Will There Be a Season 6 of Stranger Things? Here's What We Know
January 1, 2026
Stranger Things has wrapped up its epic narrative with the conclusion of Season 5, but the franchise’s story is far from over. While the main series has come to an end, the universe continues to expand through planned spinoffs and upcoming projects.
The End of the Main Series
Season 5 marked the finale of the Hawkins saga, bringing many characters' stories to a close. Most of the cast enjoyed a happy ending, with some significant milestones:
- Vecna was defeated.
- Hopper and Joyce got engaged.
- The kids moved forward with their lives.
- Eleven's fate remains ambiguous—either trapped in the Upside Down or finding peace elsewhere.
To understand the full story, check out our Stranger Things ending explainer, including details on who died during the climax.
According to the Duffer brothers, the creators, this was a comprehensive conclusion:
“We do every last remaining thing we wanted to do with the Demogorgons, Mind Flayer, Vecna, and the Upside Down. This is a complete story. It’s done.” —Matt Duffer
No Season 6—The Main Story Ends
With Season 5, the Hawkins narrative officially closes. Given their deal with Paramount, the Duffer brothers' focus will now shift away from Netflix, signaling the end of their tenure with the platform. The story levels that were built over five seasons are now complete, leaving no immediate plans for a sixth installment.
Future of Stranger Things: Spinoffs and New Projects
Despite the main series ending, the universe of Stranger Things is far from finished. Netflix has ambitious plans for spinoffs and related content, including:
Spinoffs in Development
Ross Duffer explains that future projects will explore different worlds and characters, maintaining some connective tissue but adopting an anthologized approach:
“They’re going to live in a bit of a different world... We’re not Star Wars. We’re more like starting fresh with new characters and storylines.”
Matt Duffer adds that these spinoffs will be standalone, involving:
“A new story and new location with entirely different actors and characters. It’s its own entity.”
Upcoming Spinoff: Stranger Things: Tales From ’85
While details are limited, an animated prequel titled Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is set to premiere sometime this year. Set during the Season 2 period, the animated series features cartoon versions of the Hawkins heroes battling new monsters and unraveling mysteries.
Matt Duffer describes the animation style as reminiscent of 1980s Saturday morning cartoons, envisioning a series that can continue endlessly:
“The kids can stay young forever.”
Final Thoughts
While the main storyline of Stranger Things has reached a satisfying conclusion, the franchise's universe will continue to grow through animated prequels, spinoffs, and other projects. Fans can look forward to new adventures and stories, even if they’re separate from the original Hawkins saga.
For more details on the series, check out our Season 5 soundtrack, and explore our rankings of the best Stranger Things characters and best episodes.