Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is taking a short break this week, but MAPPA is giving fans something to watch while they wait. Instead of a brand new episode on February 19, 2026, the anime is airing a limited-time Culling Game recap special that covers everything that happened in the first seven episodes. The special also helps viewers understand the complicated rules of the deadly tournament before the story moves forward.
The Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Episode 8 release date has moved to February 26, 2026, which means this Thursday’s timeslot will feature a re-edited version of the Perfect Preparation arc and other key moments from the season so far . This decision gives the production team at MAPPA extra time to maintain the high animation quality fans expect from the Culling Game’s upcoming battles .
What Is the Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Culling Game Recap Special?
The special episode, sometimes called Episode 7.5 by fans, is a compilation of footage from the first seven episodes of Season 3 . It focuses on the events leading up to the Culling Game, including the Perfect Preparation arc where Yuji and his friends get ready to enter the deadly competition .
The recap serves as a bridge between the setup episodes and the actual start of the Culling Game, which begins in full with Episode 8 . For viewers who might feel confused about the complex rules of the game, this special offers a chance to review everything before the action heats up.
Unlike regular episodes that air at 12:26 a.m. JST, this recap special will broadcast at 2 a.m. JST on February 20, 2026 (still February 19 for international viewers depending on their time zone) . The time change happens because of Winter Olympics coverage on Japanese television .
Why the Culling Game Recap Special Is Airing Now
The decision to air a recap special comes down to two main reasons. First, MAPPA wants to keep the animation quality consistent throughout the season. The Culling Game arc contains some of the most intense battles in the entire Jujutsu Kaisen story, and the production team needs extra time to get everything right .
Second, the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are affecting TV schedules across Japan. Olympic programming pushed the recap special to a later timeslot, and the same Olympic coverage caused the one-week delay for Episode 8 . The Olympics end on February 22, 2026, so future episodes should return to their regular schedule .
The official Jujutsu Kaisen X account confirmed these changes, letting fans know that the broadcast timing shifted back by 94 minutes just for this week .
What the Culling Game Recap Special Covers
The special looks back at the major story beats from Season 3 so far. Here is what viewers can expect to see in the recap:
Kenjaku’s True Plan Revealed
The recap covers how Kenjaku, the ancient sorcerer possessing Suguru Geto’s body, started the Culling Game to force humanity to evolve . His goal is to merge all of Japan’s people with Master Tengen, creating a massive cursed energy event . The Shibuya Incident was just the first step in this bigger plan .
The Culling Game Rules Explained
One of the most helpful parts of the recap special is the breakdown of the Culling Game rules. These rules flashed on screen quickly during earlier episodes, and many viewers had trouble reading them all . The special takes time to explain each rule clearly:
- Players must pick a colony to join within 19 days of awakening their cursed technique
- Breaking this rule means losing your cursed technique forever
- Non-players who enter a colony become players automatically
- Killing other players earns points: 5 points for sorcerers and cursed spirits, 1 point for non-sorcerers
- Spending 100 points lets players add a new rule to the game
- Not scoring any points for 19 days means losing your technique
The recap also reminds viewers that players can negotiate with the game master, Kogane, to change the rules as long as the changes don’t permanently affect the game .
The Mission to Save Gojo
Satoru Gojo remains sealed inside the Prison Realm, and freeing him is the top priority for Yuji and his friends . The recap explains that they need help from Hana Kurusu, a player who calls herself The Angel . Her technique can extinguish any cursed technique, which makes her the only hope for opening the Prison Realm .
The Group’s Strategy Moving Forward
The special also reviews how the main characters split up to handle different tasks :
- Yuta Okkotsu enters the Culling Game alone to gather information
- Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro look for third-year student Kinji Hakari to join their team
- Maki Zen’in goes back to the Zen’in estate to collect cursed tools
- Yuki Tsukumo and Choso stay behind to guard Master Tengen
Their main goal is to earn enough points to add a new rule that lets unwilling players, including Megumi’s sister Tsumiki, leave the game safely .
How the Schedule Change Affects Streaming Services
The time change for the recap special affects online streaming too. Crunchyroll usually adds new episodes about an hour after they air in Japan . Since the Japanese broadcast moved to 2 a.m. JST, international viewers will see the recap special later than usual .
Crunchyroll is streaming Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 in most regions outside Asia . Netflix only has the new season in selected Asian territories . Fans in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India should check Crunchyroll for the latest episodes .
If Olympic coverage runs longer than expected, the recap special could face additional delays . Streaming platforms will adjust their release times to match the Japanese broadcast .
What Happened in Episode 7 Before the Recap
Episode 7 aired on February 12, 2026 (February 13 in Japan) and set up the situation heading into the recap . The episode focused on Yuji and Megumi searching for Hiromi Higuruma while dealing with traps set by other Culling Game participants . The episode ended on a cliffhanger that left fans eager for more .
The recap special gives viewers time to process everything that happened in Episode 7 and get ready for the action coming in Episode 8 .
When Episode 8 Finally Arrives
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Episode 8 releases on February 26, 2026 (February 27 in Japan) . The episode will likely return to the regular 12:26 a.m. JST timeslot since the Olympics end on February 22 .
Episode 8 begins Phase 2 of the Culling Game, where players fully enter the competition and the real battles start . Yuji and Megumi continue their search for Higuruma while facing off against ancient sorcerers who woke up inside new vessels .
The remaining episodes of Season 3, Part 1 will air weekly after that:
- Episodes 9 through 12: March 5 to March 26, 2026
Part 2 of the Culling Game arc is expected later in 2026, though MAPPA has not announced an exact date yet .
Why the Culling Game Arc Matters
The Culling Game is the longest arc in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga, and it sets up the final battle in Shinjuku . The arc introduces many new characters, including ancient sorcerers from different time periods who now walk the earth again .
For Yuji, this arc means fighting without Gojo’s protection for the first time. He and his classmates must rely on each other and new allies like Choso and Yuki Tsukumo . The arc also explores what happens when over a thousand sorcerers are forced to fight each other across Japan .
The rules of the game keep changing as players add new conditions using their 100-point rewards . This makes the Culling Game unpredictable and dangerous for everyone involved .
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Where to Watch Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3: The Culling Game Part 1 streams on Crunchyroll in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and most other regions worldwide . New episodes arrive weekly, usually within an hour of the Japanese broadcast .
Viewers in India can watch past seasons on JioHotstar while waiting for new episodes to arrive on streaming platforms .
The recap special titled Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3: Perfect Preparation Recap airs on Japanese television on February 20 at 2 a.m. JST, which translates to:
- February 19, 2026 in the Americas
- February 19-20, 2026 depending on your time zone
Crunchyroll adds the episode shortly after the Japanese broadcast ends .
Stay connected with VvipTimes for the latest updates on Jujutsu Kaisen and all your favorite anime series as the Culling Game arc continues to unfold.
