The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Release Tracker
This is a living The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 release tracker, updated as news drops: current status, the full announcement timeline, what the season will cover, English dub info and where to watch when it airs. Everything is sourced from official announcements and checked against two independent outlets — last verified June 16, 2026.
📅 Expected release
Our honest read: Expect an official exact air date and trailer around late summer 2026 (Aug-Sep), with Cour 1 most likely premiering the first week of October 2026 (anime fall-season norm, historically a 3-episode opening like S1). The December 2026 film bridges into Cour 2 in April 2027. A Crunchyroll English dub almost certainly follows the S1/S2 cadence.
🗞️ What we know — announcement timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Toho Animation officially confirmed Season 3 plus an original anime film via a '2nd Anniversary Commemorative Trailer'. |
| October 22, 2025 | Season 3 confirmed as split-cour: Cour 1 in October 2026, Cour 2 in April 2027. |
| October 22, 2025 | An original anime film with an all-new story by novel author Natsu Hyuuga, directed by Norihiro Naganuma (The Ancient Magus' Bride), announced for a December 2026 theatrical release. |
| October 22, 2025 | Production confirmed to continue at OLM with Toho Animation. |
| June 16, 2026 | As of today, no exact premiere day within October 2026 has been officially set — only the month window is confirmed. |
📖 What it will cover
Continuation of the court-intrigue / rear-palace political story. Season 2 closed Light Novel Volume 4, so Season 3 is expected to begin adapting Light Novel Volume 5 onward (the 'Locusts' / insect-plague arc, new political power plays, and Maomao drawn into fresh danger), likely covering roughly Volumes 5-6+ across the two cours.
🔚 Where Season 2 ended
Season 2's finale 'The Beginning' wrapped Light Novel Volume 4. Concubine Gyokuyou is crowned Empress after giving birth to a son, and Jinshi is forced to drop his rear-palace eunuch facade — setting up a new chapter for Maomao and Jinshi.
Keep reading: Continue the light novel from Volume 5 (Season 2 adapted through Volume 4; Vol. 5 opens with the 'Locusts' insect-plague arc and new court intrigue).
🎙️ English dub
Crunchyroll produced English dubs for both S1 and S2 (S2 dub debuted Jan 24, 2025, simuldub-style alongside the sub). Returning leads Emi Lo (Maomao) and Kaiji Tang (Jinshi). An S3 Crunchyroll English dub is highly likely on the same pattern but had not been officially confirmed as of June 2026.
📺 Where to watch
- Crunchyroll
❓ FAQ
When does Apothecary Diaries Season 3 come out?
Cour 1 in October 2026 (Fall 2026); Cour 2 in April 2027 (Spring 2027). The exact day isn't announced yet as of June 2026.
Who animates Season 3?
OLM with Toho Animation — the same studios as Seasons 1 and 2.
Where can I watch it?
Crunchyroll, which has streamed both prior seasons (sub and English dub).
Is there a movie?
Yes — an original-story theatrical film by author Natsu Hyuuga, directed by Norihiro Naganuma, set for December 2026, separate from the TV seasons.
Where did Season 2 leave off?
At the end of Light Novel Volume 4: Gyokuyou becomes Empress with a newborn son, and Jinshi drops his eunuch disguise.
What does Season 3 adapt?
Light Novel Volume 5 onward — the 'Locusts' / insect-plague arc and continued court political intrigue.
📚 Sources
Sourced from: Anime News Network — S3 & film confirmation · Crunchyroll News — release dates & film · Anime Corner — Fall 2026 / Spring 2027 cours. Last verified June 16, 2026.