Physical 100: Italy premiered on Netflix on September 11, 2026, and it was not released all at once. The first European edition of the South Korean format has eight episodes spread across four Fridays: Episodes 1–3 arrived at launch, Episodes 4–5 come out on September 18, Episodes 6–7 on September 25, and the finale on October 2.
The schedule is one of the most visible differences in this version, but the core of Physical: 100 remains familiar: 100 competitors with different physical backgrounds enter elimination challenges until one winner remains. The Italian edition swaps the Korean setting for an arena at Lingotto in Turin and brings together people from sports, entertainment, and content creation without abandoning the idea of putting different specialties through the same tests.
Physical 100: Italy episode schedule
| Date | Episodes | How the batch fits into the season |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2026 | 1, 2, and 3 | Premiere with three episodes |
| September 18, 2026 | 4 and 5 | Second weekly batch |
| September 25, 2026 | 6 and 7 | Third weekly batch |
| October 2, 2026 | 8 | Season finale |
Netflix announced the full schedule before the premiere and described the rollout as weekly, every Friday. That means there is not one new episode every day: there are batches released on specific dates. As of September 15, 2026, only the first three episodes had been released, with the next drop scheduled for September 18.
Why did Netflix split the season into four releases?
The official sources confirm the release pattern but do not provide an editorial or commercial reason for it. What can be stated safely is that Physical 100: Italy was planned as an eight-episode season released across four Fridays rather than as a full-season binge drop.
This also clears up a common point of confusion: the span from September 11 to October 2 does not mean the season has four episodes. It has four release dates for eight episodes.
What changes in the first European edition
1. The cast and context are Italian
Netflix describes Physical 100: Italy as the competition’s first European edition. The 100 participants come from different backgrounds, including Olympic champions, athletes from sports such as rugby, celebrities, and content creators. Officially announced names include Federica Pellegrini, Tania Cagnotto, Jury Chechi, Mirco Bergamasco, Elisabetta Canalis, Alvise Rigo, and Luis Sal.
2. The arena is Lingotto
The Italian version uses Lingotto in Turin as the competition setting. Official material presents it as a monumental arena and keeps the “modern gladiators” language, tying the edition’s visual identity to Italy without changing the basic physical-survival premise.
3. The season has eight episodes
The first Korean season of Physical: 100 had nine episodes. The Italian edition was announced with eight. That is a clear scheduling difference, but it should not automatically be treated as proof that the competition has fewer quests or is less complex: the official schedule confirms the episode count, not the complete internal structure of every challenge.
4. It is a locally produced adaptation
The Italian edition is produced by Endemol Shine Italy. That reinforces that this is a market-specific adaptation of the format, not simply a Korean season filmed with European competitors.
What remains at the core of Physical: 100
The changes in country, arena, and cast do not remove the mechanics that make the format recognizable. Netflix still presents the competition as a contest among 100 people facing demanding physical trials, with progressive elimination until only one remains.
- 100 competitors: the scale of the field remains central to the concept.
- Different backgrounds: athletes and personalities with different sports, professions, and training styles are tested against one another.
- Multiple physical qualities: strength, agility, endurance, composure, and teamwork are among the abilities highlighted in official material.
- One final survivor: the structure still reduces the field toward a single winner.
- Hall of Busts: the Italian edition retains the bust gallery as part of the format’s visual identity and as a symbol that previous medals and reputations do not guarantee an advantage.
What not to assume before the next episodes
To follow the season without spoiling results, it helps to separate confirmed information from details that depend on future episodes. The official material used here should not be treated as confirmation of the full quest order, the finalists, or the winner. It is also not safe to assume that every Italian challenge will reproduce a quest from the Korean seasons exactly.
Likewise, comparisons between versions are strongest when they stay with documented points: country, cast, arena, episode count, release schedule, and premise. Performance details and eliminations belong to the episodes themselves.
How to follow the season without missing the next drops
If you want to watch close to release while limiting spoiler exposure, the simplest calendar is: Episodes 4–5 on September 18, Episodes 6–7 on September 25, and the finale on October 2. The official Netflix title page is the most direct place to check availability in your region.
