‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Season 3 Release Date, Time, Where to Watch and Preview
‘The Apothecary Diaries’ returns with its third season on October 2, 2026, after the exact date was confirmed at a special event. The season will run on Nippon TV’s Friday Anime Night slot in Japan. International viewers will not have to wait long to follow along.
For anyone planning a viewing schedule, the details are now largely settled. The new episodes arrive on a split cour structure, with a theatrical film landing in between. Here is what is known about the ‘The Apothecary Diaries’ return, from its premiere timing to the story it is expected to tell.
The Apothecary Diaries Release Date and Weekly Schedule
The October 2 date was locked in at an August 15 event, which also brought a new trailer and an opening theme by Yorushika. Episodes are scheduled to arrive every Friday throughout the fall season. That puts the second episode on October 9, 2026.
The third season will run in two split cours, with the second premiering in April 2027. An exact premiere date for that second half has not been announced, so any specific date circulating should be treated as speculation.
A film titled ‘The Apothecary Diaries: The Deceased Empress’ Treasure’ is scheduled to open in Japan on December 11. It features a brand new story by the original novel series author Hyuganatsu. An international release date for the movie has not been announced yet.
Release Time for the Crunchyroll Premiere
Crunchyroll has confirmed that the first episode will debut on Friday, October 2 at 8:00 AM PT. That converts to roughly 11:00 AM Eastern or 3:00 PM BST.
The 8:00 AM PT debut applies to North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS and the Indian Subcontinent. Netflix will carry the series only in select regions of Asia. Viewers in other territories should check their local listings for exact timing.
The weekly rhythm then continues every Friday until the fall run concludes. Because the season is split, fans should expect a long pause after the first cour before the story resumes.
Where to Watch the Third Season
‘The Apothecary Diaries’ is available exclusively on Crunchyroll. The service holds the international streaming rights, so fans outside Japan can watch as episodes release.
The previous seasons are currently available on the same platform. That gives newcomers and returning viewers a clear runway to finish both seasons before the October 2 premiere.
The first season aired from October 2023 to March 2024 on Nippon TV and its affiliates. The second season premiered in January 2025 and also aired for two consecutive cours. Catching up now means roughly two years of story to revisit.
Story Preview, Cast and Music for the New Season
The first cour will adapt Volume 5 of the light novel, the first part of the story after Jinshi revealed his true identity. Maomao has returned to the Verdigris House to work as an apothecary, while Jinshi has accepted his royal duties as the Moon Prince. The third season expands the story beyond the rear palace, with Maomao and Jinshi encountering new mysteries as their journey takes them toward the outside world and a neighboring country.
Aoi Yuki and Takeo Otsuka return as Maomao and Jinshi. Reina Ueda joins the cast as Bai Niangniang, a pale and mysterious nymph. A new character named Shotei will be crucial to the story throughout the season, though the production has not shared details on her role.
Akinori Fudesaka directs at animation studio OLM, with Norihiro Naganuma handling series composition. Yorushika performs the opening theme, while Eve performs the ending theme “AIYOU.” With a new setting, a fresh supporting cast and a film arriving mid season, how do you think Maomao’s mystery solving will change once she leaves the palace walls behind?
