‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Season 3 Release Date, Time, Trailer and Where to Watch
Court intrigue fans can finally stop counting down the days. The wait for the next chapter of ‘The Apothecary Diaries‘ is almost over, and the third season of the anime is now just a day away from its debut. After a long stretch of rumors and speculation, the schedule is locked in.
Here is everything you need to know about the third season release date, the airtime, how to stream it and what the latest trailer reveals. Whether you are a longtime follower of Maomao’s palace mysteries or a newcomer catching up, this guide covers the essentials.
The Release Date for the Third Season
The new season is set to premiere on October 2, 2026, and it arrived alongside a fresh trailer that takes Maomao and Jinshi beyond the familiar surroundings of the imperial palace. That makes it one of the most talked about launches of the fall anime lineup.
The season will air as a split cour, with the first half running this fall before the second cour picks up in April 2027. In other words, fans will get a steady run of episodes now, then a short break before the story continues.
The structure was first announced at a special second anniversary event last October. The long lead time gave the production team room to build anticipation, and it shows in how polished the promotional material looks.
The previous season ran from January 10 to July 4, 2025, so viewers have been waiting well over a year for Maomao’s return.
Release Time and Airtime Details
The third season will air on October 2 at 11 p.m. in Japan, which is the original broadcast slot that everything else follows. Fans in other time zones will need to convert that to their own local clock.
There is one caveat worth knowing. The official notice warns that the broadcast time can change, and the exact streaming clock time on Crunchyroll was still listed as to be announced. It is worth checking the service directly before you settle in on premiere night.
The episode count for the season has not been announced either, and neither has an individual episode calendar. That means nobody can say yet how many weeks the first half will run before the break.
Where to Watch?
The streaming answer is simple. Crunchyroll will stream episodes worldwide as they air. The service has confirmed it will carry the season in North America and other international territories as part of its fall lineup.
Anyone behind on the series has options. The first two seasons, totaling 48 episodes, are both available to watch on Crunchyroll. The platform also offers an English dub for the earlier seasons.
Dub fans should temper expectations for premiere night. The English dub date for the new season has not been announced, and there is no promise of a same day release.
If you prefer the books, J-Novel Club publishes the official English digital light novels and offers a preview on its series page. Newcomers should start with the first season, then the second, before jumping into the new episodes.
A Preview of What Comes Next
The cast and crew are mostly familiar faces. Aoi Yuki and Takeo Otsuka are returning as Maomao and Jinshi, and Akinori Fudesaka is back as director at studio OLM, with Wataru Nakagawa serving as assistant director. Toho Animation Studio, which co-produced the previous two seasons, is not involved this time.
There is fresh talent too. Reina Ueda has joined the cast as Bai Niangniang, a mysterious immortal maiden who has recently become the subject of rumors. The trailer also previews the opening theme from the band Yorushika.
The franchise is also expanding beyond television. An original anime film titled ‘The Apothecary Diaries: The Deceased Empress’ Treasure’ is set to premiere in Japan on December 11, 2026, and it is positioned as canon, taking place between the events of the second and third seasons. An international theatrical release has not been announced yet.
With a new season, a canon film and a fresh mystery woman all arriving within months of each other, the palace has never felt so crowded with secrets. So which will pull Maomao in deeper, the rumors swirling around Bai Niangniang or Jinshi’s world beyond the palace walls, and who do you think is hiding the biggest secret?
