Will there be a Stranger Things season 5 episode 9 and what is Conformity Gate?

A bizarre (and recently confirmed false) rumour has taken over the Stranger Things fandom.

Just days after the Stranger Things season 5 finale, fans have proven they're not ready to say goodbye to the Netflix phenomenon thanks to a bizarre conspiracy theory.

Some viewers took to social media to insist that the series isn't in fact finished, and that there is a secret 'episode 9' on its way, after some were left less than impressed by how the show ended, particularly when it came to Eleven's (Millie Bobby Brown) ambiguous fate.

News of the upcoming Stranger Things season 5 documentary further stoked the fires, but the latest update from the streaming service has seemingly quashed this theory.

So, here's everything you need to know about the strange viral rumours and "Conformity Gate".

Will there be a Stranger Things season 5 episode 9?

No, there will not be another episode of Stranger Things. Netflix has confirmed this with its latest update.

The streaming service took to social media to set the record straight, updating the bio of the show’s official Instagram account to read: “ALL EPISODES OF STRANGER THINGS ARE NOW PLAYING.” Remember – friends don’t lie!

The only episode that has been announced is a behind-the-scenes documentary, One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5, which debuts on Monday 12th January 2026.

The show's creators, the Duffer Brothers, have not directly addressed the rumours, but have frequently referenced season 5 episode 8, titled The Rightside Up, being the final episode of the show.

Speaking recently to Variety about Eleven's ambiguous ending, Matt Duffer said: "It’s been something on our mind for a really long time.

"That was the original ending of the show when it was designed as a limited series, that El has to sacrifice herself in some way. I mean, the first thing we did when we were working on season 5 was to talk about the ending and specifically talk about Eleven and, it was hard.

"This is a character we’ve been with for 10 years. We’ve been with Millie for 10 years. So it was a really hard and emotional decision to make, but at the end of the day, it just felt right to us.

"It felt like, given the circumstances, it was the only way to actually end, permanently, everything that had been going on."

Previously chatting to RadioTimes.com, the Duffers said they wanted the ending to feel "inevitable".

Why did people think there could be a Stranger Things season 5 episode 9 and what is Conformity Gate?

Armed with a theory titled Conformity Gate, some viewers believed that the epilogue shown in the series (with the gang graduating and Jonathan, Nancy and co agreeing to meet up every month, etc), is an illusion from Vecna.

A few moments throughout the episode led fans to believe that the ending isn't actually reality. They include:

• The way the high school graduates have their hands positioned in the same way Henry Creel often does, neatly crossed in front of them at the ceremony
• The gang's campaign folders seemingly spelling out "X A LIE" - supposedly a clue that everything our heroes saw in Dimension X (AKA The Upside Down) is a lie
• Multiple copies of the WHATZIT board game left around the Wheelers' basement - supposedly a reference to Henry's alter ego

When did people think a supposed Stranger Things season 5 episode 9 was coming?

Some fans thought a new episode of Stranger Things season 5 was coming on 7th January after Netflix shared a video captioned: "Your future is on the way," with that date.

As the 7th rolled around, Netflix did indeed release a promo video, titled #WhatsNext, however it just teased their 2026 slate, featuring clips from upcoming films and shows such as Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, One Piece, Bridgeton and The Gentlemen.

Stranger Things was (unsurprisingly!) absent from the four-minute reel, however star Millie Bobby Brown does make an appearance – but for the third instalment in the Enola Holmes franchise.

There were also supposedly more "clues" including the final scene of the series featuring a 20-sided die showing a 7 – but alas, the viral theory of a “secret episode” was just that, with Netflix debunking it with the #WhatsNext promo.

So, if you’re keen for more Stranger Things, you can always tune in to the One Last Adventure documentary.

Stranger Things seasons 1-5 are available to stream on Netflix. One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 will be released on 12th January. Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85 is coming to Netflix in 2026.

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