JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 3 Release Date & Time: The Culling Game Begins January 8, 2026

The most brutal arc in JUJUTSU KAISEN is finally here.

After years of buildup, JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 3, officially titled The Culling Game, is set to premiere in January 2026, launching the next and darkest chapter of MAPPA’s hit anime. This isn’t just a continuation — it’s a full-scale escalation where survival itself becomes the rule.

And yes, the exact release date and time are confirmed.

JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 3 Exact Release Date & Time

Here’s the information fans have been waiting for:

• Sub Release Date: January 8, 2026

• Release Time: 9:00 a.m. PT

• Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll

• Availability Regions: North America, Central & South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, Middle East, CIS, India, and Southeast Asia

Season 3 will premiere as part of the Winter 2026 anime season, making it one of the most anticipated anime launches of the year.

What Is The Culling Game Arc About?

The Culling Game marks a turning point for the entire story.

After the devastation of the Shibuya Incident, the world of Jujutsu Sorcerers is thrown into chaos. A deadly ritual created by Kenjaku forces sorcerers and civilians alike into a nation-wide battle royale where killing is mandatory and points decide survival.

Season 3 will adapt multiple major manga arcs:

• Itadori’s Extermination Arc

• Perfect Preparation Arc

• Culling Game Arc

The core objectives are clear — but nearly impossible:

• Stop Kenjaku

• Survive the game

• Free Satoru Gojo from the Prison Realm

This is no longer about training or missions.

It’s about who lives long enough to fight back.

A Darker, More Violent JUJUTSU KAISEN

If Season 2 shocked viewers, Season 3 is designed to break expectations completely.

Expect:

• High-casualty battles with permanent consequences

• New sorcerers with morally gray motivations

• Strategic combat replacing traditional power scaling

• Yuji Itadori facing the cost of survival head-on

The Culling Game removes safety nets — emotionally and narratively.

Returning Staff & Studio Confidence

Season 3 remains in experienced hands:

• Director: Shōta Goshozono

• Series Composition: Hiroshi Seko

• Character Design: Yōsuke Yajima & Hiromi Niwa

• Music: Yoshimasa Terui

• Studio: MAPPA

This is the same creative backbone that delivered the Shibuya Incident, which means viewers can expect cinematic pacing, sharp choreography, and uncompromising tone.

One-Hour Special & Pre-Release Momentum

In Japan, The Culling Game Part 1 is launching with a one-hour special, signaling how important this arc is to the

franchise. A compilation film combining the Shibuya Incident recap with early Culling Game episodes already premiered in Japanese theaters in late 2025 — further building momentum.

Season 3 isn’t easing viewers back in.

It’s dropping them straight into chaos.

Manga Context: Why This Arc Is So Important

The original JUJUTSU KAISEN manga by Gege Akutami:

• Ran from 2018 to 2024

• Spanned 30 volumes

• Is now fully completed

That means Season 3 is firmly in late-story territory, where:

• Characters stop being protected by plot armor

• Choices have irreversible consequences

• The endgame direction becomes clear

For manga readers, this arc is where everything changes.

Where to Catch Up Before Season 3

If you’re new or need a refresher:

• JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 1 & Season 2 are streaming on Crunchyroll

• JUJUTSU KAISEN 0 (the prequel film) is also available

Season 3 directly builds on Season 2’s ending — skipping ahead is not recommended.

Why Fans Are Calling This the “Point of No Return”

The Culling Game isn’t just another arc.

It’s a system designed to destroy balance.

By turning survival into a rule and morality into a liability, JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 3 forces its characters — and viewers — to confront the cost of power.

There are no easy wins anymore. Only consequences.

Final Thoughts

JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 3: The Culling Game is shaping up to be the franchise’s most intense, ruthless, and emotionally demanding season yet.

With a confirmed January 8, 2026 premiere at 9:00 a.m. PT, global Crunchyroll streaming, and one of the manga’s most important arcs finally animated, this is not just a return — it’s a reckoning.

The game begins this winter.

And no one gets out unchanged.