Dragon Ball has been a fixture of Shueisha's annual Jump Festa convention for more than a decade, but the publisher's updated lineup for Jump Festa 2027, published on November 2, 2026, no longer lists Dragon Ball Super in the Jump Original Art World exhibition space.

According to OtakuKart, the series has been replaced by Metaphor: ReFantazio, the manga adaptation of Atlus' role-playing game, with the updated V Jump lineup now listing Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai, and the Atlus adaptation instead.

Diario AS notes that Toei Animation will still have a presence at the convention, showcasing anime projects including the recently launched 'Dragon Ball Super: Beerus' remake.

Shueisha has not provided an explanation for the replacement, and neither outlet reports an official comment from the publisher on the change.

The exhibition change comes as readers continue waiting for news about the manga's future following Akira Toriyama's death in March 2024.

OtakuKart reports that the manga has not resumed regular serialization since that time, entering an indefinite hiatus after Chapter 103; Toyotaro later released Chapter 104 in February 2025, a special Goten and Trunks installment concluding the Super Hero adaptation, but it did not mark a return to the monthly schedule.

What makes the Jump Festa removal sting for fans, both outlets suggest, is its cumulative effect: Dragon Ball Super is also absent from the event's promotional visual and announced stage programming, leaving fewer reasons to expect a major manga announcement at the December gathering.

Neither publisher reports evidence of cancellation — but the series' erasure from its traditional showcase spot reads as a genuine setback.

Despite the lack of new chapters, illustrator Toyotaro continues to contribute artwork to V Jump, including monthly character illustrations.

Diario AS reports that he recently updated his social media biography with the statement that 'everything is for the return of the series,' a pledge OtakuKart also cites as keeping fan expectations alive.

OtakuKart additionally reports that in August 2026 Toyotaro responded to a young fan hoping for new chapters with 'Thank you. I got it.'

Meanwhile, the franchise itself is not vanishing: the anime side is moving forward with 'Dragon Ball Super: Beerus,' an enhanced edition of the television anime that began broadcasting in Japan in October 2026, and the official Dragon Ball site confirms Dragon Ball Z will appear at the AMNIBUS merchandise booth with new Majin Buu battle artwork.

Diario AS points out that several parties have a stake in Dragon Ball — Toriyama's estate, publisher Shueisha, animation studio Toei, gaming company Bandai Namco, and Capsule Corporation Tokyo, the company established by Toriyama's longtime editor Akio Iyoku — and that the relationships between these entities have fueled speculation about the reasons behind the prolonged hiatus.

The outlet cautions, however, that there is no confirmed evidence Shueisha is losing control of the manga or that a change in publishing rights explains the Jump Festa lineup. OtakuKart likewise emphasizes that the absence does not confirm the series has ended.

Jump Festa 2027 takes place December 19 and 20 at Makuhari Messe in Japan, and until Shueisha, Toyotaro, or the other parties involved offer an official update, readers are left waiting for clearer answers about when — and under what circumstances — the manga might resume.