After more than four years of waiting, HBO has finally announced when fans will see new episodes of Euphoria. The hit show’s third season will premiere in April 2026. This update came with a major reveal: the new season will use a five-year time jump, moving the characters’ lives beyond high school. Creator Sam Levinson shared these details and some surprising spoilers about where Rue, Cassie, Nate, and the rest of the group have ended up.
HBO Announces the Long-Awaited Premiere Month
HBO confirmed the April 2026 release window for Euphoria on December 3, 2025, on the network’s social media channels. While a specific date has not been set, the news gives fans a clear timeline for the show’s return. The upcoming season will have eight episodes.
The wait for this new season has been unusually long. Season 2 concluded in February 2022, meaning there will be over a four-year gap between seasons. The show’s creator, Sam Levinson, and HBO’s Head of Drama, Francesca Orsi, have both hinted that this third season is expected to be the show’s last.
“I feel strongly this is our best season yet,” said series creator Sam Levinson.
A Five-Year Leap: Where the Characters Are Now
To account for the real-world time that has passed, the story will jump forward five years. The characters are now in their early twenties, navigating life after school.
- Rue Bennett (Zendaya): The season finds Rue in a dangerous situation. She is in Mexico, trying to find ways to pay off a debt to the drug dealer Laurie, played by Martha Kelly.
- Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney) & Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi): In a major plot development, Cassie and Nate are engaged and living together in the suburbs. Levinson directly confirmed their storyline, stating, “Cassie and Nate do in fact get married. I’m confirming it”. He promised the wedding will be “an unforgettable night”.
- Jules Vaughn (Hunter Schafer): Jules is now in art school, pursuing painting but struggling with the pressures of building a career.
- Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie): Maddy is working in Hollywood at a talent agency while managing her own personal projects.
- Lexi Howard (Maude Apatow): Lexi is working as an assistant to a showrunner, a role that will be played by special guest star Sharon Stone.
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Who Is Returning and Who Is New for Season 3?
The core cast is set to return for the new season. This includes Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, and Maude Apatow. Other returning actors include Eric Dane (Cal Jacobs), Colman Domingo (Ali Muhammad) as a guest star, Dominic Fike (Elliot), and Chloe Cherry (Faye), who has been promoted to a series regular.
The season will also introduce many new faces. Musician Rosalía, former NFL star Marshawn Lynch, and actor Kadeem Hardison are among the new cast members. A larger list of additions includes Natasha Lyonne, Danielle Deadwyler, Eli Roth, and Sam Trammell.
Several familiar characters will not be returning. Barbie Ferreira, who played Kat Hernandez, left the series after Season 2. Storm Reid, who played Rue’s sister Gia, and Austin Abrams (Ethan) are also not coming back. The show will also move forward without Angus Cloud, the actor who played the beloved Fezco, who died in July 2023.
What to Expect from the New Season
Sam Levinson has described the new season as being about life “out of the safety net of school.” He explained that with the characters now in their twenties, the stakes are higher because the consequences of their actions are more real. The production for the eight-episode season began in February 2025 and officially wrapped in November 2025.
In a notable behind-the-scenes addition, legendary composer Hans Zimmer has joined Labrinth to create the score for Season 3.
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