'High School Musical: The Musical — The Series' season 3 — everything we know

High School Musical cast
The High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season 2 cast. (Image credit: Disney+)

Following the hugely successful second season earlier this year, it's just been confirmed that the East High Wildcats will be back with an all-singing, all-dancing third season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Here’s all we know about the Disney Plus series.

High School Musical: The Musical — The Series Season 3 release date

Production for the third season of the musical drama will relocate from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles and begin later this year.

During its Disney Plus Day celebration, the streaming service announced that High School Musical: The Musical - The Series season 3 will have a 2022 release.

What’s the plot?

The main thing we know about this third season is that it appears the Wildcats will be 'breaking free' from the high school as they 'leave the corridors of East High for the ultimate summer at sleepaway camp, complete with campfires, summer romances and curfew-less nights'. 

"We are overjoyed to be heading to the great outdoors for season three, and grateful to our partners and friends at Disney+ for their continued support of our next-generation Wildcats," says creator and executive producer, Tim Federle.

Here's what happened in Season Two...

Ricky (Joshua Bassett), Nini (Olivia Rodrigo), Kourtney (Dara Reneé), E.J. (Matt Cornett), Big Red (Larry Saperstein) and the gang are expecting High School Musical 2 to be their spring show. But when Miss Jenn (Kate Reinders) bumps into her ex-boyfriend Zack (Dancing with the Stars’ Derek Hough) — who has an unlimited budget to direct the musical at rival school North High — everything changes… 

“Everyone at East High starts preparing for High School Musical 2 but then Miss Jenn decides they’re going to perform Beauty and the Beast instead,” explains Joshua Bassett, who plays Ricky. “Unfortunately, North High also decide to do Beauty and the Beast, so not only are the East High gang fighting for roles for themselves, they’re competing with this other school, who are trying to outdo them to win a prestigious local theatre award. Expect chaos, drama… and rivalry!”

Are Ricky and Nini still together? 

Away from school, it seems Ricky and Nini (Olivia Rodrigo) are stronger than ever — but Nini still hasn’t told Ricky she got into the Youth Actors Conservatory in Denver, miles away from Salt Lake City. Later, Nini drops a bombshell…

"At the end of season one, we saw Ricky and Nini figuring out their problems and coming back together,” reveals Joshua. “But happy endings don’t always last and, this season, they’re learning how to navigate their relationship when life throws curveballs at them.”

High School Musical Ricky Nini

Will Ricky and Nini be forced to navigate a long-distant relationship? (Image credit: Disney+)

What lies in store for our other show favourites?

Well, Ashlyn (Julia Lester) has a crisis of confidence about the new musical; fortunately boyfriend Big Red (Larry Saperstein) is on hand to give her the support she needs, while Carlos (Frankie Rodriguez) and Seb (Joe Serafini) have some minor — and often hilarious! — hiccups in their relationship. Meanwhile, E.J. (Matt Cornett) is preparing for college, Gina (Sofia Wylie) wants her own time in the spotlight and Kourtney (Dara Renée) lands a new job! 

high school musical group

Lights... Camera... Action: All our favourite East High Wildcats are back! (Image credit: Disney+)

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series… why should you watch it?

With humour, drama and lots of toe-tapping song and dance numbers, this second season of High School Musical has got it all… 

"Everyone’s had such a difficult year and this show is fun, heartwarming and the music is really special,” says Joshua. “This show offers an escape — and I think people can use an escape like this now, more than ever.”

high school musical logo keyart

(Image credit: Disney+)

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series returns to Disney+ soon.

Victoria Wilson
Feature Writer for What’s on TV, TV Times, TV & Satellite Week and WhatToWatch.com

With over 20 years’ experience writing about TV and film, Vicky currently writes features for What’s on TV, TV Times, TV & Satellite Week magazines plus news and watching guides for WhatToWatch.com, a job which involves chatting to a whole host of famous faces. Our Vicky LOVES light entertainment, with Strictly Come Dancing, Britain’s Got Talent and The Voice UK among her fave shows. Basically, if it’s got a shiny floor, she’s all over it! When she’s not watching TV, you might find Vicky in therapy… retail therapy that is!