The Apothecary Diaries franchise continues to grow across multiple formats, making it one of the busiest anime and manga properties of 2026. With two ongoing manga adaptations, a new spin-off, an upcoming anime season, and a theatrical film in development, fans have plenty to look forward to over the coming months.
For readers following the manga, keeping track of release dates can be challenging because there are two separate adaptations of the same story.
Two Manga Series Continue Monthly Serialisation
Both The Apothecary Diaries and The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao’s Notes from the Inner Palace are currently serialised on a monthly schedule.
The first adaptation is published in Square Enix’s Monthly Big Gangan, while the second appears in Shogakukan’s Monthly Sunday Gene-X. Although both series began publication in 2017 and follow the same storyline from the original novels, they feature different creative teams and artistic styles.
The latest chapters released were Chapter 86 of The Apothecary Diaries on May 25, 2026, and Chapter 102 of Maomao’s Notes from the Inner Palace on June 19, 2026.
Upcoming Manga Release Schedule
Readers can expect new chapters according to the following schedule:
| Chapter | Release Date |
|---|---|
| The Apothecary Diaries Chapter 87 | June 25, 2026 |
| Maomao’s Notes from the Inner Palace Chapter 103 | July 19, 2026 |
| The Apothecary Diaries Chapter 88 | July 25, 2026 |
| Maomao’s Notes from the Inner Palace Chapter 104 | August 19, 2026 |
| The Apothecary Diaries Chapter 89 | August 25, 2026 |
Where to Read Apothecary Diaries Manga
English readers can access The Apothecary Diaries through the Manga UP! app.
However, The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao’s Notes from the Inner Palace is not currently available through an official English digital platform. Instead, the publisher plans to release physical English editions beginning later this year.
The release schedule for the printed volumes is:
- Volume 1: October 20, 2026
- Volume 2: December 15, 2026
- Volume 3: February 23, 2027
What Sets the Two Manga Apart?
Although both adaptations cover the same events from the original light novels, they differ in presentation and artwork.
The Square Enix version is written by original creator Hyuganatsu alongside Itsuki Nanao, with illustrations by Nekokurage. Meanwhile, Minoji Kurata handles both writing and artwork for Maomao’s Notes from the Inner Palace.
The two series remain faithful to the same core story while offering distinct visual interpretations and storytelling styles.
Spin-Off Focuses on Xiaolan
The franchise also expanded with a third manga titled The Apothecary Diaries: Xiaolan’s Story, which began serialization in March 2025.
Unlike the main series, the spin-off retells events from the perspective of Xiaolan, providing readers with a fresh look at familiar storylines through one of the series’ important supporting characters.
New chapters are released less frequently and are available through the Manga UP! platform.
Anime Continues With Season 3 and Feature Film
The anime adaptation is also preparing for a busy release schedule.
Season 3 is scheduled to premiere in October 2026, while its second cour is planned for April 2027.
In addition, a theatrical movie is set for release in December 2026. The film will feature an original story rather than adapting material from the novels or manga. Original author Hyuganatsu is providing the story concept, while Norihiro Naganuma, who served as chief director for Season 2, returns to direct the project.
The movie’s official title and exact release date have yet to be announced.
Fans need not worry about the anime catching up to its source material anytime soon.
The original light novel series currently spans 16 volumes, while the manga and anime have only adapted roughly the first four volumes. That leaves a substantial amount of source material available for future anime seasons, ensuring the franchise has plenty of content to continue its story for years to come.
