What's in this guide
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 adapted the Culling Game, ran the shortest season in the show's history, and ended with an announcement nobody expected. All twelve episodes are available now. Here is where to watch them and what happens next.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Schedule
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, subtitled The Culling Game Part 1, premiered on January 8, 2026 with the first two episodes as a one-hour special, airing on the Super Animeism TURBO block on MBS, TBS and affiliates.
It ran weekly through to March 26, when the twelfth and final episode aired as an extended 27-minute instalment.
At twelve episodes it is comfortably the shortest season of the series. Season 1 ran 24 episodes and Season 2 ran 23, split into a five-episode opening and an eighteen-episode second half.
What the Culling Game Is
The season picks up directly after the Shibuya Incident. Kenjaku sets in motion a lethal nationwide tournament: sorcerers are forced to compete, accumulating points, with rules imposed on them and no clean way out.
For Yuji and his team the stakes are specific — winning is the route to freeing Satoru Gojo from his prison. The season delivers domain expansions, four-way battles and a large cast of new players, with Yuta Okkotsu's return among the most anticipated elements going in.
Who Made Season 3
MAPPA returns, with almost the entire core team intact:
- Shōta Goshozono directs, returning from Hidden Inventory / Premature Death and Ranking of Kings
- Hiroshi Seko wrote and oversaw the scripts, having also worked on Ajin and Dandadan
- Yosuke Yajima and Hiromi Niwa on character design, moving up from animation direction
- Yoshimasa Terui composing
Season 4 Is Already Confirmed
This is the part worth knowing. When the finale aired on March 26, 2026, TOHO Animation announced that the rest of the Culling Game would not arrive as a second half of Season 3 as expected — it has been promoted to a full Season 4.
Titled The Culling Game Part 2, or Death Painting Wander Part 2, it is officially in production at MAPPA. No release date has been announced.
The distinction matters for timing. Breaks between cours usually run a few months; breaks between seasons run considerably longer. Reporting has suggested Jujutsu Kaisen may not return until January 2027, partly because MBS and TBS may have their anime slots booked for the rest of 2026. A teaser video arrived in June.
Twelve episodes, then a finale that announced the rest of the arc had been promoted to a whole new season. The wait just got longer.
How It Was Received
Anticipation was enormous going in — the trailer response was dominated by words like peak and legendary. The reality has been more divided.
Shibuya set a very high bar, and the Culling Game is the arc where the manga either gained readers or lost them. There has also been ongoing discussion about MAPPA's production workload across its slate, which has coloured how some viewers received the season.
If you are coming to it fresh, go in expecting a structurally different show from Season 2 rather than a straight escalation.
Where to Watch Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3
Crunchyroll streamed Season 3 worldwide, excluding Asia, weekly alongside the Japanese broadcast. All three seasons plus the film Jujutsu Kaisen 0 are on the platform with a standard subscription, subbed and dubbed.
One thing to watch: it is not yet confirmed whether Season 4 will continue to simulcast on Crunchyroll, given the platform's exclusive arrangement with Netflix. That is unresolved.
Do You Need to Watch Everything First?
Yes, and specifically the Shibuya Incident. The Culling Game is a direct consequence of how Season 2 ended, and starting here would make very little sense.
The compilation film Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution also covers material from this stretch, which is worth factoring into your viewing order.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 FAQ
When did Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 air?
January 8 to March 26, 2026. It opened with a one-hour special and closed with an extended 27-minute finale, running 12 episodes in total.
Where can I watch Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3?
Crunchyroll, which streamed it worldwide excluding Asia. All seasons and the film Jujutsu Kaisen 0 are available with a subscription.
How many episodes is Season 3?
Twelve, making it the shortest season of the series. Season 1 had 24 and Season 2 had 23.
Is Jujutsu Kaisen Season 4 confirmed?
Yes. TOHO Animation announced it on March 26, 2026, immediately after the Season 3 finale. It is titled The Culling Game Part 2 and is in production at MAPPA.
When does Season 4 come out?
No date announced. Reporting suggests January 2027 at the earliest, partly because broadcast slots may be full for the rest of 2026.
Why is the rest of the arc a new season rather than Part 2?
TOHO Animation changed the plan. It was expected to be the second half of Season 3, but was promoted to a full fourth season, which typically means a longer gap.
Do I need to watch Season 2 first?
Yes. The Culling Game follows directly from the Shibuya Incident and will not make sense without it.
For more from MAPPA, see our guides to Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution and Chainsaw Man Season 2.
