Stranger Things season 5 is confirmed to be the final chapter of the Duffer Brothers' epic sci-fi horror saga, and the last volume in the story of Eleven, Will, and the town of Hawkins is beyond highly anticipated. The ending of the two-part season 4 of Stranger Things saw the heroes in a showdown with Vecna, while Hawkins was left facing another rift caused by the villain. The story still has one last arc to cover, though, and Stranger Things season 5 will finally bring Eleven's struggle against Vecna and the Upside Down to an end, one way or the other.

The Duffer Brothers planned Stranger Things' expansive story from the outset, with a multi-season story mapped out before Netflix introduced the world of Eleven, Hawkins, massive holiday event for Stranger Things season 5, which will hit the streaming service in three parts in 2025.

The Latest Stranger Things Season 5 News

Tudum Provides An Official 3-Part Release Schedule & Synopsis

Ross and Matt Duffer previously confirmed that 2025 was the release window for Stranger Things season 5, with further hints that this final installment wouldn't hit Netflix until near the end of the year. Now, the annual Netflix Tudum event has provided more definitive news in this regard, with the announcement that Stranger Things season 5 will be released in three parts, arriving on the streaming platform between the end of November 2025 and New Year's Eve. In addition to this monumental news, Netflix revealed the official synopsis for Stranger Things season 5, which can be read below:

“The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.”

Overall, Netflix Tudum made it evident that Stranger Things season 5 is ready to go, and its release is gearing up to be a massive, worldwide event. The trailer and detailed synopsis set the stage for the conclusion of Eleven and co.'s stories, with promises to bring things full circle. There's a massive showdown on the way as Stranger Things' heroes unite to face Vecna. It's been a long time coming, and with a release schedule that coincides with one of the most high-traffic periods in of viewership, Netflix is poised to make Stranger Things' ending even bigger than its origin.

Stranger Things Season 5 Release Dates

Netflix Tudum Announces The Official Release Schedule

In February 2025, the Duffer brothers confirmed that they were deep into the post-production process. The May 2025 Netflix Tudum event finally revealed the official release schedule for Stranger Things season 5. This final installment is being split into three "volumes," with the first four episodes releasing on November 26, the next three on Christmas Day, and the finale dropping on December 31, 2025, New Year's Eve.

Other massive Netflix series, like Cobra Kai, were also split apart during their final seasons, allowing viewers to binge a few episodes while increasing anticipation for the next part's release. Still, the dates chosen for Stranger Things season 5 tell a larger story. The first part releases the day before Thanksgiving, while the following two revolve around other major holidays, Christmas and New Year's Eve. It's evident that Netflix is encouraging viewers to settle in with friends and family during their holidays to watch Stranger Things, making this an even larger and more memorable event.

Stranger Things Season 5 Cast

The Main Cast Is Returning For The Final Time

Stranger Things has managed to avoid any controversial recasts, and Stranger Things season 5 shouldn't be any different. Even cast whose characters died are likely to be on-screen again, including Sadie Sink's Max - whose fate was in question in the season 4 finale. Netflix has confirmed this by providing an extensive list of Stranger Things season 5's cast, which includes both familiar and new names.

For example, Linda Hamilton is ing the Stranger Things season 5 cast. The actor, who is best known for playing Sarah Conner in the Terminator film franchise, will be playing a character called Dr. Kay in the episodes. Of course, this is only one name on Netflix's updated list of major players.

The confirmed cast of Stranger Things season 5 includes:

Stranger Things Season 5 Story Details

How Will The Series Conclude?

Vecna is defeated in Stranger Things season 4 part 2, but he is not killed, and his disappearance sets up his return as the villain of the final season. Meanwhile, the four gates that opened throughout Hawkins connect at its center, opening up chasms in the town with the suggestion that anything (or anyone) in the Upside Down can now enter the town. According to the Duffers, there is already a firm plan for the Stranger Things season 5 story, as they revealed in their letter to fans:

“There are still many more exciting stories to tell within the world of Stranger Things; new mysteries, new adventures, new unexpected heroes. But first we hope that you stay with us as we finish this tale of a powerful girl named Eleven and her brave friends, of a broken police chief and a ferocious mom, of a small town called Hawkins and an alternate dimension called the Upside Down. As always, we are gracious for your patience and your .”

It's known that Stranger Things season 5 will conclude the story, which means the last batch of episodes will need to be even more climactic than the ones that came before. The fate of characters like Max still hangs in the balance, and season 5 will have to address her coma immediately to satisfy fan curiosity. It is unknown at this juncture how the final season will raise the stakes, but it is expected that even more of the Upside Down will invade Hawkins.

Stranger Things Season 5 Trailer

Watch The First Teaser Below

As the wait stretched on for the final installment of the series, news come in the form of a teaser for Stranger Things season 5 that revealed the episode titles. Made in the style of the show's iconic opening, Netflix revealed all 8 episode titles before the return of Stranger Things in 2025. Though the names don't reveal much, it is important to note that episode 2's title was slightly redacted. Instead of announcing the full title, it is simply listed as "The Vanishing of______", with the name blurred out.

This means the character in question will likely be known to the audience, and Netflix is avoiding spoilers as best as possible. Since the inciting incident of the entire show was the disappearance of Will Byers in season 1, it stands to reason that the final outing is mirroring the debut season's structure.

The teaser also confirms that season 5 will take place in the fall of 1987.

The 8 episode titles are:

• "The Crawl"
• "The Vanishing of ______"
• "The Turnbow Trap"
• "Sorcerer"
• "Shock Jock"
• "Escape from Camazotz"
• "The Bridge"
• "The Rightside Up"

Netflix's 2025 Tudum came with the unveiling of the official full trailer for Stranger Things season 5. The nearly two-minute teaser leans significantly into Will's original disappearance from season 1, creating parallels between that climactic plotline and the resolution to come. From there, short glimpses of various tense scenes flash by. Though it's difficult to say exactly what all of this means for Stranger Things season 5's complete plot, the high intensity of the Tudum trailer emphasized just how thrilling of an event this final season should be.