by The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 has officially begun! The highly anticipated third season of the popular mystery anime premiered on October 2, 2026, continuing the story of Maomao and Jinshi after the dramatic events of Season 2. The first episode, Episode 49, “Locusts,” features Maomao, Jinshi, and Chou’u as a new mystery begins to unfold.
The preview stills for Episode 49 have also been released, offering fans a first look at the characters and the new storyline. In addition, the non-credit opening video for The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 was scheduled to premiere on YouTube on October 2 at 6 p.m. JST, ahead of the television broadcast.
When Does The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Start?
The third season of The Apothecary Diaries premiered in Japan on Friday, October 2, 2026, as part of Nippon Television’s FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT programming block. Episode 49 is the first episode of the new season and continues directly from the events of Season 2.
International viewers can also watch the new season through Crunchyroll, with the first episode becoming available on October 2 across regions including the Indian subcontinent.
Season 3 is being released in a split two-cour format. The first half began in October 2026, while the second half is scheduled to return in April 2027. The season is planned as a 24-episode installment overall.
Episode 49 “Locusts”: Maomao Returns to the Pleasure District
Episode 49, titled “Locusts”, picks up after the aftermath of the Shi clan rebellion.
With the crisis at the imperial palace settled, Maomao has been relieved of her duties as a food taster in the rear palace. She returns to the pleasure district, where she resumes the life of an apothecary.
For Maomao, returning to her familiar surroundings might appear to offer a quieter life. However, fans of the series already know that unusual incidents rarely stay away from her for long.
One morning, the madam of the Verdigris House serves boiled locusts for breakfast to Maomao and Chou’u. After tasting the unusual dish, Chou’u makes a comment that immediately catches Maomao’s attention.
That seemingly ordinary breakfast becomes the starting point for another mystery.
The episode’s title, “Locusts,” is therefore more than just a reference to food. The story introduces a potentially serious problem involving locusts and signs of a disaster, setting the tone for the mysteries that will develop throughout Season 3.
Jinshi Faces a New Political Problem
While Maomao returns to her work as an apothecary, Jinshi’s situation has changed dramatically.
Following the events of the previous season, Jinshi has publicly revealed his identity as the Emperor’s younger brother and has begun taking a more official role in political affairs.
However, his new position comes with responsibilities that are very different from his previous role inside the rear palace.
Jinshi is also troubled by the ominous warning left behind by Loulan, who entrusted him with what appears to be a warning about a disaster threatening the nation.
This creates an important contrast between the two leads. Maomao is once again dealing with mysteries through medicine, observation, and logical reasoning, while Jinshi is increasingly involved in matters concerning the wider political world.
Although they are no longer dealing with exactly the same circumstances as before, their paths are likely to become connected again as the new mysteries develop.
What Is The Apothecary Diaries About?
For newcomers, The Apothecary Diaries is a historical mystery and drama series centered on Maomao, a young woman with extensive knowledge of medicine and poisons.
Maomao was raised in the pleasure district and eventually ends up working inside the imperial palace. Her knowledge of medicine allows her to notice details that other people overlook.
What begins as a seemingly simple palace job gradually turns into a series of mysteries involving illnesses, poisonings, rumors, political schemes,s and secrets surrounding the imperial family.
Maomao’s unusual personality is one of the series’ biggest attractions. Rather than behaving like a traditional heroine, she is fascinated by medicine, poisons, ns and unusual cases. Her curiosity often gets her involved in situations she would probably prefer to avoid.
Alongside Maomao is Jinshi, a beautiful and influential palace official whose mysterious background and complicated relationship with Maomao have become an important part of the story.
Together, the two characters form the heart of the series.
The Apothecary Diaries Reaches 57 Million Copies
The popularity of The Apothecary Diaries has continued to grow since the anime adaptation began.
The franchise has now surpassed 57 million copies in worldwide circulation, a figure covering the original light novels and manga adaptations. The milestone was announced in August 2026.
The anime’s popularity has also helped introduce Maomao’s story to a much larger international audience.
The first season aired from October 2023 through March 2024, while Season 2 aired from January through July 2025. Both seasons helped establish the anime as one of the most recognizable mystery series of recent years.
Season 3 Has an Important Two-Part Structure
One of the major announcements surrounding the third season is its split-cour format.
The first part began airing in October 2026, while the second part is scheduled to begin in April 2027. This allows the anime to continue its story across two separate broadcast periods rather than airing all episodes continuously.
The split format also means fans have another major development to look forward to in 2027, particularly because the franchise has another major project arriving during the Season 3 period.
The Apothecary Diaries Movie Is Coming in December
The anime’s third season is not the only major project planned for the franchise.
A new theatrical film, The Apothecary Diaries: The Secret Treasure of the Deceased Consort, is scheduled to open in Japanese theaters on December 11, 2026. The film features an original story concept by series creator Natsu Hyuga.
The movie’s story takes place chronologically between the second and third seasons and is connected to material around the fourth volume of the novels. According to reporting on the project, Hyuga created the original story concept specifically for the film.
This makes the upcoming movie particularly interesting for fans who want to explore another story within the world of Maomao and Jinshi.
A New Mystery Begins With “Locusts”
Episode 49 is designed to introduce viewers to the next chapter of Maomao’s story while also showing how Jinshi’s responsibilities have changed.
The episode begins with Maomao back in the pleasure district, seemingly away from the palace’s complicated political environment. Yet the appearance of boiled locusts and Chou’u’s unusual observation quickly introduces another mystery.
Meanwhile, Jinshi’s warning about an impending disaster suggests that the problems of Season 3 may extend far beyond an individual palace incident.
The combination of Maomao’s medical investigations and Jinshi’s political responsibilities gives Season 3 an opportunity to expand the story’s scale while maintaining the mystery-focused storytelling that made the anime popular.
What to Expect From Season 3
Without revealing future story details, viewers can expect the third season to continue combining several of the elements that define The Apothecary Diaries:
- Medical and poison-related mysteries
- Palace politics and intrigue
- Maomao’s unusual investigative methods
- Jinshi’s increasingly complicated position
- New characters and relationships
- Historical-inspired world-building
- Mystery, drama and romance
- Larger conflicts extending beyond the imperial palace
The new season also continues to balance serious mysteries with Maomao’s dry humor and distinctive reactions.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Release Schedule
Anime: The Apothecary Diaries Season 3
First Episode: Episode 49, “Locusts”
Premiere: October 2, 2026
Japanese Broadcast: Nippon Television’s FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT
Format: Split into two courses
Second Cour: April 2027
International Streaming: Crunchyroll in numerous territories, including the Indian subcontinent
The first episode is also available through participating streaming services, although availability can vary depending on region.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 begins with Maomao returning to her old life as an apothecary, while Jinshi enters a new phase of his political career. Their circumstances have changed significantly since the beginning of the anime, but mystery continues to follow Maomao wherever she goes.
Episode 49, “Locusts,” starts the new season with an apparently simple breakfast that quickly hints at something much larger. At the same time, Jinshi’s concerns about an impending national disaster suggest that Season 3 could expand the story beyond the familiar palace setting.
With the anime returning in October 2026, a second cour planned for April 2027, and a new theatrical movie arriving in December, The Apothecary Diaries has a busy period ahead.
For both longtime viewers and newcomers, Season 3 marks another major chapter in Maomao and Jinshi’s story.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 premiered on October 2, 2026, with Episode 49, “Locusts.”
