Netflix has confirmed that Stranger Things season 5 will be released in three volumes, with the second volume arriving in the UK on Boxing Day (Friday 26th December). The first four episodes (Volume 1) are already available to stream, having landed on 27th November in the UK. The final volume will premiere on New Year's Day (Thursday 1st January 2026).
A new trailer teases Vecna's growing power and hints at major character deaths, with Dustin and Steve appearing in grave danger. Co-creator Matt Duffer has downplayed expectations of a 'Red Wedding'-style bloodbath, telling Variety: "The show is not Game of Thrones. I’m hoping it surprises people." Dustin actor Gaten Matarazzo advised fans to "get some tissues, get some ice cream, get some friends, and some family" for the finale.
The season is set in autumn 1987, roughly a year after season 4, and features a time jump to align the characters' ages with the now-grown cast. Episode titles include 'The Crawl', which co-creator Ross Duffer called "the most eventful first episode since season 1", and 'The Vanishing Of...', which he said has "the craziest cold open we've ever done".
Each volume releases at 5pm PT (1am UK). The two-hour finale will screen simultaneously in over 350 cinemas in the US and Canada, but no UK theatrical release has been announced.
