The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 is now airing, and the full rollout is split into two clear parts. The first 12 episodes run weekly on Crunchyroll through December 18, 2026. The second 12 episodes are set for April 2027. Episode 3 arrived on October 16, and the season has already confirmed a total of 24 episodes. This guide lists every confirmed date, the global streaming times, the story arcs being adapted, and the movie sitting between the two cours.
Season 3 Confirmed 24 Episodes Across Two Cours
The third season carries the same total episode count as the first two seasons. A “cour” is simply a batch of episodes, usually 12 or 13, and this season uses two separate batches.
- 24 episodes total, matching Seasons 1 and 2
- Part 1: 12 episodes from October 2 to December 18, 2026
- Part 2: 12 episodes scheduled for April 2027
- Produced by TOHO animation STUDIO and OLM
- Directed by Akinori Fudesaka
- Series composition by Norihiro Naganuma
- Scripts by Yuko Kakihara, Misuzu Chiba and Hitomi Ogawa
- Aoi Yuki returns as Maomao
- Takeo Otsuka returns as Jinshi
The season adapts light novel volumes 5 and 6, moving the story beyond the Imperial Palace and into the Western Capital.
Every Confirmed Episode Date for Part 1
Part 1 follows a weekly Friday pattern in Japan. The episode numbers below include the overall anime count, which continues from the first two seasons.
- Episode 1 (overall 49): Friday, October 2, 2026 — “Locusts”
- Episode 2 (overall 50): Friday, October 9, 2026 — “The Fire-Rat Cloak”
- Episode 3 (overall 51): Friday, October 16, 2026 — “Let Them Eat Cake,” also translated as “If There Is No Bread”
- Episode 4 (overall 52): Friday, October 23, 2026
- Episode 5 (overall 53): Friday, October 30, 2026
- Episode 6 (overall 54): Friday, November 6, 2026
- Episode 7 (overall 55): Friday, November 13, 2026
- Episode 8 (overall 56): Friday, November 20, 2026
- Episode 9 (overall 57): Friday, November 27, 2026
- Episode 10 (overall 58): Friday, December 4, 2026
- Episode 11 (overall 59): Friday, December 11, 2026
- Episode 12 (overall 60): Friday, December 18, 2026
Titles for Episodes 4 through 12 have not been announced. The dates above follow the confirmed weekly Friday schedule listed by Crunchyroll, Nippon TV and multiple anime release trackers.
Part 2 Window: April 2027 and What Is Not Yet Dated
Part 2 will cover Episodes 13 through 24, which are overall Episodes 61 through 72. A specific premiere date inside April 2027 has not been announced. Individual weekly dates for those 12 episodes are also not confirmed.
- 12 episodes in Part 2
- April 2027 premiere window
- No confirmed weekly schedule yet
- A break separates the December 18, 2026 finale of Part 1 from the April 2027 return
The split means viewers get 12 weeks of new episodes in fall 2026, a break of roughly three months, and then another 12 weeks in spring 2027.
Global Release Times and Where to Watch
Japanese viewers watch first on Nippon TV’s Friday Anime Night block at 11:00 p.m. JST. The show airs across 29 affiliate stations. International streaming follows on Crunchyroll at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Fridays.
- Pacific Time (USA/Canada): 8:00 a.m. Friday
- Eastern Time (USA/Canada): 11:00 a.m. Friday
- UK: 4:00 p.m. BST Friday
- Central Europe: 5:00 p.m. CEST Friday
- India: 8:30 p.m. IST Friday
- Philippines: 11:00 p.m. PHT Friday
- Sydney, Australia: 2:00 a.m. AEDT Saturday
- New Zealand: 4:00 a.m. NZDT Saturday
Crunchyroll holds streaming rights across North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, the CIS and the Indian subcontinent. Netflix carries the season only in selected Asian regions. Netflix is not streaming Season 3 in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia or most of Europe.
The English dub began on Friday, October 16, 2026, with weekly episodes on Crunchyroll. Emi Lo voices Maomao, and Kaiji Tang voices Jinshi.
Story Arcs and New Characters in Season 3
The season opens after the Shi clan rebellion. Jinshi has publicly acknowledged his position as the Emperor’s younger brother and has started taking part in government affairs. A locust plague threatens the country’s food supply, and a mysterious figure known as the “immortal maiden” is causing unrest in the streets.
The story covers three connected arcs from the light novels:
- The Locust Plague arc, which begins with a grasshopper appearing in Maomao’s breakfast
- The Western Capital arc, which takes Maomao and Jinshi into farming villages and a new city setting
- The Family Secrets and Consort Lishu arc, which connects the political mystery to the inner palace
Reina Ueda joins the cast as Bai Niangniang, a pale, white-haired woman with red eyes who is described as a mysterious fairy. Ueda shared her thoughts on the role.
“She is a mysterious girl whose true identity and purpose are shrouded in mystery. I was nervous for my first voice recording session, but the banter between Maomao and the others and the world they inhabit are so enjoyable that before I knew it, I was listening intently as a viewer.”
Producer Takao Iwata explained how the new setting changes the show’s atmosphere.
“In season 3, a new series of events begins, involving a locust plague and a mysterious ‘immortal maiden.’ The story will also expand to a new setting, the Western Capital, in addition to the pleasure district and the imperial palace that we’ve seen so far.”
The opening theme is “Kumo o Nukekazashimo e Watashidake” by Yorushika. The ending theme is “AIYOU” by Eve.
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Movie Between the Cours: The Late Lady’s Treasure
A canon anime film titled The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure opens in Japanese theaters on December 11, 2026. The story is original and written by light novel author Natsu Hyuga. It is not a recap or a side story outside the main timeline.
Crunchyroll has acquired worldwide theatrical rights excluding Asia but including India. International theatrical dates are planned for 2027. The film arrives one week before the Part 1 finale on December 18, 2026, giving fans a bridge between the two cours.
Home Video and Production Notes
Japanese Blu-ray volumes for Season 3 are scheduled in four releases:
- Volume 1: February 17, 2027
- Volume 2: April 21, 2027
- Volume 3: August 18, 2027
- Volume 4: October 20, 2027
Each volume covers a block of episodes from the 24-episode season. The production team remains the same core group behind Seasons 1 and 2, with TOHO animation STUDIO and OLM handling animation.
Episode 3 is streaming now on Crunchyroll. Episode 4 arrives on Friday, October 23, 2026. Part 2 episode dates remain unannounced beyond the April 2027 window.
VvipTimes keeps the full rollout map for every major anime season in one place.
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