Euphoria Season 3: HBO's Most Controversial Show Returns in 2026
After a long three-year wait, Euphoria season 3 is finally set to premiere later this year, and it may very well become one of the most talked-about shows of 2026. Premiering on HBO in 2019, Euphoria made huge stars out of its young cast, including Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Jacob Elordi, who are some of the most in-demand Hollywood actors working today. HBO has a long-standing reputation for producing some of the most daring and innovative shows of all time, from The Sopranos to Sex and the City to Game of Thrones. As a result of taking such big risks and giving TV creators a lot of free rein, HBO has definitely courted controversy, particularly around their graphically violent and sexual shows. Euphoria is definitely in that camp, and season 3 will likely be no different.
Euphoria Season 3 Will Return To HBO After Three Years Off The Air
Though some wondered whether it would ever come back, Euphoria season 3 will officially return to HBO in April 2026. After Euphoria season 2's explosive ending, season 3 will return with a five-year time jump, catching up with the characters after both high school graduation and college. Several plot details have already been revealed about where the characters will be in Euphoria season 3 — Rue will be in Mexico, working to pay off her debts to Laurie; both Maddy and Lexi will be working in the entertainment industry, at a Hollywood talent agency and as an assistant to a showrunner respectively; and Cassie and Nate will be engaged and living in the suburbs, with Cassie dealing with a social media addiction. Given the A-list status of Euphoria's main cast, it's a relief that they returned to the show, and they're not alone. Several big-name newcomers will join season 3, including Natasha Lyonne, Danielle Deadwyler, Eli Roth, and Marshawn Lynch.
Why Euphoria Season 3 Was So Delayed
Alexa Demie as Maddy looking off camera.Everett
With Euphoria initially being a show about high school teenagers, time was of the serious essence in terms of filming, as lengthy delays could see the young actors aging out of their roles. This led many to question if Euphoria season 3 would even happen at all, especially after the absolute critical failure that was creator Sam Levinson's The Idol, another HBO show released in 2023. However, there were not just one but several factors that contributed to Euphoria season 3's delay. One, in particular, affected not just Euphoria but many film and TV productions, and that was the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023. The tragic deaths of Fez actor Angus Cloud and Euphoria executive producer Kevin Turen also led to further delays. Finally, there was the rising Hollywood profile of many cast members. Before Euphoria, many of the stars were relatively unknown, but now they're household names, and many took on major projects during the show's hiatus. Furthermore, it was a rumored point of contention between Zendaya and Levinson that he was allegedly putting Euphoria on the back burner to focus on The Idol. Fortunately, the main cast is back for season 3, Zendaya included. Now, the question remains as to whether Euphoria will maintain its controversial reputation.
Euphoria Is The Most Controversial HBO Show Of All Time
Sydney Sweeney as Cassie Howard holding ice cream in Euphoria Season 3 promotional shot
Besides its starry cast, Euphoria is ever-present in the pop culture conversation because of its status as HBO's most controversial TV series. Many of the best HBO shows are packed with R-rated content, but Euphoria's explicitness has drawn particular backlash because most of its graphic content involves teenage characters. Euphoria is hardly the first teen show to come under scrutiny, especially regarding the sex lives of its main characters — Gossip Girl, Riverdale, and even Dawson's Creek all received complaints from parents' groups when they were on the air. But despite their "mature" themes, these shows were all beholden to network television standards, whereas Euphoria is not, as an HBO show.
With Euphoria season 3's time jump, the main characters will be out of their teens and in their early 20s, so it's possible some of the criticisms will lessen now that they're young adults. However, Euphoria has also come under fire for what many believe is the glamorization of trauma, mental health struggles, and harmful behavior. Given Cassie and Rue's season 3 storyline in particular, this bone of contention likely isn't going to go away. But no matter how controversial the upcoming Euphoria installment is, let's just hope it's better than The Idol.
Release Date
June 16, 2019
Showrunner
Sam Levinson
