Classroom of the Elite: Year 3 (Light Novel) (2026)

“NOW THEN, LET'S BEGIN A REAL MERITOCRACY.”From their humble beginnings as Class 1-D, Horikita and her classmates are ready to begin their third year as Class 3-A! But there's no time for celebrating--the battle is far from over. With only one year left until graduation, even the smallest failure can pull them off track. Not only will they have to fight harder than ever, they'll have to do it without their most influential student: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Amid the chaos of losing Ayanokouji to Class C, Horikita’s class finds themselves faced with one cruel truth: if they can’t defeat Ayanokouji, they don’t stand a chance to graduate from Class A. Do they have what it takes to remain on top, or are they doomed to fail? Class is in session for the highly anticipated Year 3 of the hit light novel series that inspired an anime and manga!

RISE TOGETHER OR FALL APARTNow recognized as the leader of Class C, Ayanokouji works on deepening his relationships with his new classmates. Meanwhile, a mysterious new exam is announced, and the only scraps of information the students are given are: “a new exam will begin starting tomorrow” and “details will be announced in a week.” Without a clue to work off of, Class C immediately starts brainstorming what the exam might entail and how to tackle it. Class A, on the other hand, can’t seem to get back on track following the damage dealt to them at the start of the term. Can Horikita work together with Karuizawa, Kushida, and Ibuki to unite their classmates and dominate in the upcoming exam, or will their place as Class A slip from their grasp?

FIGHTING FOR SURVIVALIt’s time for this year’s Uninhabited Island Special Exam. Classes will face off in a four-day game of survival, and the first class to fall will incur a penalty in the expulsion selection, so every move counts! Students will move through the battleground, collecting food and bullets while duking it out with students from the other classes. And with GPS making their every move visible to the commanding officers in each class, strategy and group coordination is key for survival! In an exam where one wrong move can doom them to failure, can Ayanokouji lead his class to victory?