Fate’s next Holy Grail War isn’t quite what it seems. From January 3, 2026, TV anime Fate/strange Fake will begin airing with an ABEMA-first, free streaming run that pairs the Whispers of Dawn special and Episode 1 back to back, letting fans dive straight into a “fake” war for the Grail on Saturday nights.
Fate/strange Fake TV Anime Starts Streaming on ABEMA First
Fate/strange Fake began life as a light novel by Ryohgo Narita and TYPE-MOON, spinning the Holy Grail War concept into something deliberately broken and unpredictable. Now that story is finally becoming a full TV anime series, and ABEMA is the first place you can follow it week by week.
On Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 23:30 JST, ABEMA’s Anime Channel will broadcast a special double feature. First up is the TV special Fate/strange Fake -Whispers of Dawn-, which lays out the core players and mood of Snowfield’s fake war. Right after that, ABEMA will stream Episode 1 of the brand-new TV series. From there, a new episode drops every Saturday at 23:30 JST, ahead of regular TV broadcasts in Japan.
If you are used to chasing Fate shows on late-night TV or waiting for other platforms to catch up, this run is designed so ABEMA viewers hear the gunshot first.
A Twisted Holy Grail War That Breaks Fate’s Usual Rules
Instead of Japan, the stage this time is Snowfield, a city in the western United States built for war from the ground up. Based on incorrect information about the Fuyuki systems, an abnormal Holy Grail War is triggered—one full of gaps, errors, and intentional fakes.
There are missing classes, Servants that should never have been summoned, and even national governments moving in the shadows. Masters and Servants collide under rules that do not quite line up with the “proper” Grail Wars seen in Fate/stay night and Fate/Zero. That brokenness is the point: Narita’s style pushes the story toward a chaotic ensemble drama rather than a straightforward tournament.
For anime-only Fate fans, this means you are not just watching another retelling of a familiar conflict. You are stepping into a Grail War that was never meant to exist in the first place.
From Whispers of Dawn Special to Full Series in 2026
If you caught the July 2023 TV special Fate/strange Fake -Whispers of Dawn-, you have already seen the prototype for this series. That special introduced key Masters and Servants and set up the eerie tone of Snowfield’s “fake” battlefield, and it drew strong reactions from fans who wanted a full adaptation.
ABEMA’s January 3 broadcast places Whispers of Dawn right before Episode 1, effectively turning the special into a prologue movie for the TV run. Newcomers can treat it as a feature-length intro, while returning viewers get a quick refresher before the plot branches out into a full cour of shifting alliances, betrayals, and Narita-style ensemble chaos.
If you skipped the special back in 2023, this is an easy way to catch up without hunting down a separate release or rewatch route.
Voice Cast and Staff Bringing Snowfield’s Chaos to Life
The cast list reads like a Fate fan’s dream. Ayaka Sajou is voiced by Kana Hanazawa, with Tomoyuki Ono as Saber, Sumire Morohoshi as Tine Chelk, Tomokazu Seki as Archer, and Yuu Kobayashi as Lancer, just to name a few. Fan-favorite characters like Flat Escardos, Lord El-Melloi II, and more also appear, backed by a stacked ensemble of veteran voice actors.
Behind the scenes, the anime is produced by A-1 Pictures, with direction by Shun Enokido and Takumi Sakazume, character designs by Yukie Yamada, and music by Hiroyuki Sawano. The staff list is long, but the takeaway is simple: this is not a low-key side project. It is a full-scale adaptation built to stand alongside other major Fate entries.
For more details on characters and visuals, the official site at Official Fate/strange Fake website has key art, trailers, and staff comments.
ABEMA Saturday Night Slot, Free Stream and Catch-Up Window
ABEMA is framing Fate/strange Fake as a Saturday night anchor for its Anime Channel. Each new episode airs at 23:30 JST and is then available to watch for free for one week after broadcast. That means if you miss the live stream, you still have seven days to catch up without paying, as long as the episode remains in the free window.
On January 3, 2026, you can jump in via these program links:
• TV Special Fate/strange Fake -Whispers of Dawn-: Watch the Whispers of Dawn special on ABEMA
• TV Anime Fate/strange Fake Episode 1: Watch Episode 1 of the TV series on ABEMA
ABEMA itself is a Japanese streaming platform offering 24/7 channels plus on-demand viewing across smartphones, PCs, tablets, and TV devices. Many shows stream free with ads, and premium plans like ABEMA Premium and ad-supported ABEMA Premium add extra series and features such as downloads and extended catch-up tools.
Reasons Fate Fans and Newcomers Should Watch This Show
If you already follow the Fate franchise, Fate/strange Fake is a rare chance to watch a Grail War go wrong on purpose, with Narita’s signature ensemble writing, a heavyweight voice cast, and A-1 Pictures production values behind it. Seeing which Servants appear, how the “fake” system glitches, and how nations interfere in the war is half the fun.
For newcomers who only know Fate by name, this series can also work as a fresh entry point. The setting is distant from Fuyuki, the rules are bent enough that veterans and first-timers are discovering twists together, and ABEMA’s one-week free window makes it easy to try the first episodes without commitment if you are in Japan or can access the service.
Streaming Guide and Next Steps for Fate/strange Fake Fans
If you want to be there the moment Snowfield’s “fake” Holy Grail War erupts, start with ABEMA’s January 3, 2026 double feature of Fate/strange Fake -Whispers of Dawn- and Episode 1, then keep Saturday nights open for new episodes and one-week free catch-up.
To keep track of future updates and global release information, bookmark these official pages:
• ABEMA top page (Japanese)
• Official Fate/strange Fake website
(C)成田良悟・TYPE-MOON/KADOKAWA/FSFPC
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