The Spring 2026 anime season is just around the corner, and it’s packed with exciting new shows and returning favorites. While popular series like Jujutsu Kaisen and Oshi no Ko are finishing their current runs (but will be back!), big names like One Piece and Re:Zero, as well as highly anticipated shows like Witch Hat Atelier, are gearing up to be the highlights of the season.
Fans are eagerly awaiting the return of Classroom of the Elite with its fourth season. Unlike many action-packed anime, this series is a clever psychological thriller that’s gained a dedicated following since it first aired in 2017. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up this season.
What is Classroom of the Elite About?
Classroom of the Elite began as a series of light novels by Shogo Kinugasa, with illustrations by Shunsaku Tomose. It’s also known as Youjitsu, which is based on its original Japanese title, Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijoushugi no Kyoishitsu e – meaning “Welcome to the Classroom of the Supremacy of the True Ability.”
The story takes place at a prestigious boarding school established by the government to train future leaders. Admission is highly selective, requiring students to pass rigorous entrance exams. Unlike most Japanese high schools, this school gives students a lot of freedom to encourage them to grow and develop their potential.
The story centers around Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, who begins in Class D, considered the lowest-ranked class at the school. While labeled as the “scum,” even the students in Class D are remarkably intelligent – they’re just considered less capable than those in other classes. Students compete to climb the class ranks, and it’s possible for those starting in Class D to work their way up to the top, like Class A.
Which Arcs Will Season 4 Cover?
The Classroom of the Elite light novel is split into three arcs – Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 (which is still ongoing) – each made up of multiple volumes. The most recent anime season, which aired in 2024, finished adapting the story from Year 1. This means Classroom of the Elite Season 4 will begin covering events from the second year of the series.
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The new season of Classroom of the Elite will likely have 16 episodes. Based on previous seasons, which each had around 12-13 episodes, this new season will probably adapt content from volumes 1 to 4.5 of Classroom of the Elite Year 2, mirroring how the first season covered volumes 1 to 4.5 of the first year. Volume 5 of Year 2 begins with the School Sports Festival, making it a natural starting point for a potential fifth season. Crunchyroll is officially labeling this season as “the first semester” under the title Classroom of the Elite Season 4: Second Year, First Semester.
Where to Watch and Release Date
| Premiere Date | April 1, 2026 |
| Episode Count | 16 (reportedly) |
| Where to Watch | Crunchyroll |
Lerche, the studio behind all the previous seasons, is animating the fourth season as well. This time, Noriyuki Nomata is directing, taking over from Seiji Kishi, Hiroyuki Hashimoto, and Yoshihito Nishoujo, who directed the earlier seasons (Kishi and Hashimoto have been directors since the very beginning). Yasushi Shigenobu, who previously co-wrote season three, is now the head writer.
The highly anticipated Season 4 of Classroom of the Elite will premiere on April 1, 2026, with a special 90-minute broadcast featuring the first four episodes. IGN India reports that the season is expected to run for 12 weeks, totaling 16 episodes, as these initial episodes will be released together, likely covering the content of the first story volume. Crunchyroll has confirmed they will stream each new episode as it becomes available in Japan, and an English dub will also be available.
Is This Anime Worth Watching?
Lerche isn’t as widely recognized as some of the biggest anime studios like MAPPA, Madhouse, or Ufotable, but it’s known for reliably good animation. Like many studios, though, its production quality can sometimes dip due to problems common in the anime industry, often stemming from using outside help.
When Classroom of the Elite first came out in 2017, it was very well-received. However, the later seasons—Season 2 in 2022 and Season 3 in 2024—faced some problems with production, including delays and inconsistent animation quality, and some story elements were removed. Despite these issues, many fans still enjoy the show’s pacing, character growth, and overall story adaptation.
Many viewers consider this series a fantastic psychological thriller. If you like anime that involves clever planning and political themes, it’s definitely worth checking out, even though the animation isn’t always the smoothest.
What’s Going on in the Original Novel?
The following section contains spoilers for Classroom of the Elite Year 3.
The Classroom of the Elite novel series is nearing its conclusion, currently focusing on the characters’ final year of high school. As of early 2025, three volumes of Year 3 have been published in Japan. The most recent volume, Volume 3, details the first special exam of the final year – a paintball competition – but the story still hasn’t completed the first half of the school year.
After a surprising turn of events, most of Class D, including Horikita, has been promoted to Class A – something that’s never happened before! However, Ayanokoji is the exception; he’s now in Class C and will compete against his old classmates and friends. With the competition fiercer than ever, fans are eagerly anticipating what happens next in the story.
Self-centered people can be hard to deal even if they have superior talent.
— Horikita
Seven Seas publishes the light novel in the United States. All the volumes from the first two years are currently available in English, and the first two volumes of Classroom of the Elite Year 3 will be released in April and May 2026. Readers interested in the original story can easily purchase it in print or digital versions.
Is There a Manga Adaptation of the Novel?
- There are a few manga adaptations, but fans prefer the anime or the original novel
- There’s a manga spin-off focused on Horikita
I’ve noticed there are manga versions of this story, but honestly, if you’re trying to get into it, I wouldn’t recommend them. The one by Yuyu Ichino, which has 12 volumes so far, isn’t very well-liked by fans. They say it really changes the feel of the story and how the characters act. It’s still being made, and currently covers the events of the first year.
The second year of Classroom of the Elite has also been adapted into manga form. First, Shia Sasane created a 4-volume manga covering part of the year. Then, in early 2025, Hachi Komada began a continuation titled Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 2nd Stage. These manga adaptations for the second year are considered better than those for the first year, but it’s still best to experience the story through the anime or novels first.
There’s also a two-part manga by Sakagaki that focuses on Horikita Suzune, a fan-favorite character, exploring an alternate storyline. Seven Seas Entertainment publishes both the first-year adaptation and this Horikita spin-off in the United States.
You can watch Classroom of the Elite on Crunchyroll with subtitles or dubbed audio in English and other languages.
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2026-03-26 14:36