Liputan6.com, Jakarta - HBO's hit drama series, Euphoria Season 3, is set to premiere on Sunday, April 12, 2026, on HBO and stream on HBO Max.
This latest season promises significant changes, featuring a five-year time jump, taking the main characters beyond the high school setting where the story has been set.
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The third season will run until May 31, 2026, with new episodes released weekly at the same time.
However, the enthusiasm for the premiere was tempered by divided early reviews, marking a record low for the series on Rotten Tomatoes.
Nevertheless, Zendaya's performance as Rue Bennett remains a highlight and a major source of praise from critics.
The season three premiere took place in Hollywood on April 7, 2026, with the main cast in attendance.
Early Critic Reviews for Euphoria Season 3
Early reviews for Euphoria Season 3 have been released, and critics are divided.
As of April 8, 2026, the series has a Tomatometer score of 56% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 18 reviews.
This is a record low for the series, considering that seasons 1 and 2 had approval ratings of 80% and 78%, respectively.
Some critics felt that the series lost its way after the shift from high school.
Taylor Gates of Collider added that most of the characters learned nothing, and the series maintained the same strengths and weaknesses as the previous two seasons.
Hunter Ingram of TheWrap called the new season a "return to overkill," while Alyssa Mora of IGN Southeast Asia called the first three episodes "a glaring disappointment" that had devolved into an "out-of-control crime drama."
Graeme Guttmann from ScreenRant awards the series only a four out of 10, praising the show's continued stylistic flourishes and ambition.
Time Jump and Setting Change
One of the most noticeable changes in Euphoria Season 3 is the time jump of approximately five years into the future.
This means the characters are no longer in high school, which impacts the series’ visuals.
Costume designer Heidi Bivens hinted at this time jump through her designs.
Meanwhile, makeup artist Donni Davy stated that the third season will feature a more subtle and less flashy makeup look, reducing the use of neon colors and glitter that characterized the first season.
The trailer, released in March 2026, featured the cast in new scenarios, offering a glimpse into their lives five years later.
Filming locations for this season included international cities such as Dublin, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney, London, Tokyo, Paris, and Singapore.
Euphoria Season 3: Cast List and Episode Schedule
The third season of Euphoria will see the return of several familiar main cast members.
Zendaya as Rue Bennett, Hunter Schafer as Jules Vaughn, Jacob Elordi as Nate Jacobs, Sydney Sweeney as Cassie Howard, Alexa Demie as Maddy Perez, Maude Apatow as Lexi Howard, and Eric Dane as Cal Jacobs are all confirmed to return.
Nika King (Leslie Bennett) and Colman Domingo (Ali Muhammed) will also return, with Martha Kelly (Laurie) and Chloe Cherry (Faye) being upgraded to series regulars.
In addition to familiar faces, Euphoria Season 3 will also introduce several exciting new cast members.
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Toby Wallace will be series regulars, while Rosalía, Marshawn Lynch, Kadeem Hardison, and Sharon Stone will appear as guest stars or in undisclosed roles.
Asante Blackk will also join the cast in a major recurring role.
Euphoria Season 3 will debut on April 12, 2026, and conclude on May 31, 2026 with new episodes will be available weekly.
Here is the complete Euphoria Season 3 episode release schedule:
- Episode 1: April 12
- Episode 2: April 19
- Episode 3: April 26
- Episode 4: May 3
- Episode 5: May 10
- Episode 6: May 17
- Episode 7: May 24
- Episode 8: May 31