The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 premiered on Friday, October 2, 2026, bringing Maomao and Jinshi back for a new run of palace mysteries. In the U.S., new episodes stream on Crunchyroll every Friday at 8 a.m. PT (11 a.m. ET), and the season is split into two parts, with the second half due in April 2027.
- Premiere: October 2, 2026, on Nippon TV in Japan and Crunchyroll internationally.
- U.S. release time: Fridays at 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET on Crunchyroll.
- Next episode: Episode 2 arrives Friday, October 9, 2026.
- Format: Two parts (split cour), with part two scheduled for April 2027.
- Studio: OLM, with director Akinori Fudesaka returning from Season 2.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 release schedule in the U.S.
Crunchyroll is streaming the new season in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, the CIS region and the Indian subcontinent, according to ComicBook.com. Netflix carries the series in select Asian regions instead.
New episodes land every Friday through the fall 2026 season. GamesRadar reports that the first part runs for 12 episodes, after which the show takes a break before returning in spring 2027. Wikipedia’s series listing, based on the official announcement, gives April 2027 for the second part.
| Episode | U.S. date (Crunchyroll) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | Friday, October 2, 2026 | 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET |
| Episode 2 | Friday, October 9, 2026 | 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET |
| Episode 3 | Friday, October 16, 2026 (expected) | 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET |
| Part two | April 2027 | Exact date not confirmed |
Dates after Episode 2 follow the weekly Friday pattern and could change if Crunchyroll announces a break.
What is The Apothecary Diaries about?
The Apothecary Diaries is based on the Japanese light novel series by Hyuganatsu, with illustrations by Touko Shino. It is set in a fictional imperial court inspired by ancient China. Maomao, a sharp young apothecary, is kidnapped and sold into service in the palace’s inner court. She becomes a food taster for one of the emperor’s consorts and uses her knowledge of medicine and poisons to solve mysteries.
Her skills catch the attention of Jinshi, a powerful palace official. Their uneasy partnership, mixed with court politics and a slow-burn romance, is at the heart of the series.
What Season 3 covers
According to ComicBook.com, Season 3 opens a new mystery tied to a famine and a locust plague, which takes Maomao into a new region. The season also introduces a new character, Bai Niangniang, voiced by Reina Ueda. Story details beyond the premiere have not been officially confirmed.
The opening theme is performed by Yorushika and the ending theme by Eve, ComicBook.com reported. Aoi Yuki returns as the Japanese voice of Maomao and Takeo Otsuka as Jinshi. In the English dub of earlier seasons, Emi Lo voices Maomao and Kaiji Tang voices Jinshi. The premiere announcements reviewed for this article did not include a date for a Season 3 English dub.
How Season 3 compares with earlier seasons
| Season | Run in Japan | Episodes | Animation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Oct 22, 2023 to Mar 24, 2024 | 24 | Toho Animation Studio and OLM |
| Season 2 | Jan 10 to Jul 4, 2025 | 24 | Toho Animation Studio and OLM |
| Season 3 | From Oct 2, 2026 (part two April 2027) | 12 in part one | OLM |
Season 3 was announced on October 22, 2025, the second anniversary of the anime’s debut. Wikipedia’s series page notes that it is produced solely by OLM, while the first two seasons were a joint production with Toho Animation Studio.
A movie is also coming in December
An animated film based on a new story by Hyuganatsu is set to open in theaters in Japan on December 11, 2026. Its English title has been reported in slightly different translations. No U.S. or international release date has been announced, according to ComicBook.com. For more of the year’s biggest announcements, see our March 2026 anime news roundup.
FAQ
Where can I watch The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 in the U.S.?
It streams on Crunchyroll, with new episodes every Friday at 8 a.m. PT (11 a.m. ET).
How many episodes are in Season 3?
The first part has 12 episodes, according to GamesRadar. A second part is scheduled for April 2027.
Is the Season 3 English dub available?
A Season 3 dub date was not included in the premiere announcements. Check Crunchyroll’s series page for updates.