We’re now approaching six months since the epic, tear-jerking finale of Stranger Things 5, and we know we’re not the only ones who are still reeling from that huge New Year’s Eve series finale. While the seminal series that defined the last decade of pop culture has officially closed its doors, the Duffer Brothers’ Upside Down pictures aren’t over yet.
If you think Hawkins is closing forever, think again. From highly anticipated new TV spin-offs to lasting in-person experiences, the Stranger Things universe is expanding in ways we never thought possible. Below, we’ll take a look at everything that’s been announced and what’s to come Stranger things.
Don’t forget that the Duffer Brothers have also recently made some projects that are now on Netflix: something very bad is going to happen And borough. The former, we’ve confirmed, is definitely a limited series, so don’t expect any future installments borough Sets up future seasons very clearly, and the creators have mentioned a 3-season arc. We have confirmed that it is already in active development, but not officially updated yet.
Upcoming TV and Streaming Projects and Netflix
Stranger Things 10th Anniversary
In order of stranger things Season 5, leaks were rampant. Those leaks contained a lot of story details about that final season, which were absolutely accurate (but we didn’t report – sorry!), as well as the news that Stories of ’85 Will come in early 2026, which proved to be true. Another event on the timeline graphic was the 10th anniversary event, which will occur in 2026. Yes, it was on July 15, 2016, when the series was first released, and we’re coming up on the 10th anniversary.
Sadly, the details of what exactly Netflix is planning for its anniversary remain under lock and key. We’ve heard all kinds of theories. Our Stranger Things spoilers predicted by Friends“The celebration could potentially include new announcements, spin-off updates, and special content, possibly even Season 5 bloopers or behind-the-scenes content.”
We know there are product crossovers for the anniversary, including Funko Pops:
The new Stranger Things Funko Pops are already appearing in some stores.
– Eleven (10th Anniversary)
– Will (10th Anniversary)
– Hopper (10th Anniversary)
– Barb (10th Anniversary)
– Dustin (Bachelor)
– Steve (Final Battle) pic.twitter.com/otiGG16ls3– Strange Things Updates (@Updates_SThings) 15 May 2026
Stranger Things: The Complete Series
Expected Release: July 27 (UK) and July 28, 2026 (US/Canada)
If you’ve ever been waiting for the ultimate way to keep your trips to the Upside Down safe in case the Wi-Fi goes out, you’re in luck. While physical media releases for Netflix Originals are incredibly rare, Netflix is officially teaming up with renowned boutique label Arrow Video to release a massive Stranger Things: The Complete Series box set on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD!
Arrow Video is definitely pulling out all the stops for the streamer’s undisputed crown jewel. Scheduled to be released on July 27 in the UK and July 28 in the US and Canada, the main event is a dimension-splitting 25-disc deluxe edition (priced at $269.99 / £219.99 for the 4K UHD version).
So, what exactly are you getting for your hard-earned Scoops Ahoy paycheck? All 42 episodes of the show’s entire five seasons will be presented in stunning 4K Dolby Vision, complete with Dolby Atmos audio tracks for the cinematic final two seasons. The box set is packed with over five hours of bonus features, including bloopers, behind-the-scenes set tours and cast interviews. You’ll also get a 148-page perfect-bound artbook featuring concept art, storyboards, and brand-new writing from the Duffer Brothers, Shawn Levy, and Andrew Stanton.
For hardcore collectors, Arrow has equipped this set with special physical memorabilia: a self-adhesive Hellfire Club patch, a custom Hellfire Club d20 die, a Palace Arcade coin, a double-sided fold-out map of Hawkins, 25 art cards, five posters, and new wrap-around box artwork by Juan Ramos and Kyle Lambert.
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 (Season 2)
Expected Release: end of 2026
If you’ve already watched the 10-episode first season of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, which just released on April 23, you’re in luck! Netflix wasted no time in renewing the hit animated series, and Season 2 is already confirmed to arrive in late 2026, with the season expected to arrive in September or October, just in time for Halloween.
