Elevated levels of lipids, in particular saturated fatty acids, are known to be associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and to have a negative effect on β‐cell function and survival. We bring new evidence indicating that palmitate up‐regulates cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) expression levels in human islets and in MIN6 β cells, and that it is elevated in islets isolated from T2D donors. Both small interfering specific cyclooxygenase‐2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) or the COX‐2 inhibitor celecoxib significantly inhibited apoptosis induced by palmitate. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), the predominant product of COX‐2 enzymatic activity, activates membrane receptors, which are members of the GPCR‐family (EP1‐EP4). In the present study, elevated expression of the PGE2 receptor subtype 3 (EP3) receptor was observed in β cells exposed to palmitate and in islets from individuals with T2D. Down‐regulation of the pathway using EP3 siRNA or the specific L‐798, 106 antagonist markedly decreased the levels of palmitate‐induced apoptosis. Altogether, our data put forward the COX‐2‐PGE2‐EP3 pathway as one of the mediators of palmitate‐induced apoptosis in β‐cells.—Amior, L., Srivastava, R., Nano, R., Bertuzzi, F., Melloul, D. The role of Cox‐2 and prostaglandin E2 receptor EP3 in pancreatic β‐cell death. FASEB J. 33, 4975–4986 (2019). http://www.fasebj.org