The highly-anticipated third-season of the acclaimed anime adaptation Oshi no Ko is officially slated for a winter premiere, with production teams unveiling the release date as January 14, 2026. Accompanying the announcement is a gripping new trailer that teases the intensifying drama within the cutthroat world of show business, alongside a striking key visual that captures the evolving dynamics among the core cast.
Adding to the excitement, the trailer features a preview of the new ending theme, Serende, performed by singer-songwriter natori. The artist, who skyrocketed to fame with his breakout viral track Terminal and previously contributed the opening Absolute Zero to Wind Breaker, brings a haunting and introspective tone that complements the season’s darker emotional undercurrents.
The visual, meanwhile, features the teenage versions of protagonists Aqua and Ruby Hoshino front and center, flanked by allies like Kana Arima, Akane Kurokawa, and MEM-Cho.
This marks a swift continuation for the series, which wrapped its second season in September 2024 after a rollercoaster arc centered on the private acting auditions and the fallout from Tokyo Blade. Directed by returning helmer Daisuke Yamamoto at studio Doga Kobo, Season 3 promises to maintain the production values that earned the anime widespread acclaim for its fluid animation, evocative soundtrack, and unflinching portrayal of celebrity culture's underbelly. Core voice cast members, including Toma Ikuta as Aqua, Yurie Igoma as Ruby, and Megumi Han as Ai Hoshino in flashbacks, are all confirmed to reprise their roles, ensuring continuity in the emotional depth that has defined the adaptation.
The series, which debuted in 2023, has already adapted significant portions of Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari's original manga, transforming it into a cultural phenomenon through its exploration of reincarnation, revenge, and the commodification of talent. With Season 2 concluding on a cliffhanger involving Ruby's rising profile and Aqua's deepening investigations, the path forward appears primed for revelations that could upend the Hoshino siblings' lives.
What to Expect in Oshi no Ko Season 3
Oshi no Ko, serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump magazine since April 2020, was co-created by Aka Akasaka—known for the romantic comedy Kaguya-sama: Love is War—and illustrator Mengo Yokoyari, whose sharp character designs and atmospheric shading bring the story's dual tones of sparkle and shadow to life. The manga has amassed over 14 million copies in circulation worldwide, blending slice-of-life idol antics with a serialized mystery that delves into the ethical rot beneath Japan's entertainment machine.
At its core, the narrative follows Aqua and Ruby Hoshino, a pair of reincarnated twins whose past lives as a doctor and a fan grant them an otherworldly edge in their quest for justice. Born to the enigmatic top idol Ai Hoshino, the siblings navigate adolescence amid the industry's relentless spotlight, all while unraveling the circumstances of their mother's tragic murder. Previous seasons have built this foundation meticulously: Season 1 introduced the reincarnation twist and Ai's untimely death, while Season 2 delved into high school theater productions and interpersonal betrayals that tested alliances.
Season 3 picks up threads from the manga's later arcs, emphasizing the characters' maturation into young adults grappling with professional ambitions and personal demons. B-Komachi, the revived idol group led by Ruby and featuring Kana and MEM-Cho, stands on the cusp of mainstream success, but this ascent amplifies the risks of exposure. Aqua's multifaceted pursuits—as an actor, model, and covert investigator—intersect with Akane's steady ascent in dramatic roles, creating a web of collaborations and conflicts. Yet, as the story probes deeper into the twins' origins, themes of deception and identity come to the fore, with Ruby's climb serving as both a homage to her mother and a weapon in her vendetta.
Here's Crunchyroll's description of the third season:
The story enters a new stage. It's been six months since "POP IN 2" was released. Thanks to MEM-Cho's hard work, B-Komachi is about to get their major break. Aqua is a multi-talented entertainer, and Akane's career as a talented actress is going smoothly. Meanwhile, Kana lost the cheerfulness she once had. To track down the truth behind Ai and Goro's deaths, Ruby keeps rising in the entertainment world... Using lies as a weapon.
This synopsis hints at interpersonal fractures, particularly Kana's emotional downturn, while underscoring the manga's motif of performance as both shield and sword. Expect heightened intrigue around the entertainment agency's machinations and potential confrontations that could expose long-buried secrets.
Oshi no Ko Season 3 will stream exclusively on Crunchyroll, with new episodes dropping weekly starting January 14, 2026, in both subbed and dubbed formats for international audiences. A simulcast schedule tailored to global time zones ensures fans can dive in shortly after the Japanese broadcast on networks like Tokyo MX and BS11.
Sources: Press Release; Oshi no Ko YouTube channel
