Abbott Elementary Season 3: Release Date, Trailer, and Everything Else to Know

It's time to pick out your back-to-school outfit: Abbott Elementary is almost back. The Emmy-winning series, led by creator and star Quinta Brunson, last aired in April 2023, with a season finale that forced some of Abbott's fearless faculty to face their feelings.

During the Season 2 finale's sleepover field trip to the Franklin Institute, Janine (Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) finally admitted their feelings for each other after kissing at the teacher conference — and there were no take-backs this time! But it came at a moment when Janine realized she needed to not be in a relationship for a while, so the adorable non-couple decided to remain friends, for now.

As for the other teachers, Jacob (Chris Perfetti) came through for Gregory after he panicked over getting the cold shoulder from Janine before their mutual confessions, and Ava (Janelle James) got terrifyingly honest with the students about aliens. With many of them scared by the revelation, all hell broke loose when they thought there was one in the museum — only to realize it was Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) wearing a CPAP machine to sleep.

Ava, meanwhile, went to night school in Season 2 after realizing she actually liked school — a revelation she had after sitting in on Jacob's Black History class. Based on the new trailer for Season 3, it seems like Ava's educational journey was just getting started.

Here's everything we know about Abbott Elementary Season 3, including when it returns and who will be joining the cast.

Abbott Elementary Season 3 release date

After a long hiatus, Abbott Elementary is kicking off its new season with a supersized premiere. Abbott Elementary returns with an hour-long Season 3 premiere on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 9/8c on ABC. It's preceded by The Conners at 8/7c and Not Dead Yet at 8:30/7:30c. Here's ABC's full schedule for the 2024 midseason.

Abbott Elementary Season 3 trailer

Technically, Abbott Elementary didn't get a new principal over the break — but it kind of feels like it did. The new trailer for Season 3, released Jan. 31, shows us Ava as we've never seen her before: keeping things professional. She's not even harassing Gregory anymore. "I went to Harvard this summer," she says in the new footage. "I've learned what it truly takes to do the job of a principal." It's a new era for everyone.

Season 3 production

The writers and actors strikes in 2023 pushed back a number of shows that were originally slated for fall premieres, including Abbott Elementary. According to actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, the writers were originally supposed to begin work on Season 3 on May 3, 2023, two days after the Writers Guild of America strike began. During the 146-day strike, nothing was written for the new season. In September, the producers of Abbott Elementary, including Brunson, made headlines when they launched a strike fund to help support the show's 152-person crew during the work stoppage. 

Only after the strike ended on Sept. 27 did news begin trickling out about when Hollywood writers might return to work. On Sept. 29, Deadline reported Abbott Elementary would restart its Season 3 writers room the week of Oct. 2. 

Season 3 began filming in late November, per Deadline, after the end of the actors strike.

Season 3 cast

Your favorite teachers will be back, including Janine, Gregory, Barbara, Ava, Jacob, and Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter), as well as everyone's favorite custodian, Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis).

The third season has also added a few new recurring cast members: Deadline reported on Jan. 29 that Josh Segarra (The Other Two), Kimia Behpoornia (Good Trouble), and Benjamin Norris (Never Have I Ever) will play "good-natured Philadelphia school district representatives who aim to bring fresh perspectives to their roles as school ambassadors."

Previously, the explosive success of the series brought a number of famous faces to Abbott in Season 2, including Leslie Odom Jr. as an Abbott Elementary alum attempting to turn Abbott into a charter school. The season introduced two of Janine's family members –– her mom, Vanetta (played by Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson), and her sister, Ayesha (played by Emmy winner Ayo Edebiri). And Orlando Jones has appeared as Gregory's father, Martin Eddie, in Seasons 1 and 2. It remains to be seen whether any of those guest stars will return in the new season. 

More shows like Abbott Elementary

Want some extra credit until Abbott Elementary returns? We've rounded up a whole course of comedies that fans of the show will love. Here are more TV shows like Abbott Elementary.

How to watch Abbott Elementary

Season 3 of Abbott Elementary premieres Wednesday, Feb. 7 on ABC. New episodes will be available the next day on Hulu. Select episodes can also be streamed on ABC.com.

Seasons 1 and 2 of Abbott Elementary can be streamed on Hulu and Max.