The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Premieres October 2: Maomao Leaves the Palace, and a Feature Film Arrives This Winter
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25.09.2026 17:48
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2 min read
The third season of the historical detective series The Apothecary Diaries premieres October 2, 2026. A second trailer released the day before confirms that the show is changing its usual closed-door procedural format: the characters will now tackle problems of national scale beyond the imperial walls. Crunchyroll will once again handle the international streaming of the new episodes.
The new season is split into two blocks with a long break between them: the fall part starts in October, and viewers will not see the story’s finale until April 2027. According to the anime’s official website, an investigation into the omens of an approaching natural disaster and rumors of a mysterious immortal woman will take Maomao first to the city streets and then into the territory of a neighboring state.
The dynamic between the main characters will also grow more complicated. Jinshi will have to openly take on the political duties of the emperor’s younger brother. His rising social status and the pressure of the court will directly affect his relationship with the headstrong herbalist.
Studio OLM is once again handling animation for the continuation, and Akinori Fudesaka remains the director. Popular Japanese band Yorushika recorded the season’s opening theme, while singer Eve performed the ending song “AIYOU,” which was first heard in the trailer.
【New Trailer】
— AnimeTV チェーン (@animetv_jp) September 25, 2026
The Apothecary Diaries Season 3
Scheduled for October 2, 2026!
✨More: https://t.co/7aLoLm1J9z pic.twitter.com/HoVQuCx6Xq
Pirates and an Original Story in Theaters
The production committee has chosen an aggressive strategy for growing the franchise, filling the six-month broadcast gap with a major release. On December 11, 2026, the feature film The Apothecary Diaries: The Treasure of the Late Consort opens in Japanese theaters.
According to the project’s official portal, the film does not adapt an existing arc from the light novels but instead tells a completely original story written by Natsu Hyuga, the author of the source material. In the plot, Maomao and Jinshi travel south to escort home the body of a consort who died five years earlier. The diplomatic expedition turns into an adventure involving a clash with pirates, a treasure hunt and the unraveling of the true reasons behind the girl’s death.
