Picture Credit: Netflix
We’re now coming up on six months since the epic, tear-jerking conclusion of Stranger Things 5, and we know we aren’t the only ones still recovering from that massive New Year’s Eve series finale. While the flagship series that defined the last decade of pop culture has officially closed its doors, the Duffer Brothers’ Upside Down Pictures is far from finished.
If you thought Hawkins was shutting down for good, think again. From highly anticipated new TV spin-offs to permanent in-person immersive experiences, the Stranger Things universe is expanding in ways we never thought possible. Below, we’ll take a look at everything announced as to what’s coming up for Stranger Things.
Don’t forget that The Duffer Brothers also just produced a couple of projects that are now on Netflix: Something Very Bad is Going to Happen and The Boroughs. The former, we’ve confirmed, is definitely a limited series, so do not expect any future installments, but The Boroughs very clearly sets up future seasons, and the creators have mentioned a 3-season arc. We’ve confirmed it’s already in active development, but not yet officially renewed.
Upcoming TV & Streaming Projects and Netflix
Stranger Things 10th Anniversary
In the run-up to Stranger Things season 5, leaks were rampant. Among those leaks were lots of story details about that final season, which were all pretty accurate (but we didn’t report on – sorry!), plus the news that Tales from ’85 would be coming in early 2026, which turned out to be true. Another event on a timeline graphic was a 10th Anniversary event, which will occur in 2026. Yes, it was on July 15th, 2016, when the series was first released, and we’re coming up to the 10-year anniversary.
Sadly, details on what exactly Netflix plans for its anniversary are under lock and key. We’ve heard all manner of theories. Our friends at Stranger Things Spoilers predicted, “The celebration could potentially include new announcements, spin-off updates, and special content, possibly even Season 5 bloopers or behind-the-scenes material.”
We do 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 (graduation)
– Steve (final battle) pic.twitter.com/otiGG16ls3— Stranger Things Updates (@Updates_SThings) May 15, 2026
Stranger Things: The Complete Series
Expected Release: July 27 (UK) & July 28, 2026 (US/Canada)
If you’ve been waiting for the ultimate way to preserve your trips to the Upside Down in case the Wi-Fi ever goes out, you’re in luck. While physical media releases for Netflix Originals are incredibly rare, Netflix is officially teaming up with the legendary 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 absolutely pulling out all the stops for the streamer’s undisputed crown jewel. Scheduled to hit shelves on July 27th in the UK and July 28th in the US and Canada, the main event is the 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 across the show’s entire five-season run will be presented in stunning 4K Dolby Vision, complete with Dolby Atmos audio tracks for the cinematic final two seasons. The box set is also packed to the brim 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 the hardcore collectors, Arrow has loaded this set with exclusive 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: Late 2026
If you’ve already binged the 10-episode first season of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 that just dropped on April 23, you’re in luck! Netflix didn’t waste any time renewing the hit animated series, and Season 2 is already confirmed to arrive in late 2026, expected in September or October before Halloween.
Developed by Eric Robles (Fanboy & Chum Chum, Glitch Techs) alongside the Duffer Brothers, the Saturday-morning-cartoon-inspired series takes place in the gap between Seasons 2 and 3. It features an entirely new voice cast for our favorite party members (Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max) as they take on new Upside Down creature remnants.
It’s unclear whether the show can or will continue beyond this pre-planned second season. A few years ago, you may recall we reported on another animated project called Stranger Things: Tokyo. That project has been MIA ever since we scooped it, but fingers crossed, Tales from ’85 won’t be the last animated adventures 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 a canonical prequel to the television series, the Kate Trefry-penned play follows the teenage years of Henry Creel before his transformation into Vecna. Back in February 2026, the Broadway production at the Marquis Theatre paused performances for a week to allow Netflix to professionally film the original cast. While Netflix hasn’t dropped an exact streaming date yet, we expect this highly anticipated proshot to land on the platform very soon—likely bridging the gap before any live-action spin-off arrives.
We would recommend watching the play in person, though, if you can. As of the time of publishing, the London version is selling tickets through December 20th, 2026, and the Broadway version through September 6th, 2026.
Untitled Live-Action Stranger Things Spin-Off
Expected Release: TBD
Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025
The most mysterious project on the Upside Down Pictures slate is the upcoming live-action spin-off. We finally got a major, albeit vague, update this May when Matt and Ross Duffer sat down for a live taping of Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast in Los Angeles.
Here is what they definitively confirmed: the show will not follow Eleven, Dustin, Mike, or any of the core Hawkins crew we’ve spent the past decade with. “It’s very early… but it’s definitely, it’s totally new characters, totally different,” the brothers explained. They also firmly shut down online rumors that it would be a Black Mirror-style anthology format.
And for those of you wondering if that final scene of Stranger Things 5 featuring Mike’s younger sister, Holly Wheeler, was secretly setting up a “Next Generation” sequel? The Duffers laughed that theory off. They noted that if Holly started seeing monsters and calling her brother for help, “it’s like we’re just making Stranger Things again”. The final scene was purely about Mike remembering his childhood and passing the torch. In fact, this new live-action series is the only spin-off idea they’ve been sitting on for the past seven years.
However, don’t expect to return to the Upside Down anytime soon. The creators are currently prioritizing an entirely original, non-IP genre feature film for Paramount, which they began writing in April. Calling the movie a “Swiss watch” that requires reteaching their brains how to write for a 2-hour runtime, the Duffers admitted the film is “mostly what we’re focused on right now”.
They are outright refusing to fast-track the Netflix spin-off just to hit a release date. “No one wants to just do it to continue Stranger Things,” they stressed. “Like, it has to be awesome or forget it.” With no showrunner formally attached yet (although we’ve had one particular name floated to us – 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.
In-Person Experiences
Netflix House Locations & Stranger Things: Face the Dark
Expected Rollout: Available Now in Dallas and Philadelphia – Las Vegas (2027)
Netflix has officially moved into the brick-and-mortar retail and entertainment space 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, the main draw at these locations is Stranger Things: Face the Dark. Powered by Alterface technology, this immersive walkthrough attraction arms you with a flashlight and binaural headphones, casting you as a search-and-rescue team member hunting for missing citizens in a post-Season 4 Hawkins. You’ll physically explore legendary sets like Eddie Munson’s trailer and Castle Byers.
Which upcoming Stranger Things project are you most excited about? Are you waiting for the live-action spin-off, or are you loving the animated Tales from ’85? Let us know in the comments below!
