The Apothecary Diaries Returns: Season 3 in Two Cours (Oct 2026 & Apr 2027) — Plus an Original Movie by Natsu Hyuuga in Dec 2026
TOHO Animation used The Apothecary Diaries’ second anniversary to announce that season 3 will return in two parts and that an original movie is also on the way.
Season 3 details
TOHO announced that season 3 will be split into two cours. The first cour is set to premiere in October 2026, and the second cour will follow in April 2027. The new season will continue the story from where the anime left off and will follow the light novels.
For context, the second season ran for 24 episodes.
Original movie
An original movie was announced alongside season 3. The film will present a completely new story written by series creator Natsu Hyuuga. There is no official title yet. The movie is scheduled to premiere in December 2026, and, for now, the release is confirmed only in Japan.
Anniversary trailer
TOHO released a special anniversary trailer that stitches together key moments from the first and second seasons. The trailer also features the series’ opening songs and ends with the season-3 and movie announcements.
Awards and recognition
The series has gained recognition outside Japan as well. In August, The Apothecary Diaries volumes 12 and 13 won the “Best Continuing Series” category in the American Manga Awards; more details can be found in this Crunchyroll article.
What to expect next
The story follows Maomao, a young apothecary taken to work in the imperial court who, because of her curiosity, becomes involved in the dangers and hidden tragedies of the imperial city. The second season revealed several secrets involving Jinshi, the eunuch in charge of the Inner Court — including the widely discussed frog incident — and overall delivered a more intense series of events than the first season.
Consequently, season 3 should pick up with those revelations in place, letting Maomao’s investigative skills and wit drive the next arcs of the story.
