Mark your calendars. The Upside Down is coming back one last time, and it’s bringing a war.
Netflix has finally unveiled the release schedule for the fifth and final season of Stranger Things, and the showdown between Vecna and our Hawkins heroes is set to unfold across three explosive drops:
- Volume 1: November 26, 2025, 5pm PT
- Volume 2: December 25, 2025, 5pm PT
- The Finale: December 31, 2025, 5pm PT
After years of speculation, delays, and cryptic teases, the end is in sight, and so is the return of the full party.
The Final Season: What We Know So Far
Set in the fall of 1987, Season 5 picks up after the catastrophic opening of the Rifts. Hawkins has become a fractured, militarized zone, with the government stepping up its hunt for Eleven and placing the town under full quarantine. Vecna has disappeared, his location and next move unknown. But as the anniversary of Will Byers’ original disappearance creeps closer, a new darkness threatens everything.
Eleven is back in hiding. The group is scattered. And yet, the stakes are higher than ever. To win this war, they’ll need everyone, the full party, together for one final stand.
Watch The Teaser
The Cast and Creators
The series remains under the creative direction of The Duffer Brothers, who serve as executive producers alongside Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen through 21 Laps Entertainment.
Season 5 brings back the core cast fans have followed for nearly a decade:
- Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven
- Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler
- David Harbour as Jim Hopper
- Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers
- Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson
- Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair
- Noah Schnapp as Will Byers
- Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield
- Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, and Jamie Campbell Bower also return.
- New additions include Linda Hamilton as Dr. Kay and Jake Connelly, Alex Breaux, and Nell Fisher in key roles.
The Legacy of Stranger Things
Launched in July 2016, Stranger Things didn’t just become a hit, it became a global pop culture force. The series helped Netflix define the binge-watch era, pulled millions into Hawkins, and revived everything from Dungeons & Dragons to Kate Bush.
Season 4 alone brought in over 140 million views globally, and the show has racked up over 70 major awards, including Emmys, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominations across more than 230 categories.
Beyond the main series, the Stranger Things universe continues to expand:
- The Tony-nominated stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow opened on Broadway in April 2025.
- An animated series is already set for 2026.
- A growing collection of books, lifestyle products, and global events, including the Stranger Things Experience, keep fans immersed year-round.
- And of course, November 6 is now unofficially known worldwide as Stranger Things Day, commemorating the day Will Byers vanished.
What to Expect in the Endgame
Season 5 promises to wrap up every thread, personal and supernatural, that’s been building since Episode 1. Expect emotional reunions, high-stakes battles, and a final confrontation with Vecna that could reshape the world as we know it. The party has come a long way from flashlights and walkie-talkies. Now, they’re facing a war they might not all survive.
And that’s what makes it worth watching.
The Poster
