The wait for more Jujutsu Kaisen has felt endless since that gut-wrenching Shibuya Incident wrapped up. Fans everywhere have been glued to every scrap of news, hearts racing for the next chapter in Yuji Itadori’s chaotic world of curses and sorcerers. Good news finally hit during the anime’s fifth anniversary bash on August 31, 2025 – Season 3 is locked in for a January 2026 premiere. That means weekly episodes dropping fresh on Crunchyroll, same day as Japan, keeping the hype train chugging right through winter. But hold up – there’s a sneaky way to sneak a peek even sooner. A compilation flick called Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution bundles the Shibuya recap with the first two episodes of the new arc. It slams into Japanese theaters on November 7, 2025, and rolls stateside via GKIDS on December 5, complete with a one-night IMAX glow-up on December 3. If anyone’s itching to dive back in, that’s the golden ticket.
This season, dubbed The Culling Game Part 1, dives straight into the manga’s wildest stretches yet, produced by the tireless crew at MAPPA. Shota Goshozono slides back into the director’s chair, with Hiroshi Seko sharpening the scripts and a fresh composer, Yoshimasa Terui, cranking up the soundtrack intensity. Episode count? Still under wraps, but expect a meaty run – maybe 20-24 episodes – to chew through the action-packed arcs without rushing the fever-dream fights.
When Does Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Drop? Full Release Breakdown
Picture this: It’s early 2026, snow’s falling outside, and you’re bundled up for Yuji’s next nightmare. The official word points to a winter slot kickoff, likely mid-January, syncing with Crunchyroll’s global rollout (minus Asia, where local streams handle it). No exact date yet, but trailers tease explosive clashes that scream “must-watch weekly ritual.”
That Execution movie? It’s more than a cash grab – think of it as your crash course refresher. Those opening episodes spotlight Yuji’s raw anguish post-Shibuya, clashing blades with Yuta Okkotsu in a blur of cursed energy. North American fans snag it December 5, while UK crowds get November 14. Either way, it’s the appetizer before the full feast streams free-for-all.
Cast News: Who’s Bringing the Curses to Life in Season 3?
The voice lineup stays rock-solid, blending returning legends with fresh firepower to match the arc’s sprawling roster. Japanese side leads with Junya Enoki firing up Yuji Itadori, Yuma Uchida as the brooding Megumi Fushiguro, and Asami Seto channeling Nobara Kugisaki’s unyielding spirit – even if her fate hangs in the shadows from Season 2. Yuichi Nakamura drops back in as the sealed-away Satoru Gojo, his effortless cool echoing through flashbacks, while Nobunaga Shimazaki revs up Yuta Okkotsu for that brutal showdown.
English dub crew? They’re buzzing too. Adam McArthur nails Yuji’s everyman grit, Robbie Daymond broods as Megumi, and Anne Yatco spits fire for Nobara. Kaiji Tang’s Gojo drips that signature swagger, and Kayleigh McKee steps up for Yuta, promising sparks in every line reading. At New York Comic Con 2025, the squad dished on Season 3’s “world-expanding” vibes, with McArthur hyping battles “on a whole different level.” They even floated dreams of a Demon Slayer-style theatrical finale down the line – fingers crossed MAPPA makes it happen.
New blood floods in for the Culling Game’s chaos. Hiromi Higuruma (Shigeru Ushiyama JP) brings courtroom curses to the fray, while Hajime Kashimo (Atsuyuki Watanabe) unleashes thunderous fury. Kinji Hakari (Yuuki Kaji) cracks wise with gambling-fueled domain expansions, and Naoya Zen’in (Kengo Kawanishi) slithers back as Maki’s nightmare fuel. Expect Takaba’s reality-bending antics and Choso’s brotherly loyalty to Yuji rounding out the pack – a murderers’ row of talent ready to steal scenes.
| Key Returning Voices | Character | Japanese VA | English VA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuji Itadori | Protagonist unleashing Black Flash | Junya Enoki | Adam McArthur |
| Megumi Fushiguro | Shadow-summoning sorcerer | Yuma Uchida | Robbie Daymond |
| Nobara Kugisaki | Hammer-wielding hammer of justice | Asami Seto | Anne Yatco |
| Satoru Gojo | Sealed strongest sorcerer | Yuichi Nakamura | Kaiji Tang |
| Yuta Okkotsu | Executioner with Rika’s curse | Nobunaga Shimazaki | Kayleigh McKee |
| Fresh Faces | Character | Japanese VA | Role Tease |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiromi Higuruma | Deadly lawyer sorcerer | Shigeru Ushiyama | Judgment domain debuts |
| Hajime Kashimo | Lightning incarnate | Atsuyuki Watanabe | Anti-Yuji powerhouse |
| Kinji Hakari | Jackpot gambler | Yuuki Kaji | Private hell domain |
| Naoya Zen’in | Zenin clan sadist | Kengo Kawanishi | Maki’s brutal rival |
Plot Scoop: What Twists Await in the Culling Game?
Spoiler alert: This dives into manga territory, so tread light if you’re anime-only. Season 3 blasts off with the “Itadori’s Extermination Arc,” where Yuji’s public enemy No. 1 status triggers a sorcerer manhunt. Yuta steps up as his reluctant executioner, forcing a heart-pounding brawl that tests loyalties and unleashes Yuji’s inner rage. From there, the “Perfect Preparation Arc” rallies the squad – think Maki’s vengeance quest against the crumbling Zenin clan, Choso bonding as Yuji’s blood brother, and whispers of unsealing Gojo from his Prison Realm prison.
Then comes the main event: the Culling Game, a nationwide bloodbath orchestrated by the puppet-master Kenjaku to evolve cursed energy on a massive scale. Picture 100+ sorcerers – ancient heavies revived, wild cards from the shadows – duking it out in sealed colonies across Japan. Yuji, Megumi (now Sukuna’s reluctant ride), and pals jump in to rack up points, sabotage the rules, and claw toward Kenjaku’s downfall. Fights? Non-stop spectacles: Hakari’s high-roller domains, Kashimo’s electrifying rampage, Higuruma’s gavel-swinging trials that could end anyone. Maki goes full beast mode on Naoya, her cursed tool arsenal gleaming in the carnage.
Part 1 likely caps before the Shinjuku showdown, leaving Gojo’s grand return and Sukuna’s mega-evolution for later seasons – or that hoped-for finale flick. Trailers already pulse with Yuji’s despair-fueled screams and Choso-Naoya clashes, hinting at the emotional gut-punches amid the domain expansions. Gege Akutami’s blueprint wrapped the manga in 2024, so MAPPA has the full roadmap to nail those iconic beats without filler fluff.
