Highlights
- MAPPA returns Feb 26 with high-tier Culling Game animation following the Olympic hiatus.
- Yuji and Megumi are separated and misled while hunting the 100-point sorcerer Higuruma.
- Kenjaku’s "parental" mystery lingers as the episode hits Crunchyroll/Netflix globally
The brief hiatus is officially over. After a one-week break, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is returning to thrust fans right back into the brutal and highly anticipated Culling Game. Episode 8, officially titled "Tokyo No. 1 Colony, Part 2," premieres on Thursday, February 26, 2026, and it is shaping up to be a massive moment for the series as Studio MAPPA finally delivers on the long-teased tournament. Anticipation is sky-high, with insiders already teasing this as the best episode of the season. Chief Animation Director Hiromi Niwa even took to social media to praise the upcoming release, confidently stating that the episode is so good, brand-new viewers could jump straight in right here.
The recent one-week pause was a strategic move by Studio MAPPA. To accommodate Japan's broadcast of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, the studio aired a comprehensive recap special instead of a standard episode. This broadcast didn't just buy the animators crucial time to polish their famously high-tier action sequences; it served as an essential crash course on the notoriously complex Culling Game mechanics.
Yuji and Megumi Face New Threats in Tokyo No. 1 Colony
The story picks up immediately after the chaotic events of Episode 7. Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro have finally entered the Tokyo No. 1 Colony barrier, but their plan to stick together fell apart instantly. Likely orchestrated by the mastermind Kenjaku to force participants to their limits, the two heroes were separated upon entry and are now facing wildly different trials.
Yuji has already made quick work of two newly awakened sorcerers who severely underestimated him, before running into a seemingly friendly face from his hometown named Amai. Meanwhile, Megumi easily defeated an aggressive player named Remi. Both heroes are hunting for the deadly lawyer Hiromi Higuruma, who has already racked up a terrifying 100 points.
However, they have been given conflicting directions. Amai pointed Yuji toward Ikebukuro, while Remi sent Megumi to Shinjuku. With the duo split up and heading in opposite directions, there is a strong chance the incredibly powerful Higuruma will catch them off guard before they ever reach him.
Before the fighting fully kicks off, there is still a lingering mystery from the previous episode regarding Kenjaku. The typically ruthless villain showed surprising parental instincts, taking a moment to thank Yuji's former occult club friend, Sasaki, for looking out for his "son" while escorting her safely out of the barrier. While the anime likely will not dwell on this mystery right away, it leaves fans questioning the mastermind's true feelings right as he initiates the next phase of his plan to evolve humanity.
IMDb
Where to Stream Episode 8
International fans will not have to wait long to see how these battles unfold. You can catch Episode 8 on Crunchyroll right after its Japanese broadcast on MBS and TBS. The episode drops globally with English subtitles at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time, 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, and 4:30 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time.
Viewers in India can expect the episode to arrive around 10:00 p.m. Indian Standard Time on Thursday, February 26. Crunchyroll remains the primary hub and will roll out the English dub shortly after. Additionally, fans in India and select Southeast Asian territories can also stream the series on Netflix.