Developed by Eric Robles (Fanboy and Chum Chum, Glitch Tech) with the Duffer Brothers, the Saturday-morning-cartoon-inspired series takes place in the gap between seasons 2 and 3. It includes an entirely new voice cast for our favorite party members (Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max) as they take on the new Upside Down creature remains.
It is unclear whether the show will continue beyond this previously planned second season. A few years ago, you may remember we reported on another animated project called Stranger Things: Tokyo. That project has been MIA since we discovered it, but fingers crossed, Tales of ’85 won’t be the last animated adventure from the world of Stranger Things.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow (Proshot/Filmed Stage Play)
Expected Release: late 2026/2027
Photo CR. Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman/Netflix
If you couldn’t make it to London’s West End or New York’s Broadway to see the Tony-winning stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Netflix has you covered.
Serving as the canonical prequel to the television series, the play written by Kate Treffrey chronicles Henry Creel’s teenage years before his transformation into Vecna. In February 2026, the Broadway production at the Marquis Theater The demonstration was stopped for a week Allowing Netflix to film the original cast professionally. Although Netflix hasn’t revealed an exact streaming date yet, we expect this highly anticipated ProShot to arrive on the platform very soon – potentially bridging the gap before any live-action spin-offs arrive.
However, we would recommend watching the drama in person if you can. At the time of publication, the London version is selling tickets until December 20, 2026, and the Broadway version until September 6, 2026.
Untitled live-action Stranger Things spin-off
Expected Release: tbd
Ten million. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
The most mysterious project on the Upside Down Pictures slate is an upcoming live-action spin-off. We finally got a big, albeit vague, update this May, when Matt and Ross Duffer sat down in Los Angeles for a live taping of Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast.
Here’s what they’ve confirmed: The show won’t follow Eleven, Dustin, Mike, or any of the core Hawkins crew we’ve spent the last decade with. “It’s very early… but it’s for sure, it’s completely new characters, completely different,” the brothers explained. He also firmly shut down online rumors that it would be a Black Mirror-style anthology format.
And for those of you wondering, was that final scene of Stranger Things 5 featuring Mike’s little sister, Holly Wheeler, secretly setting up a “Next Generation” sequel? The Duffers laughed off that theory. He noted that if Holly starts seeing monsters and calls her brother for help, “it’s like we’re making Stranger Things again”. The final scene was entirely about Mike remembering his childhood and lighting the torch. In fact, this new live-action series is the only spin-off idea they’ve been considering for the past seven years.
However, don’t expect to return to the Upside Down anytime soon. The producers are currently prioritizing a completely original, non-IP genre feature film for Paramount, which they began writing in April. Calling the film a “Swiss watch” for which their brains are taught to write for a 2-hour runtime, the Duffers acknowledged that the film “is what we’re mostly focusing on right now”.
They’re refusing to fast-track the Netflix spin-off just to get a release date. He insisted, “Nobody wants to do that to keep Stranger Things going.” “Like, it has to be amazing or it has to be forgettable.” With no showrunner formally attached yet (although we have heard of an exclusive name coming up – Netflix declined to comment), as they bounce between projects, we don’t expect this highly-anticipated spin-off to hit our screens until late 2027 or 2028 at the earliest.
personal experience
Netflix House Locations and Stranger Things: Face the Darkness
Expected Rollout: Now available in Dallas and Philadelphia – Las Vegas (2027)
Netflix has officially entered the brick-and-mortar retail and entertainment arena with Netflix House! Locations in Dallas (Galleria Dallas) and Philadelphia (King of Prussia) successfully opened in 2025, but the big news is that a massive Las Vegas venue is currently scheduled to open its doors in 2027.
For Stranger Things fans, these places are the main attractions Stranger Things: Face the Darkness. Powered by AlterFace technology, this immersive walkthrough attraction equips you with a flashlight and binaural headphones, casting you as a member of a search and rescue team searching for missing civilians in the post-season 4 Hawkins. You’ll see famous sets like the Eddie Munson trailer and Castle Byers in physical form.
Which upcoming Stranger Things project are you most excited about? Are you looking forward to the live-action spin-off, or are you preferring the ’85 animated stories? Let us know in the comments below!
