Yonagi comes from a poor family. Her father ran out on her and her two younger siblings, leaving her to fend for the family herself after their mother's death. When the opportunity comes to chase her dream of becoming an actress, Yonagi jumps at the chance. Catching the eye of Director Sumiji Kuroyama, Yonagi's opportunity to shine has come. However, Yonagi's talent for acting comes from her extreme and innate ability for Method Acting, one that various individuals note as potentially self-destructive.

Act-age has finished publishing and it has 123 Chapters. It is also Known as: アクタージュ act-age, Act-age

6. Prism Rondo

The dawn of the 20th century, a difficult period for women to realize their dreams. At an art academy in London, Lili, a Japanese art student chasing her dreams, meets Kit, an artistic prodigy from a family of aristocrats. Their meeting, transcending social status and their home countries, will set their fates in motion...!

Love Through a Prism is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: プリズム輪舞曲, Prism Rinbukyoku, プリズム輪舞曲〈ロンド〉

5. Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na!

Asakusa Midori wants to create an anime, but she's too disheartened to make that first step by herself. But by pure chance, she meets Mizusaki Tsubame, an up-and-coming socialite secretly dreaming of becoming an animator. Together with Midori's money-loving best friend Kanamori Sayaka, the energetic trio slowly work towards making their "ultimate world" a reality!

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 映像研には手を出すな！, Hands off the Motion Pictures Club!

4. Solo for Two

It's love at first sight for Karel when he sees the bedraggled but beautiful Sasya during his travels. Although Karel offers him food and lodging, Sasya slips away without leaving any hints about his identity. But fate pulls them back together when Karel finds a photo of Sasya in a Russian duke's home, and tracks him down in Paris. Once he learns Sasya is a talented ballerino who fled Russia under difficult circumstances, Karel takes him in with the help of his wealthy friend, Julian. However, Sasya knows Julian's sponsorship offer only stands as long as Karel stays interested in him...



Note: Chapter count includes nine side story chapters.

Solo for Two has finished publishing and it has 89 Chapters. It is also Known as: Solo for Two～あなたに捧ぐヴァリエーション～, Solo para los dos

3. Favela no Mangaka

Manga artist Takei Hiroto, after failing to get serialized, decides to give up on his dreams and goes on a trip to Brazil to get over everything.

When he accidentally wanders into a favela, Hiroto meets Joao, a poor boy with a sharp gaze. Joao lives on the other side of the world, but he also dreams of becoming a manga artist...!!

No matter who you are or where you live, you don't have to give up. The beginning of a story about two manga artists chasing their dreams from the slums!!

Favela no Mangaka is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ファヴェーラの漫画家, The Manga Author from Favela, Favela Comic Artist

2. Wo De Jiejie Shi Da Mingxing

What? My older sister, who's pretty but lazy and abused me for fun, was born from different parents than me? What? She wants to become a superstar? Fortunately, I have a System to help cheat her way to stardom. What? My parents asked me to help her find a boyfriend? I’m still single, too, why don’t you guys care about me? ! The System suggested that my sister and I are quite compatible, and the System can help pair us up. No way! Being her brother is already bad enough!

My Sister Is a Big Star has finished publishing and it has 242 Chapters. It is also Known as: My Elder Sister is a Superstar, My Elder Sister Is A Famous Celebrity, My Sister Is a SuperStar, Chị Gái Tôi Là Đại Minh Tinh, My Elder Sister Is the Great Celebrity, Wǒ De Jiějiě Shì Dà Míngxīng

1. Sesuji wo Pin! to: Shikakou Kyougi Dance-bu e Youkoso

Masaharu Tsuchiya is as dorky as they get and is determined to make high school different than elementary school. But can he keep his inherent awkwardness from ruining his first day? Furthermore, what club will he join? Surely not something like...dance club?



Included one-shot:
Volume 10: Kyougi Dance-bu e Youkoso

Straighten Up! Welcome to Shika High's Competitive Dance Club has finished publishing and it has 87 Chapters. It is also Known as: 背すじをピン！と～鹿高競技ダンス部へようこそ～, SujiPin