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Stranger Things season 5 release schedule and runtimes: What time is the finale out?

The end is almost here.

Published: Wednesday, 31 December 2025 at 10:00 am

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It all comes down to this - we are now just hours away from the release of the Stranger Thing series finale.

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The show's final ever episode comes just less than a week after season 5 volume 2 was released on Netflix, and a thrilling trailer has now been unveiled, teasing the battle ahead.

It looks to be an almighty showdown with Vecna, but creators Matt and Ross Duffer have reassured fans that there won't be a "Red Wedding situation" like in Game of Thrones, where many of their favourites perish.

Matt told The Hollywood Reporter: "I think some things happen in the finale that are very surprising, but we’re not trying to shock or upset anyone. I hope by the time people get to the end of the finale that it just feels like there’s something inevitable about what happens, and that it doesn’t feel painful but feels satisfying."

Beyond this, plot details about the finale have been kept tightly under wraps, but the Duffer Brothers did tell RadioTimes.com recently that "there's a sense of inevitability" about the ending of the series.

"When you're looking at shows that don't work, or the endings that don't work, it is when it feels like sometimes the shows are trying too hard to surprise fans or do something different," Matt said.

"So we want it to feel very much in line with the show and the endings for each of the characters to feel inevitable. That's what we're striving for."

If you're as excited as we are to find out how it all comes to a close, read on for everything you need to know about the Stranger Things season 5 release schedule, including all those lengthy runtimes, the finale's release time and its title.

Want more from Stranger Things? Check out our season 5 review, or delve into the epic soundtrack that we'll be bopping along to for weeks to come.

Stranger Things season 5 episode runtimes

The Duffer Brothers have officially revealed all of the runtimes for the episodes. All of the below are now confirmed:

Volume 1

Volume 2

The finale

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Stranger Things season 5 release schedule

Stranger Things season 5 will be released in three parts. Volume 1 is out now and was released on 26th November (27th November in the UK due to time zones).

Volume 2 is also out, and was released on 25th December (26th December, Boxing Day in the UK).

The finale will be here on 31st December (1st January, New Year's Day in the UK).

That means the release schedule is as follows:

Volume 1

Volume 2

The Finale

Stranger Things season 5 release time

Stranger Things season 5 cast

Stranger Things season 5 cast. Netflix

Usually, Netflix releases arrive at 8am UK time, but Stranger Things season 5 will buck this trend, with episodes dropping at 1am GMT.

Here's what time that works out to some time zones around the world:

Netflix also has a comprehensive list of when the episodes will be released depending on which country you're in.

Stranger Thing season 5 will conclude on New Year's Day.

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Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Louise GriffinSci-Fi and Fantasy Editor

Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.

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