The dust from the Shibuya Incident has settled, but the chaos is just beginning. Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is officially on the horizon, and fans are equal parts excited and terrified for what’s coming. If you thought Shibuya was intense, you haven’t seen anything yet.
After Season 2 broke the internet (and our hearts) with its devastating conclusion, MAPPA confirmed they’re not done with Gege Akutami’s dark masterpiece. But when exactly is it coming? What will it cover? And how will anime-only viewers handle what manga readers have been processing for years?
Here’s everything we know about Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3.
Official Confirmation Status
Yes, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is officially confirmed.
The announcement came in late 2024, following Season 2’s conclusion, with a teaser visual that sent fans into a frenzy. MAPPA remains attached as the animation studio, though there have been some reported production adjustments following the intense schedules that plagued Season 2.
What We Know For Certain:
- Season 3 is in production at MAPPA
- The staff roster includes returning key animators
- A Fall 2026 release window has been announced
- The season will cover the Culling Game arc
Release Window: When Is It Coming?
Expected Release: October/November 2026 (Fall Season)
After nearly two years of waiting following Season 2’s conclusion, JJK Season 3 is targeting the Fall 2026 anime season. This extended production timeline is actually encouraging—it suggests MAPPA is taking the time needed to deliver the quality that the source material deserves.
Why the Wait?
Season 2’s production was notoriously troubled, with animators publicly discussing difficult conditions. The extended timeline for Season 3 appears to be MAPPA addressing these concerns:
- More time for pre-production planning
- Better scheduling for key animation staff
- Opportunity to implement production pipeline improvements
- Avoiding the crunch that affected Season 2’s later episodes
The result should be consistent quality throughout the season rather than the peaks and valleys that characterized parts of Season 2.
What Arcs Will Season 3 Cover?
Primary Arc: Culling Game (Deadly Death Game)
Season 3 will adapt the Culling Game arc, JJK’s most ambitious and controversial storyline. Following Kenjaku’s activation of thousands of new sorcerers and the merger of the living world with cursed realms, the Culling Game is essentially a battle royale with points, territories, and ever-shifting rules.
What to Expect:
The Culling Game fundamentally changes JJK’s structure. Instead of focused narrative arcs, it becomes an interconnected web of battles across multiple colonies, with the main cast split up and facing their own challenges:
- Yuji Itadori: Still processing Shibuya’s events, now fighting to save Megumi’s sister
- Megumi Fushiguro: Venturing into the games to find Tsumiki
- Maki Zenin: Transformed after Shibuya, dealing with her clan
- Yuta Okkotsu: Operating as an executioner with his own mission
- Hakari Kinji: A new character who becomes instantly beloved
- Panda, Nobara’s status, and more
Narrative Structure:
Unlike previous arcs, the Culling Game follows multiple storylines simultaneously. This presents an adaptation challenge—MAPPA will need to decide how to structure episodes to maintain momentum while following different characters across different locations.
Based on chapter counts and pacing, Season 3 could cover:
- Opening of the Culling Game
- Multiple colony battles
- Introduction of new players and ancient sorcerers
- Key revelations about Kenjaku’s plan
- The beginning of the endgame setup
Episodes: Expected 24-25 episodes, potentially split-cour
New Characters to Watch
The Culling Game introduces some of JJK’s most memorable characters:
Hajime Kashimo
A 400-year-old sorcerer who made a binding vow to fight Sukuna in the modern era. Kashimo is obsessed with battling the strongest and brings a terrifying electrical cursed technique. His design alone has fans hyped—imagine Thor meets a battle-crazed samurai.
Hiromi Higuruma
A former defense attorney whose disillusionment with the justice system led to his awakening as a sorcerer. His cursed technique manifests as a literal courtroom where he puts opponents on trial. Higuruma quickly became a fan favorite in the manga for his moral complexity and compelling backstory.
Kinji Hakari
Third-year student at Jujutsu High who was suspended before the main series. Hakari’s cursed technique is infamously difficult to explain—it’s essentially a pachinko-based Domain Expansion where his power scales with RNG. Yes, really. And it somehow works brilliantly.
Charles Bernard
A French manga artist whose cursed technique lets him see the immediate future through paneling. Meta, creative, and a glimpse of how varied the Culling Game’s players are.
Yorozu
An ancient sorcerer with a complicated history and a connection to Sukuna. Her abilities and role become increasingly significant as the arc progresses.
