Stranger Things 5 Has A Release Date And It’s Coming For Your Holidays

Can you hear it? That faint hum? That’s not the Demogorgon — it’s the unmistakable buzz of anticipation as Stranger Things 5 gears up to crash-land into your end-of-year plans. Netflix has finally unveiled the release schedule for the series’ fifth and final season, and it’s giving your holiday calendar a serious Hawkins-style makeover.

The final season drops in three volumes: four episodes on November 26, three episodes on Christmas, and the epic finale on New Year’s Eve — all landing at 5:00 p.m. PST. That’s right, your fall binge plans just got fully Vecna-fied.

A Final Descent Into the Upside Down

Set in fall 1987, the final chapter finds Hawkins in a state of literal and emotional rupture following the events of Season 4. Vecna has vanished, the government is enforcing a brutal military quarantine, and Eleven is once again on the run. But with the anniversary of Will’s original disappearance looming, so too is a darkness far worse than anything the gang has faced before.

This time, it’s all or nothing. The full party — from Joyce, Hopper, and Eleven to fan favorites like Dustin, Max, Robin, and yes, Steve with his bat — must band together for one last stand.

The cast includes the full roster of Stranger Things royalty: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, and more. Expect major new faces too, like Linda Hamilton stepping in as Dr. Kay.

What’s Really in the Upside Down?

If you’ve been holding out hope for real answers about the Upside Down, buckle up. The Duffer Brothers confirmed that the show’s final arc will dive deeper into the show's original mythology — including secrets from a 25-page document they gave Netflix way back in Season 1. “We’ve punted a couple of those [revelations] to have some big reveals in Season 5,” Ross Duffer teased. “And that’s really going to affect what Season 5 is about.”

So if you’ve been obsessing over that Rift Vecna tore open, or why the Upside Down is stuck in time, this is your season.

Mark Your Calendars, Nerds

Whether you’re team Eggo, team Hellfire, or still not over Eddie Munson, Stranger Things 5 promises to be a massive cultural moment — and an emotional gut punch. As the final battle looms, the real question isn’t if you’ll survive Vecna. It’s whether you’re ready to say goodbye.

Stay tuned, because Hawkins is calling — one last time.