Just over four years after the “Euphoria” season two finale that left us all dying to know what’s bound to happen next, the hit HBO original series is back. The long awaited “Euphoria” season three premiered Sunday night on April 12, 2026. If you’re a fan of the show or plan to start binging, this season may look different from the rest. Need to catch up? Here’s everything you need to know about the series’ new season.
What is “Euphoria”?
“Euphoria” is a drama series that is mainly narrated through Zendaya’s character, Rue Bennett. The show introduces the world to Rue back in season one as a high school teenager who is struggling with drug addiction after returning from rehab. Narrating the majority of the series, the show follows not only Rue, but also the people around her showcasing each character’s own intense challenges, capturing the ‘dark side’ of high school.
Throughout the series, topics such as mental health struggles, recovery, trauma, sexual identity, relationships and family drama have been portrayed through at least one character within the show. “Euphoria” has become known for its standout elements such as raw storytelling and unique visuals. If there’s one thing I can say about “Euphoria”, the show does not sugarcoat sensitive topics, and viewer discretion is definitely advised. This has sparked debates because of how graphic or intense the show can be. Many fans of the show praise this kind of honesty, while others think it is going too far.
The cast contains many other beloved actors and actresses including Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, Colman Domingo and Dominic Fike. Angus Cloud and Eric Dane had also played major roles in the show prior to their passing.
What to expect in season three
After the dramatic high school play that had us all on the edge of our seats to close out season two, season three picks up roughly five years after their high school years. The crew is all grown up and has jobs of their own throughout Los Angeles. Everyone is now living their separate lives as opposed to high school. The drama has now shifted from high school gossip to real life struggles of adulthood.
Some characters did not return for the series’ third season. Barbie Ferreira, Storm Reid, Austin Abrams, Algee Smith, Nika King and Javon Walton all did not return to revive their roles in the third season. Labrinth, who had composed the first two seasons, was also not involved in season three.
Despite the large portion of actors who will not be returning, season three features a significant number of new cast members. Rosalía, Natasha Lyonne, Danielle Deadwyler, Marshawn Lynch, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agabje, Sharon Stone and Trisha Paytas all joined the new cast for the upcoming season.
When and where to watch
“Euphoria” season three will run a total of eight episodes through May 31, 2026. Each episode will be released on Sunday nights to HBO Max at 9 p.m. ET. The Sunday night ritual of watching a new episode from the series has coined the term from social media, “Euphoria Sundays”. Fans on TikTok and Instagram began to use the phrase to refer to the start of the new season. Rumi, [@imurgency] shared a post to their TikTok page on April 8, 2026 sharing their excitement for “Euphoria’s” new season. “It just hit me that Euphoria Sundays are back this week,” Rumi said. “The sun’s shining just a little bit brighter.”
The four year long wait for this new highly anticipated season has definitely created high standards from the fans. With only one episode released so far, it is still unclear how the story will play out. The only way to tell is to cancel your Sunday night plans for the next month and see if the new season lives up to the rest.