What Manga Readers Expect
Without major spoilers, here’s what manga readers are preparing anime-only viewers for:
The Tone Shifts Further
If Shibuya was dark, the Culling Game is darker. Characters die, alliances shift, and the moral ambiguity that Gege Akutami is known for reaches new heights. JJK has always been willing to go places other shonen avoid, and this arc doubles down on that commitment.
The Power System Expands
Domain Expansions become more common, and we see increasingly creative applications of cursed energy. The fights in the Culling Game push the boundaries of what JJK’s combat system can do.
The Narrative Becomes More Complex
Multiple perspectives, philosophical discussions about the nature of sorcery and humanity, and revelations about the series’ cosmology. The Culling Game is where JJK becomes something more than a typical shonen.
Controversial Decisions
Gege Akutami makes choices that divided the manga fandom significantly. Some of these are coming in Season 3’s coverage area, though the most controversial moments are likely Season 4 material.
Production Quality Expectations
Animation:
Season 2’s highs (Shibuya battles, Gojo sequences) were among the best animation in TV anime history. The lows (some middle episodes) showed production strain. With extra development time, Season 3 should maintain more consistent quality.
Early production materials suggest MAPPA is implementing:
- Better digital effects pipeline
- More consistent character designs throughout
- Enhanced backgrounds for the varied Culling Game colonies
Music:
Hiroaki Tsutsumi and Yoshimasa Terui return for the soundtrack, which is excellent news. JJK’s OST has been consistently phenomenal, and the Culling Game’s varied settings should allow for diverse musical styles.
Opening/Ending:
No announcements yet, but King Gnu, Tatsuya Kitani, and other previous artists remain possibilities. The opening for Season 2’s Shibuya arc set a high bar.
Where to Watch
Streaming: Crunchyroll (confirmed)
JJK has been a Crunchyroll exclusive since Season 1, and that partnership continues. Expect simultaneous release with Japan (simulcast) as has been standard.
Catch-Up:
- Season 1: 24 episodes → Crunchyroll
- Season 2: 23 episodes → Crunchyroll
- Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (Movie): Available on Crunchyroll
For the optimal viewing experience, watch in release order: Season 1 → JJK 0 (optional but recommended before Season 2) → Season 2 → Season 3.
The Bigger Picture: How Much Is Left?
As of February 2026, the Jujutsu Kaisen manga is complete, having concluded in late 2024. This is both good and bad news:
Good News:
- MAPPA can plan the full adaptation with the complete source material
- No risk of catching up to an ongoing manga
- Animation team knows exactly where everything is headed
Potential Concerns:
- The manga’s ending was divisive among fans
- Pacing decisions will affect how ending content is received
- Multiple seasons still needed to complete the adaptation
Estimated Remaining Seasons:
- Season 3: Culling Game (partial)
- Season 4: Culling Game (completion) + Shinjuku Showdown (beginning)
- Season 5: Shinjuku Showdown + Final Arc + Conclusion
We’re looking at approximately 3 more seasons to complete the series, with a potential finish around 2029-2030.
Community Temperature
The JJK fandom is… complicated right now. The manga’s conclusion left readers with strong feelings, and the prospect of seeing those events animated is generating mixed emotions:
- Excited: For the incredible fights and character moments to come
- Nervous: About how certain controversial decisions will be received
- Curious: Whether the anime might adjust anything based on manga reception
- Ready: To experience the emotional devastation in animated form
Regardless of feelings about the ending, there’s consensus that the journey—particularly the Culling Game’s best moments—is worth watching.
What We’re Most Excited About
Hakari’s Domain Expansion – Seeing how MAPPA animates a literal pachinko gambling session as a combat ability is going to be wild.
Higuruma’s Courtroom – The visual potential for a cursed technique that manifests as a trial is immense.
Kashimo vs. Anyone – Lightning-based combat animated by MAPPA? Yes please.
The Maki Zenin content – What happens to Maki after Shibuya is some of the manga’s most intense material.
Yuta’s Full Power – After JJK 0, seeing Yuta truly let loose in the main series.
Conclusion
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated anime releases of 2026. Whether you’re a manga reader preparing for the adaptation or an anime-only viewer going in blind, this season promises to deliver the dark, complex, action-packed storytelling that made JJK a phenomenon.
Fall 2026 can’t come soon enough. The Culling Game is about to begin.
For now, the best preparation is rewatching Seasons 1-2 and JJK 0 to refresh yourself on the details. Trust us—you’ll want every piece of context when Season 3 drops.
Related: Jujutsu Kaisen Watch Order
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