The Ultimate New Year’s Eve Countdown: When and How to Watch the Epic ‘Stranger Things 5’ Finale Tonight

As 2025 draws to a close, fans of the Upside Down are preparing for a different kind of midnight celebration. Netflix is set to drop the highly anticipated series finale of Stranger Things 5—referred to as Volume 3—on New Year’s Eve, bringing the global phenomenon to its definitive conclusion.

If you’re planning your viewing party, here is everything you need to know about the release time, the episode’s massive runtime, and what to expect from the Hawkins crew’s final stand.

source - Netflix

Release Date and Global Timings

The finale is scheduled to launch globally on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. To ensure you don’t miss a second of the action, here are the specific rollout times:

• United States (PT): 5:00 PM

• United States (ET): 8:00 PM

• India (IST): 6:30 AM (Thursday, January 1, 2026)

For U.S. viewers, the timing offers the perfect opportunity to ring in the New Year with the Duffer Brothers’ masterpiece, while fans in India and other Eastern territories will wake up to the finale on New Year’s Day.

Chapter 8: The Feature-Length Conclusion

The final episode, titled "Chapter 8: The Rightside Up," is set to be the most ambitious installment in the show’s history. The Duffer Brothers have confirmed that the finale clocks in at a staggering 2 hours and 8 minutes, making it the longest episode of the fifth season.

This extended runtime is expected to provide a comprehensive resolution to the battle against Vecna and the ultimate fate of Eleven, Mike, Will, and the rest of the Hawkins survivors.

The Road to the Finale

The fifth and final season has been delivered in a unique three-part rollout. The first four episodes (Volume 1) debuted on November 26, followed by the mid-season drop (Volume 2) on Christmas Day. By saving the singular finale for New Year’s Eve, Netflix has turned the end of the series into a month-long global event.

What to Expect

While plot details remain under wraps, recent promos featuring stars Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo have kept the hype at a fever pitch. With the title "The Rightside Up" mirroring the Season 1 finale "The Upside Down," fans are speculating that the series will come full circle, potentially ending the threat of the alternate dimension once and for all.

Grab your Eggos and settle in—the gate is closing for the last time tonight.