The final season of Netflix’s global hit Stranger Things is officially here, but the show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers, are saying goodbye with a unique release plan. The last eight episodes are split across three holiday-themed drops, with the middle batch of episodes arriving on Christmas Day. This schedule affects when viewers in different countries can press play, as all episodes debut at a specific U.S. primetime.
The season continues the story in the fall of 1987, with the town of Hawkins under military quarantine after the rifts to the Upside Down tore open. Our heroes are united with one goal: find and kill Vecna, who has vanished. With the government hunting Eleven, forcing her into hiding, the group must stand together one last time to face a darkness more powerful than anything before.
The Official Holiday Release Schedule For Season 5
The fifth season is being released in three distinct volumes, each tied to a major holiday. Volume 1, consisting of the first four episodes, arrived on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. This set the stage for the final battle.
Volume 2 contains the next three episodes. Netflix will release them globally on Thursday, December 25, 2025—Christmas Day.
The series will then conclude with Volume 3, which is the epic final episode. Fans can watch the finale on Wednesday, December 31, 2025—New Year’s Eve.
Exact Global Release Times For Volume 2 And The Finale
Unlike most Netflix releases that drop at midnight Pacific Time, Stranger Things Season 5 is using a U.S. primetime release model. Every volume will go live at 5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time (PST). This central release time means the calendar date you see the episodes depends entirely on your time zone.
For Volume 2 on December 25, this means:
- United States & Canada: December 25 at 5:00 PM PST / 8:00 PM EST.
- United Kingdom and Portugal: December 26 at 1:00 AM GMT.
- Central Europe (France, Germany, Italy): December 26 at 2:00 AM CET.
- Australia (Sydney, Melbourne): December 26 at 12:00 PM AEDT.
- New Zealand: December 26 at 4:00 PM NZDT.
For the Finale on December 31, the pattern repeats:
- United States & Canada: December 31 at 5:00 PM PST / 8:00 PM EST.
- United Kingdom and Portugal: January 1, 2026 at 1:00 AM GMT.
- Central Europe: January 1, 2026 at 2:00 AM CET.
- Australia: January 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM AEDT.
- New Zealand: January 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM NZDT.
What To Expect In Volume 2: New Powers And Major Mysteries
Volume 1 ended with several game-changing reveals that will drive the story into the next chapters. The Duffer Brothers and cast have teased what’s coming next.
A major focus will be exploring the true nature of the Upside Down. The creators have stated that answers they planned a decade ago will finally be revealed.
“That really is a Volume 2 thing, where we really get into the Upside Down, and we explain what it is,” Ross Duffer told Deadline.
The story will also draw direct parallels to the first season, particularly through the kidnapping of Holly Wheeler. Her experience mirrors Will Byers’ original disappearance, helping to explain why Will was taken in 1983.
Furthermore, Will Byers’ new psychic powers will be a key plot point. Actor Noah Schnapp explained that his abilities work differently from Eleven’s and will evolve in Volume 2.
“For Will, we start to learn the parallels between Will and Vecna, and it almost felt very Harry Potter to me,” Schnapp said, comparing the dynamic to Harry Potter and Voldemort.
Other storylines include the mysterious motives of the new character Dr. Kay, the significant return of Eleven’s sister Kali (008), and the critical role of Max, who is alive but trapped inside Vecna’s mind.
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How To Watch: Streaming And A Special Theatrical Event
All episodes of Stranger Things Season 5 are available exclusively on Netflix. You need an active Netflix subscription to stream the series.
In a unique move for a streaming show, Netflix is also giving fans a chance to experience the finale on the big screen. There will be a limited theatrical release for the final episode, Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up.
“We’re beyond excited that fans will have the chance to experience the final episode of Stranger Things in theaters — it’s something we’ve dreamed about for years,” the Duffer brothers said in a statement.
Screenings in over 350 theaters across the U.S. and Canada will begin at the exact same time as the Netflix premiere: 5:00 PM PST / 8:00 PM EST on December 31. These special showings will continue through January 1, 2026.
The final episode is reported to be a cinematic event in itself, with a runtime of approximately two hours and thirty minutes, making it the longest episode in the series’ history.
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