‘Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ Episode 3 Release Date, Time and Where to Watch

‘Steel Ball Run‘ made its debut on Netflix globally with a single episode on March 19, 2026, known as the 1st Stage. Following this, fans experienced a six-month wait that tested the patience of even the most dedicated Joestar followers. Now, the race is back on, and the pressing question is when the next chapter will arrive.

The good news is that the ‘Steel Ball Run’ release schedule has finally established a routine. New episodes are set to drop every week on Fridays. This means that the third episode is expected to air on the Friday following the start of the second stage, and here’s everything you need to know to set your reminder.

Episode two is scheduled for release on September 25, 2026, with Netflix confirming the weekly Friday release plan at Anime Expo. Counting one Friday ahead points to October 2 for the next episode. Neither Netflix nor the sources I checked have released a specific date card for that episode yet, so treat it as the next logical slot in the weekly schedule.

As for the time, the second stage will start streaming at 1 a.m. PDT, which translates to 5 p.m. JST. If Netflix maintains the same schedule, the next episode should drop at the same hour. GamesRadar+ notes that this equates to midnight Pacific, 3 AM Eastern, and 8 AM in the UK.

However, it’s important to note that times might vary depending on the episode’s release in Japan. Therefore, it’s advisable to check your Netflix queue on the morning of the release rather than assuming. Fans in Zagreb and across Europe can expect to see it in the early morning hours as well.

Where can you watch ‘Steel Ball Run’ worldwide? The answer is straightforward. ‘Steel Ball Run’ is available exclusively on Netflix globally, meaning it will not be streaming on Crunchyroll like previous seasons. This is a significant change for those who followed earlier seasons on other platforms.

Netflix has also made it easy to catch up. The 1st Stage is a 47-minute episode currently available, along with five earlier seasons of the franchise streaming on the service. If you’re new to the world of Johnny and Gyro, you can start from the beginning without searching across different services.

The release is accessible to all Netflix members worldwide, with no separate add-on or regional restrictions to worry about, which is a relief after the confusion surrounding earlier JoJo releases.

While specific details about the third episode have not been revealed, the overall narrative of the second stage is clear. The 2nd Stage adapts the arc titled ‘Across the Arizona Desert’ and begins covering the third volume of the manga, featuring a challenge that spans nearly 750 miles of desert. This sets the stage for a more intense and bizarre segment of the race.

The trailer showcases Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli confronting rivals while traversing cursed terrain where supernatural occurrences threaten their safety and standings. Expect the same chaotic tone that characterizes the franchise, but with heightened stakes and a sharper edge. The latest trailer also introduced characters like Mountain Tim, Hot Pants, and Funny Valentine.

According to Screen Rant, the second stage covers chapters 12 through 27, indicating that at least three standard-length episodes will be needed to reach the highly anticipated introduction of Funny Valentine. This suggests that the initial weeks will focus on building tension in the desert before the more prominent characters emerge.

The 2nd and 3rd Stages together comprise 11 episodes, released in a split cour structure. GamesRadar+ indicates that this run will take us through late November, covering the end of fall and the beginning of winter. It’s a compact schedule, so every Friday counts.

A previous leak hints at another 22 episodes next year and nine more to conclude the series in 2028. While this is unconfirmed, it suggests that the long journey of this adaptation is just beginning.

The return follows a few rocky months of silence that sparked fan backlash, and ‘Steel Ball Run’ has quickly become one of the highest-rated anime on MyAnimeList after just one episode. The pressure is on to deliver a smooth journey through the desert, and with Funny Valentine on the horizon, are you more eager to see how the anime portrays his arrival or to watch Johnny and Gyro navigate the cursed sands first?