Hiatus
A hiatus is a temporary pause in a manga's publication — a stretch when new chapters stop releasing before the series resumes. Hiatuses are a fact of life in manga, ranging from a planned one-week break to multi-year gaps that test even the most patient readers. The term "manga on hiatus" is one of the most-searched phrases in any fandom.
Why Series Go on Hiatus
Because serialization demands relentless output, breaks are often unavoidable:
- Author health and burnout — the weekly grind on a mangaka is severe
- Story planning — complex arcs need research and preparation
- Personal circumstances — life events interrupt even hit series
Hiatus vs. Cancellation
The two are easy to confuse. A hiatus is meant to be temporary — the series will return. A cancellation is permanent. The trouble is that long hiatuses can blur the line, leaving readers unsure whether a beloved series is paused or effectively over.
Tracking a Series on Hiatus
A hiatus disrupts a series' release schedule, which is exactly when a tracker helps. Set the title to On Hold so it stays in your library without nagging you, and let the app watch for its return. In MangaTime, a new chapter alert fires the moment a hiatus ends and the next chapter finally drops — so you don't have to keep checking for years.
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about this topic.
What does it mean when a manga is on hiatus?
A hiatus is a temporary halt in a manga's publication — new chapters stop coming out for a period, then resume. Hiatuses can last a week or several years, and are caused by anything from author health and burnout to research breaks for complex story arcs.
What's the difference between a hiatus and a cancellation?
A hiatus is temporary — the series is expected to return. A cancellation is permanent — the series has ended, often abruptly. The line can blur when a hiatus stretches on for years with no clear return date.
How do I keep track of a manga on hiatus?
Set it to On Hold in your tracker so it stays in your library without cluttering your active reading. A good tracker can also alert you the moment the series comes off hiatus and a new chapter finally releases.