Viewers of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 will need to wait one extra week for episode 8, as the series pauses for a special recap covering the early phase of the Culling Game arc. The delay shifts Yuji Itadori’s next fight, but also gives fans a chance to revisit episodes 1–7, which set up the deadly Tokyo No. 1 Colony battles.
The break comes just as the anime cements its place as a major highlight of the winter 2026 anime slate, with episode 7 pushing tensions higher inside the Culling Game. The schedule change has raised questions for fans tracking every move of Yuji, Megumi Fushiguro, and the other players scattered across the colonies.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 recap episode and schedule shift
Instead of a new chapter, television broadcasts will air a Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 recap on February 19, 2026. The compilation re-edits episodes 1–7 of the season, which are episodes 48–54 overall, and adds fresh narration to tie the main Culling Game developments together before the story advances.
The recap announcement arrived right after the premiere of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, episode 7, making the schedule clear for viewers. That broadcast was also pushed back by 94 minutes, an adjustment likely linked to special programming and extended coverage of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics sharing the same slot.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Episode 8 Release Date
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, episode 8, titled “Tokyo No. 1 Colony, Part 2,” will now stream on Crunchyroll on February 26, 2026 in India and across the world. The release times are 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time, 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, and 4:30 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time, giving international viewers a clear window to plan their watch.
While the recap’s streaming date is not officially locked, it may appear on Crunchyroll on February 19, 2026, mirroring Solo Leveling Season 1’s episode 7.5 situation. The English dub schedule remains unchanged, and Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, episode 6’s dub is expected on February 19, 2026, at its usual time on the platform.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Culling Game setup and recap benefits
According to animation director Hiromi Niwa, this mid-arc pause helps viewers more than it hurts momentum. Niwa said, “Having a recap episode at this point when Yuji and the others are seriously joining the Culling Game is a real blessing—it lets us review everyone’s goals and feelings too. It’s great to have people binge it all at once.”
Beyond viewer clarity, industry comparisons point to another factor behind the Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 recap. Solo Leveling Season 1 also slotted a recap episode, labelled 7.5, which drew criticism from parts of the audience, yet likely offered production teams breathing space. MAPPA appears to be granting animators similar relief halfway through “Culling Game Part 1.”
Episode 7 of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 opened the Culling Game in full, following Yuji and Megumi as they entered Tokyo No. 1 Colony to track down Hiromi Higuruma, while Panda and Kinji Hakari headed toward Tokyo No. 2 in search of Hajime Kashimo. The instalment adapted manga chapters 158 and 160 to 162, quickly ushering in high-stakes confrontations.
The colony entry leaves Yuji and Megumi at a major disadvantage, as the barrier spits them out at distant points, cutting off teamwork. Yuji receives guidance from Rin Amai, a former classmate exploited by stronger participants, while Megumi relies on directions from Remi, but the conflicting information about Higuruma’s location suggests that at least one of them is being deceived.
Episode 7 also revealed that Yuji was registered as a Culling Game player before entering the barrier, linking back to Kenjaku’s long-term plans. Kenjaku’s decision to call Yuji a “son” during earlier dealings with the Occult Club members resurfaced, underlining their complex connection and strengthening the mystery that surrounds Sukuna’s vessel.
The preview for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, episode 8 confirms that Hiromi Higuruma will finally appear on screen, meeting either Yuji or Megumi for a pivotal confrontation. The other sorcerer is lured toward a trap set by another strong competitor, signalling that colonies house more than just top scorers like Higuruma and Hajime Kashimo.
Among those hidden threats is Reggie Star, an incarnated sorcerer scheduled to debut in Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, episode 8. Viewers can also expect Higuruma’s past to be covered, since the anime skipped that material in episode 7; his backstory originates in manga chapter 159 and helps explain the character’s motives and reputation.
Hiromi Higuruma ranks among the most awaited newcomers in Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, and production staff appear to be treating the character accordingly. One series animator has already described episode 8 as essential viewing, suggesting that Higuruma’s first appearance and the linked fights are receiving extra attention to satisfy fan expectations.
Recent scenes already hint at that focus, with Yuji’s clash against minor Culling Game players Hanyu and Haba given more screen time than in the manga. Strengthening a smaller fight naturally primes viewers for the larger duels still ahead in Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 and makes the short break before episode 8’s showdown feel less disruptive.
Although the pause may frustrate some, many fans see value in consolidating the complex Culling Game rules, characters, and objectives before crucial battles unfold. With Yuji, Megumi, Higuruma, Kashimo, and Reggie Star poised to collide, episode 8 is positioned as a key chapter of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, even with its slightly delayed release.
Outside the story itself, the anime continues under MAPPA’s production, based on Gege Akutami’s manga, with Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1 holding a MyAnimeList score of 8.57. The series first aired on October 3, 2020, and streams in India and worldwide on services such as Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu, sustaining a strong global audience.
Senior anime writer Vanessa Piña, who has covered the ScreenRant anime section since 2024, highlights Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3’s place within the broader franchise. With directors including Ryohei Takeshita and writers like Hiroshi Seko attached across seasons, the show has kept consistent creative leadership as it navigates the Culling Game storyline.
The core Japanese voice cast, featuring Junya Enoki as Yuji Itadori and Yuichi Nakamura as Satoru Gojo, remains in place for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3. Executive producers Hiroo Maruyama and Keiji Ota continue to oversee the project across its seasons, which air on networks such as TBS and MBS in Japan alongside regional affiliates.
As the Culling Game intensifies, the short recap pause gives both the production team and the audience breathing room before critical confrontations unfold. With episode 8 promising Higuruma’s debut, new enemies like Reggie Star, and major fights for Yuji and Megumi, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 looks set to keep viewers invested despite the brief delay.