McDonald’s has joined forces with Netflix to release a special Stranger Things Happy Meal, and it arrives in the United States on May 5, 2026. This limited-time promotion celebrates the new animated series called Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, which is now streaming on Netflix. The Happy Meal comes with a custom-designed box, a collectible toy, an activity book, and a QR code that leads to an interactive digital game. Fans can help the characters from Hawkins save their town from monsters while collecting exclusive items.
What Is Inside The Stranger Things Happy Meal?
Each Stranger Things Happy Meal includes several special items that make it different from a regular kids meal. The box itself has a unique design inspired by the show’s 1980s style and the Upside Down world. Inside, customers will find one of 12 different collectible toys featuring characters from the series. The toys show Eleven, Dustin, Will, Max, Lucas, and Mike along with other familiar faces from the show.
The meal also contains a themed activity book with puzzles, mazes, and trivia based on Stranger Things. A QR code is printed inside the box, and scanning it opens a digital game where players join the Hawkins Investigators Club. In this game, players help the characters fight monsters that have taken over a local McDonald’s restaurant. The digital experience matches the art style of the new animated series and gives fans a way to interact with the story beyond just collecting toys.
Two New Toys Come Out Each Week Of The Promotion
McDonald’s is releasing the 12 collectible toys in a weekly schedule during the promotion period. Two new characters become available every week, which gives customers a reason to return and collect them all. The toys are designed as clip-on accessories, so fans can attach them to backpacks, keychains, or bags. This weekly release strategy is common for McDonald’s Happy Meal promotions and helps build excitement throughout the campaign.
The collectible set includes the main characters from the Stranger Things universe. Each toy is paired with a recognizable location from the show, making them more meaningful for longtime fans of the series. People who want to complete the full set need to visit McDonald’s multiple times during the promotion.
Release Dates For Different Countries
The Stranger Things Happy Meal is rolling out across the world on different dates. According to Netflix and McDonald’s, the promotion starts in Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Peru, and Slovenia on April 28, 2026. The United States and Puerto Rico get the Happy Meal starting May 5, 2026. Many other countries will see the promotion arrive throughout May and June 2026.
Here is the release schedule for key countries:
- April 28: Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Panama, Peru, Slovenia
- April 29: Uruguay, Belgium
- April 30: Singapore, Chile, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine
- May 1: Norway, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan
- May 5: United States, Puerto Rico, Spain, France, Costa Rica
- May 7: Australia, Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland
- May 8: Portugal, Thailand
- May 15: Italy
- June 1: India
The promotion will continue to launch in more countries through August 2026, including South Korea on August 27.
The Digital Game Adds A New Layer To The Experience
One of the most talked-about parts of this Happy Meal is the QR code that unlocks a digital game. This is not just a simple mobile game. The experience lets players join the Hawkins Investigators Club and fight monsters that are spreading across the town. The story of the game involves creatures taking over a McDonald’s, and players work with Dustin and the other characters to save Hawkins.
This digital connection is important because it pulls customers into McDonald’s app ecosystem. Once people scan the QR code, they can access loyalty rewards, personalized deals, and other interactive content. It is a smart way for McDonald’s to connect with younger customers who enjoy digital experiences alongside physical toys. This marks the second Netflix collaboration for McDonald’s in 2026, following a K-Pop Demon Hunters promotion in March.
Connection To Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Animated Series
The Happy Meal is directly tied to the new animated series Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, which started streaming on April 23, 2026. The show has 10 episodes and follows Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max as they return to normal life in 1985 after closing the gate to the Upside Down. But things do not stay quiet for long. The group faces new monsters and must solve another paranormal mystery to save their town.
The animated series comes from showrunner Eric Robles and executive producers the Duffer Brothers, who created the original Stranger Things show. The art style and storytelling match the nostalgia and excitement of the original series, making it appealing to both longtime fans and new viewers. The Happy Meal promotion helps bring attention to this new show while giving fans a fun way to collect items from the Stranger Things world.
According to McDonald’s, this collaboration was a longtime dream for the Duffer Brothers, who grew up loving the brand and wanted to connect it directly to their show’s expanded universe.
“Netflix is teaming with McDonald’s to bring nerds from around the world a Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Happy Meal, inspired by the animated series from showrunner Eric Robles and executive producers the Duffer Brothers.”
How To Get The Stranger Things Happy Meal
Customers can find the Stranger Things Happy Meal at participating McDonald’s restaurants in countries where the promotion is active. The meal will be available for a limited time only, so fans who want to collect all 12 toys should plan their visits carefully. In many locations, the Happy Meal can also be ordered through delivery services like UberEats and DoorDash, making it easier for people to get the special items from home.
The price of the Happy Meal varies by country. In the United States, it will cost about the same as a regular Happy Meal with an extra charge for the special themed items. In Ukraine, for example, a standard Happy Meal costs around 159 hryvnia (approximately $4.30 USD), and the Stranger Things version is expected to have a similar price point. McDonald’s has not announced an exact global price, but it should be close to the regular Happy Meal cost in each market.
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A Growing Trend Of McDonald’s And Netflix Partnerships
This is not the first time McDonald’s has worked with Netflix on a promotion. The two companies have been building a partnership that combines fast food with popular streaming content. Earlier in 2026, McDonald’s launched a themed menu tied to another Netflix show, showing that both companies see value in these crossovers. The Stranger Things Happy Meal is bigger than previous efforts because it includes a full set of 12 toys, an activity book, and a digital game all in one package.
For McDonald’s, these promotions bring in customers of all ages. While Happy Meals are made for children, many adults who grew up watching Stranger Things are also excited to collect the toys and play the digital game. This makes the promotion successful across different age groups. For Netflix, the Happy Meal serves as a marketing tool that gets more people talking about the new animated series and keeps the Stranger Things brand alive after the main show ended in 2025.
The combination of physical collectibles and digital interaction makes this Happy Meal different from past promotions. Customers get a toy they can hold and attach to their belongings, plus a QR code that leads to an online game they can play again and again. This mix of old and new appeals to both collectors who want physical items and tech-savvy fans who enjoy interactive experiences.
