Mohsin Lag 
It’s finally happening. After six months of silence — and one of the loudest fan backlashes in recent memory — JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run resumes this Friday, September 25, and this time it’s weekly. The race across America is back on, and the fall season just got its opening act.
When and where to watch
New episodes drop every Friday at 17:00 JST on Netflix worldwide — that’s 1:00 AM Pacific / 4:00 AM Eastern / 9:00 AM UK for the first new episode on September 25. The block covers the 2nd and 3rd STAGE of the race: 11 episodes total, numbered 2 through 12 if you’re counting the March special as episode 1.
The backstory: why fans were furious
Steel Ball Run premiered March 19, 2026 with a single 47-minute episode — and then nothing. No schedule, no date, no word. For a fandom that waited 16 years after the manga ended for this adaptation, a one-episode drop followed by radio silence went over like a lead balloon, and the backlash was loud enough that the production openly changed course: weekly Fridays, eleven episodes, confirmed.
Where the race left off
The 1st STAGE ended with Gyro Zeppeli taking the win — but the real story was the strange occurrences seeded along the route, and the quiet introduction of the cast that will define the run: Johnny Joestar, Gyro, and the racers behind them. The new stages promise new characters and escalating weirdness, and anyone who knows the manga knows exactly which names to be afraid of. (No spoilers here — just know that Steel Ball Run is widely considered Araki’s masterpiece for a reason.)
Can you start with Steel Ball Run?
Yes — and this is the part new fans always ask. Steel Ball Run is Part 7, but it takes place in an alternate universe: new JoJo, new cast, new rules. You can absolutely jump in on Friday knowing nothing but “a horse race across America gets increasingly unhinged.” Veterans will catch extra flavor from the earlier parts, but nothing blocks a cold start. (Parts 1–6 — 190 episodes — are also on Netflix if the bug bites.)
Why this matters for the fall season
The fall 2026 lineup is stacked — we have the full premiere schedule here — with Apothecary Diaries Season 3, Blue Box Season 2, and Ranma 1/2 Season 3 arriving through October. Steel Ball Run going weekly is the first domino, and honestly, the one with the most pent-up demand. And 2027 is already booking up too.
We’ll update with any schedule changes as the season runs.
FAQ
When do new Steel Ball Run episodes come out?
Every Friday at 17:00 JST on Netflix — 1 AM PDT / 4 AM EDT / 9 AM BST — starting September 25, 2026, for 11 episodes.
Is Steel Ball Run on Crunchyroll?
No — it’s a Netflix exclusive worldwide, same as Stone Ocean was.
How many episodes are there?
One 47-minute special (March 2026) plus 11 weekly episodes in this block, covering the 2nd and 3rd stages of the race.
Do I need to watch the other JoJo parts first?
No — Steel Ball Run is set in an alternate universe and works as a fresh start.
