The third episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is scheduled for release on Thursday, January 22, 2026. It will be available to stream on Paramount+ in the United States and other regions where the service operates. New episodes of the series follow a weekly schedule, dropping every Thursday. The show premiered on January 15, 2026, with a double-bill launch of its first two episodes.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 3 Release Schedule
For viewers around the world, the new episode will become available at midnight Eastern Time (ET) in the United States. This corresponds to 9:00 PM on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Pacific Time (PT). For international audiences, the episode will be accessible at the same moment globally on Paramount+. This weekly pattern will continue for the show’s ten-episode season, which is set to conclude on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
The release schedule for the entire first season is as follows:
- Episodes 1 & 2: Released Thursday, January 15, 2026 (out now)
- Episode 3: Thursday, January 22, 2026
- Episode 4: Thursday, January 29, 2026
- Episode 5: Thursday, February 5, 2026
- Episode 6: Thursday, February 12, 2026
- Episode 7: Thursday, February 19, 2026
- Episode 8: Thursday, February 26, 2026
- Episode 9: Thursday, March 5, 2026
- Episode 10: Thursday, March 12, 2026
How to Watch Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 3
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy streams exclusively on Paramount+. In the United States, the service offers two main subscription tiers. The Essential plan, priced at $7.99 per month or $59.99 per year, includes commercials. The Premium plan, at $12.99 per month or $119.99 per year, offers ad-free streaming. Viewers must have an active subscription to watch the new episode when it releases.
For those who have not seen the premiere, Paramount has made the first episode, “Kids These Days,” available to watch for free for a limited time on its official YouTube channel. This offer provides a way for new viewers to try the series without a subscription. For existing fans, the second episode, “Beta Test,” is currently available on Paramount+ and sets the stage for the events of the upcoming third installment.
What Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is About
This new series marks a different direction for the Star Trek franchise, structured as a coming-of-age drama set within the famous institution for training Starfleet officers. The story is set in the 32nd century, a time period first established in Star Trek: Discovery. The Federation is still recovering from a galaxy-wide catastrophe known as “The Burn,” and the series follows the first new class of cadets to enter the Academy in over 120 years.
The narrative centers on a core group of young cadets who come from diverse backgrounds across the galaxy. They are taught aboard the USS Athena, a starship that serves as both a traveling campus and a functional part of the fleet. The show’s faculty includes established Star Trek veterans and new characters, creating a bridge between the franchise’s legacy and its future. A central conflict in the early episodes involves a new character, Nus Braka, a part-Klingon, part-Tellarite antagonist played by Paul Giamatti, who has a mysterious past connection to one of the cadets.
“The school is actually not militaristic. But it is not blind to the fact that military is required,” said series co-showrunner Alex Kurtzman, addressing the show’s approach to Starfleet’s classic identity question.
The Cast of Star Trek Cadets and Teachers
The series features a large ensemble cast led by Academy Award winner Holly Hunter, who plays Captain Nahla Ake. Hunter’s character serves a dual role as the captain of the USS Athena and the Chancellor of Starfleet Academy. The main cadets are portrayed by a group of younger actors, each bringing a unique perspective to the Academy.
Sandro Rosta plays Caleb Mir, a human orphan who is reluctantly brought into Starfleet Academy by Chancellor Ake, despite a past grievance against her. Karim Diané is Jay-Den Kraag, a Klingon cadet training to be a medical officer. Kerrice Brooks portrays Sam, a Kasqian hologram who is experiencing the world for the first time. George Hawkins plays the wealthy Khionian Darem Reymi, and Bella Shepard is Genesis Lythe, a Dar-Sha cadet determined to step out of her admiral parent’s shadow.
They are guided by a faculty that includes beloved Star Trek legacy characters. Robert Picardo reprises his role as the holographic Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager, now a 900-year-old teacher at the Academy. Tig Notaro returns as engineer Jett Reno from Star Trek: Discovery, and Oded Fehr reprises his role as Admiral Charles Vance. Other notable cast members include Gina Yashere as the tough Cadet Master Lura Thok, and comedian Stephen Colbert as the voice of the Academy’s Digital Dean.
Also Read:
Early Reception and Series Context
Initial reviews for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy have been generally positive. The series holds an 88% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes based on early reviews. Critics have praised the performances of the leads, particularly the dynamic between Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti. Some reviews note the series has a different, more youth-focused tone compared to other Star Trek shows, describing it as a potential gateway for new, younger fans into the franchise.
The show’s development was a long time in the making, with various versions of a Starfleet Academy series being discussed for years. The current iteration was officially ordered by Paramount+ in March 2023. Production on the first season took place in Toronto, Canada, from August 2024 to February 2025. Notably, Paramount+ has already confirmed a second season, with production reportedly beginning in August 2025, indicating strong network confidence in the new series.
Also Read: The Art of Sarah K-Drama Release Date on Netflix, Plot Details, Cast and Trailer
