The highly anticipated “Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3: The Culling Game Part 1” is officially set to premiere on January 8, 2026, in Japan, with Crunchyroll streaming the new season globally on the same day. International viewers in some regions will be able to watch it as early as January 7, 2026, due to time zone differences. This marks the return of the popular shonen anime to screens after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, picking up directly after the devastating events of the Shibuya Incident.
The Culling Game Arc: A Deadly Battle Royale Unfolds
The third season of Jujutsu Kaisen will primarily adapt the manga’s “Culling Game Arc,” a brutal and complex battle royale orchestrated by the villainous Kenjaku. This arc is a critical turning point for the series, encompassing chapters 159-221 of the manga.
Following the catastrophic Shibuya Incident, Kenjaku, who has taken over Suguru Geto’s body, initiates the Culling Game. This deadly ritual forces newly awakened sorcerers and existing jujutsu practitioners into a fight to the death across various colonies in Japan. The primary objectives for Yuji Itadori and his allies are to save Megumi Fushiguro’s sister, Tsumiki Fushiguro, who has been forced into the game, and to find a way to free the immensely powerful Satoru Gojo from the Prison Realm, where he was sealed during the Shibuya Incident.
The Culling Game is designed by Kenjaku to optimize cursed energy and push humanity’s evolution, leading to some of the most intense and unpredictable battles in the series. Fans can expect new alliances, shocking betrayals, and high-stakes confrontations that will deeply impact the trajectory of all characters involved.
Production Details and Creative Team
MAPPA Studios, renowned for its work on previous seasons of Jujutsu Kaisen, is returning to animate “The Culling Game Part 1”. Shōta Goshozono is set to direct the season, with Yosuke Yajima and Hiromi Niwa returning as character designers. Yoshimasa Terui is also returning as the composer for the season’s score. The animation studio has teased that the battle sequences in Season 3 will be on a “whole different level,” hinting at ambitious and visually stunning action.
“Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution” Film Offers an Early Glimpse
Ahead of the full season premiere, a compilation film titled “Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution – Shibuya Incident x The Culling Game Begins” debuted in Japanese theaters on November 7, 2025. This special theatrical release serves as a recap of the devastating Shibuya Incident arc and includes the first two episodes of “The Culling Game Part 1,” offering fans an early entry point into the new storyline.
GKIDS will bring “Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution” to North American theaters on December 5, 2025, with an exclusive IMAX fan event screening scheduled for December 3rd. The film will be available in both original Japanese with subtitles and an English dubbed version.
International Streaming and Release Schedule
Crunchyroll has confirmed that it will exclusively stream “Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3: The Culling Game Part 1” worldwide, excluding Asia, with new episodes becoming available on the same day as their Japanese broadcast. While the Japanese broadcast begins on January 8, 2026, at 12:26 AM JST, international viewers in territories like the Pacific Time Zone can expect to see the premiere on January 7, 2026, at approximately 7:30 AM PT (10:30 AM ET). The season is expected to air over two consecutive cours.
Confirmed Voice Cast for Season 3
The main voice cast members are confirmed to return for “The Culling Game Part 1,” including Junya Enoki as Yuji Itadori, Yūma Uchida as Megumi Fushiguro, Daisuke Namikawa as Choso, and Megumi Ogata as Yuta Okkotsu. Additionally, Kōji Yusa has been revealed as the voice of Naoya Zen’in, a character who made a surprise appearance at a recent stage greeting event for the compilation film. Yuta Okkotsu, the protagonist of Jujutsu Kaisen 0, will play a significant role in the upcoming arc, as he has been assigned as Yuji Itadori’s executioner by the higher-ups of the jujutsu world.
