The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Release Schedule & Episodes

The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 premiered on October 2, 2026 and new episodes come out every Friday on Crunchyroll, the same day as the Japanese broadcast. It's a split-cour season: the first half runs through mid-December 2026, and the second half returns in April 2027. Episode 6 is due on Friday, November 6.

Season 3 episode release schedule

Dates are from Final Weapon's schedule (updated October 30) and are subject to change. If an episode skips a week for a TV special, everything after it moves.

What time?

Friday daytime in the Americas and Friday afternoon in Europe, but published times disagree: one pre-season schedule listed 10:00 a.m. EDT, while a later one lists 11:00 a.m. Eastern. US Daylight Saving Time also ended on November 1, which shifts the clock time by an hour. Check Crunchyroll's own simulcast calendar for your region rather than trusting any single conversion.

How many episodes does Season 3 have?

Here is what is and isn't confirmed:

• Confirmed: Season 3 is a split two-cour broadcast. The first cour started October 2, 2026 and the second is scheduled for April 2027.
• Widely listed, not officially sourced: 24 episodes, split 12 + 12. Wikipedia's episode list and Final Weapon both give that shape, but neither links to a production-committee announcement, and PrimeTime Anime's September check found no announced count.

Our view: 24 is very likely. Seasons 1 and 2 were both 24 episodes, and 12 + 12 is the normal shape of a split-cour season. We'll mark it confirmed when the official site or Crunchyroll states it.

The Apothecary Diaries watch order

There's no filler and no side material to skip. It's a straight line from Season 1, episode 1. Season 2 picks up directly from Season 1, so don't jump in at Season 3 unless you've read the light novels.

Where to watch

Seasons 1 and 2 are also on Crunchyroll. Other services carry the series in some countries, so check your local catalogue if you don't have Crunchyroll.

Staff and cast

Watching from Japan

In Japan the show airs in NTV's "Friday Anime Night" block, carried by NTV and 29 affiliate stations, late on Friday night. Crunchyroll's international release lands the same Friday, so viewers abroad aren't waiting days behind Japan the way they were with many shows a few years ago. If you're in Japan, Japanese streaming services carry it after broadcast; check which one your subscription covers, since the line-up differs from the international one.

A small tip from living here: Japanese TV late-night slots occasionally shift for sports or year-end specials. If an episode "goes missing" in December, check the official site's broadcast notices before assuming a delay on Crunchyroll's side.

There's a movie too

When Season 3 was announced in October 2025, a theatrical film was announced alongside it. It's a separate release for Japanese cinemas, not the second half of Season 3. International release plans haven't been confirmed as far as we can find.

Do you need to rewatch before Season 3?

If it has been a while, a quick catch-up helps. Season 2 ended with several court threads still open. Our suggestion (opinion): rewatch the last four episodes of Season 2 rather than the whole thing. That's enough to remember who is scheming against whom.

Spoiler-free promise: we're not covering plot here. If you want spoilers, the light novels are far ahead of the anime.

What to watch while you wait for April

Opinion picks for the gap between December and April, chosen for the same mix of mystery, court politics and slow-burn romance:

Why it's our pick of the season

This is opinion. The Apothecary Diaries is the rare show that's equally good as a mystery-of-the-week and as a slow political drama, and OLM's production has stayed consistent across three seasons. In a season dominated by giant franchises, it's the one we look forward to most on Friday.

See how it compares to everything else in our Fall 2026 anime season guide.