Anime is more popular than ever, and 2026 is stacked with highly anticipated releases that could easily become full-blown global phenomena. We’ll be getting new anime all year long, but the biggest release of 2026 is right around the corner. Jujutsu Kaisen is a franchise with unprecedented cultural pull, accommodating longtime fans and complete newcomers alike, and its third season is just days away.
Jujutsu Kaisen begins with high-schooler Yuji Itadori, who embarks on a new journey as a Jujutsu sorcerer after he unwittingly becomes host to an ancient Curse. While Yuji is the show’s emotional anchor, the sprawling, dark fantasy world of Jujutsu Kaisen is rife with moral and ideological conflicts that eclipse his personal goals and motivations. This allows the story to branch into unexpected and exciting directions that eventually trickle back to Yuji and his allies for explosive, climactic moments.
The Aftermath of Shibuya
Hype for Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 already began last year with Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution, the theatrical movie that compiled the highlights of the Shibuya Incident from season 2 with the first two episodes of the upcoming season. The horrific aftermath of the Shibuya Incident looms large over everything. The city lies in ruins, countless lives have been lost, and the seals keeping the world's most dangerous curses at bay are crumbling.
The absence of Satoru Gojo — who is still trapped inside the Prison Realm — creates a power vacuum like never before. The Jujutsu society is fracturing, with conservatives using the chaos to purge anyone they deem a threat, including our protagonist, Yuji Itadori.
Enter Yuta Okkotsu
The first two episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 will adapt the Itadori’s Extermination Arc. Fans of the prequel movie Jujutsu Kaisen 0 will be thrilled to see the return of Yuta Okkotsu. However, this isn't the same shy boy we remember. Yuta returns as a Special Grade sorcerer with a steely resolve, tasked by the higher-ups to carry out Yuji’s previously deferred execution. The clash between these two powerhouses sets a tense, heartbreaking tone for the season.
The Culling Game Begins
But the true horror is just beginning. This season introduces the Culling Game, a battle royale orchestrated by the ancient sorcerer Kenjaku. This isn't just a fight for survival; it's a ritual to evolve humanity through cursed energy. Sorcerers from past and present are forced to kill each other in barrier colonies across Japan.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Kenjaku wants to remake the world in his own image, no matter the cost. Yuji, Megumi, and their remaining allies must participate in this twisted game not to win, but to save their sister, Tsumiki, and find a way to free Gojo. Expect psychological warfare, complex new abilities, and a level of brutality that pushes the shonen genre to its absolute limit.
MAPPA has done a spectacular job of adapting the dynamic sequences from the manga, injecting inspired visual flair. Based on the teasers, Season 3 will feature a grittier art style to match the darker narrative, ensuring that 2026 kicks off with an anime event that will be discussed for years to come.
