After more than two years of anticipation, fans of Jujutsu Kaisen are finally celebrating the return of the hit anime series with its much-awaited third season. The new season, which kicks off with a special double-episode premiere, is set to stream worldwide on January 8, 2026, exclusively on Crunchyroll, marking a major event for anime enthusiasts around the globe. As viewers prepare to dive back into the dark, action-packed world crafted by Gege Akutami, here’s everything you need to know about the release, storyline, and what lies ahead for Yuji Itadori and his fellow sorcerers.
The excitement around Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 has been building since the explosive conclusion of the Shibuya Incident arc in Season 2. As reported by ComicBook.com, the anime’s return is set to reinvigorate its massive fanbase, many of whom found solace during the long hiatus in the December 2025 theatrical release of Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution. That film offered a tantalizing preview of the first two episodes of the new season, setting the stage for the Culling Game arc that manga readers have been eagerly awaiting.
Season 3 launches with a one-hour world premiere, releasing episodes 1 and 2 back-to-back on January 8, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time (PT), 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), and 5:00 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), according to Economic Times and ComicBook.com. Fans in India can tune in at 10:30 p.m. IST, while those in Japan and Australia can catch the episodes at 2:00 a.m. JST and 4:00 a.m. AEST on January 9, respectively. Crunchyroll will stream the subtitled episodes in North America, Central and South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, India, and Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, Netflix will simulcast the season in select Asian countries, with episodes dropping every Friday starting January 9, as noted by Economic Times and ComicBook.com.
Following the premiere, new episodes will be released weekly every Thursday at 9:00 a.m. PT on Crunchyroll, ensuring that fans can follow the unfolding drama in real time. The dubbed versions are expected to follow with a typical two- to three-week delay, a standard practice for major anime releases.
The structure of Season 3 is ambitious, with industry insiders and sources like Economic Times projecting that the season will span two cours—essentially two parts—with a total of 24 to 26 episodes. The first cour is anticipated to consist of 13 episodes, with the remaining episodes forming a second cour later in the year. This split allows the anime to cover a significant portion of the manga, including the Itadori’s Extermination, Perfect Preparation, and Culling Game arcs. The opening five episodes will focus on the Itadori’s Extermination and Perfect Preparation arcs, with the high-stakes Culling Game officially beginning in episode 6, scheduled for February 5, 2026.
For those who need a quick refresher, the end of the Shibuya Incident arc left Tokyo in chaos. Satoru Gojo, the strongest Jujutsu sorcerer, was sealed away by Kenjaku, and the city was plunged into a new age of curses. The aftermath saw devastating losses, including the deaths of key characters like Kento Nanami and severe injuries to others such as Toge Inumaki and Maki Zenin. The fallout was severe: Masamichi Yaga, headmaster of Tokyo Jujutsu High, was sentenced to death, and Yuji Itadori’s suspended execution was revoked, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation with Yuta Okkotsu, the protagonist of Jujutsu Kaisen 0.
According to ComicBook.com, the double-episode premiere will adapt the content from the Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution movie, ensuring all viewers are caught up before the story plunges full throttle into the Culling Game arc. The official episode synopses reveal that Yuji and his newfound brother Choso will be hunting cursed spirits in a Tokyo transformed into a demonic realm. Meanwhile, Naoya Zenin, eager to seize power within his clan, attacks, and Yuji learns the grim news of his revoked execution. The tension escalates as Yuta Okkotsu, now tasked with executing Yuji, enters the fray, cornering Yuji with his overwhelming cursed energy.
This season promises not only intense battles but also deep dives into the internal strife among the Zenin clan and the psychological turmoil facing Yuji. The Culling Game arc, described as a battle royale orchestrated by Kenjaku, will introduce a host of new and more powerful sorcerers, making Tokyo the stage for a no-holds-barred tournament where no character is truly safe. As ComicBook.com puts it, "It’s shaping up to be another exciting outing of the anime, and its weekly releases should keep it dominating the conversation for the rest of the Winter 2026 season."
Fans can also rest easy knowing that the core creative team from Season 2 is back for this new chapter. Director Shota Goshozono returns to helm the project, with Hiroshi Seko once again handling the series composition—a crucial role given the complex, rule-heavy nature of the Culling Game arc. This continuity behind the scenes is expected to ensure the same high-quality storytelling and animation that made previous seasons so beloved.
While the Culling Game arc will not commence until episode 6, the initial episodes are set to deliver plenty of action and emotional stakes. The struggle for survival, shifting allegiances, and the introduction of new threats promise to keep even longtime manga readers on the edge of their seats. As ComicBook.com notes, "The trailer focuses on a looming confrontation between Itadori and Yuta, as well as Megumi demanding Itadori’s power—and those are just a few intriguing teases to tune in for."
For those keeping track, here’s a snapshot of the release schedule for the first cour: after the double premiere on January 8, subsequent episodes will air weekly, with the mid-season finale (episode 13) set for March 26, 2026. The Culling Game, which adapts an astonishing 63 chapters of the manga, ensures that the stakes remain sky-high throughout both cours.
With the world premiere just hours away, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is poised to be the standout anime of the Winter 2026 season. Its blend of high-octane action, intricate character dynamics, and unpredictable twists guarantees that fans old and new will have plenty to discuss in the weeks ahead. Whether you’re tuning in for the first time or returning after years of speculation, there’s never been a better moment to join the conversation and witness the next chapter in Yuji Itadori’s journey.
