Everything We Know So Far About the Final Season of 'The Handmaid's Tale'

Praise be! A sixth season of The Handmaid's Tale is confirmed, but sadly it will be the series' last.

Ahead of the Season 5 premiere, Hulu announced that the award-winning drama, adapted from Margaret Atwood's novel, had been renewed for its sixth and final season.

“It has been a true honor to tell the story of Margaret Atwood’s groundbreaking novel and chillingly relevant world, and we are thrilled to bring viewers a sixth and final season of The Handmaid’s Tale,Bruce Miller, creator, showrunner and executive producer, said in a statement at the time.

“We are grateful to Hulu and MGM for allowing us to tell this story, which unfortunately has remained as relevant as ever throughout its run, and are in awe of our incredible fans for their unwavering support, and without whom we never would have gotten to this point," Miller added.

Two years later, Hulu announced on Sept. 6, 2024 that production on the last season had officially begun. Here is everything we know so far about Season 6 of The Handmaid's Tale.

<p>Courtesy of Hulu</p>

Courtesy of Hulu

Related: The Handmaid's Tale Star Elisabeth Moss On 'Wild' Season 5 and the Show's Relevancy In a Post-Roe World

How can I watch The Handmaid’s Tale season 6?

The series, produced by MGM Television, streams on Hulu. Seasons 1 through 5 are available on the streaming service.

When is The Handmaid’s Tale season 6 release date?

While a specific date has not been announced, Hulu has revealed that the series will return in the spring of 2025.

Who is in The Handmaid’s Tale season 6 cast?

The Season 6 cast will include Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Bradley Whitford, Max Minghella, Ann Dowd, O.T. Fagbenle, Samira Wiley, Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel, Sam Jaeger, Ever Carradine and Josh Charles.

Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne

Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu<p>Hulu</p>
Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu

Hulu

Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford

Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu<p>Hulu</p>
Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu

Hulu

Bradley Whitford as Commander Lawrence

Bradley Whitford as Commander Lawrence in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu<p>Hulu</p>
Bradley Whitford as Commander Lawrence in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu

Hulu

Max Minghella as Nick Blaine

Max Minghella as Nick Blaine in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu<p>Hulu</p>
Max Minghella as Nick Blaine in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu

Hulu

O.T. Fagbenle as Luke Bankole

O-T Fagbenle as Luke Bankole in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu<p>Hulu</p>
O-T Fagbenle as Luke Bankole in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu

Hulu

Samira Wiley as Moira

Samira Wiley as Moira in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu<p>Hulu</p>
Samira Wiley as Moira in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu

Hulu

Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia

Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu<p>Hulu</p>
Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu

Hulu

Madeline Brewer as Ofwarren

Madeline Brewer as Ofwarren/Janine in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu<p>Hulu</p>
Madeline Brewer as Ofwarren/Janine in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu

Hulu

Amanda Brugel as Rita

Amanda Brugel as Rita in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu<p>Hulu</p>
Amanda Brugel as Rita in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu

Hulu

Sam Jaeger as Mark Tuello

Sam Jaeger as Mark Tuello in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu<p>Hulu</p>
Sam Jaeger as Mark Tuello in "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu

Hulu

Related: How Will The Handmaid's Tale End? Spoilers From the Book

What happened at the end of The Handmaid's Tale season 5?

Season 5 ended with Luke killing the Canadian who ran over June. After learning of his death, they decide to run. However, Tuello informs them that they can’t go to the airport. The police have flagged their reservation and will be waiting to arrest Luke, and June would be charged for aiding a flight from justice. Tuello, instead, provides another option: He can get them on a train with refugees heading west.

With police looking for Luke at the train station, Luke tells June to get on the train. “You know you and Nichole are not safe if I’m with you. So do this for Nichole. Get on the f--king train, OK?” he tells her. Luke points out that if she stays, Gilead is going to come after her.

Before boarding, June tearfully tells Luke, “Come find me.” He then calls attention to himself and is arrested.

While looking for a place to sit down on the train, June hears a baby fussing. The baby turns out to be Noah, Serena's son.

"Hi, June," Serena says. "Hi, Serena," June replies. The episode ends with Serena asking June if she has a diaper and the two smiling at each other.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about the finale, Moss said, "It’s actually a pretty positive ending for the show and the season, which we don’t usually do. It’s a cliffhanger … but there’s something positive about it. Of course, of all the people that would be on the train is this person who is her other half, the other half of this experience.”

Related: Bradley Whitford on Why Commander Lawrence in The Handmaid's Tale Is the Most Interesting Role He's Ever Played

What will happen in The Handmaid's Tale season 6?

Fans are going to have to wait and see! In a video celebrating the show's renewal, the stars of The Handmaid's Tale said, "When we started this journey together in season 1, we bore no more. In season 2, we reclaimed our name. In season 3, we set ourselves free. In season 4, we prayed together. In season 5, you’ll see how some sins can’t be washed away.“

As for the sixth and final season? They said, “Well, you’ll just have to wait and see. We can’t thank you enough for supporting the show over the years. Much love to you all. Under his eye.”

Moss told THR that her character spent season 5 "trying to figure out who she is and who she’s going to be the rest of her life, and it’s kind of the perfect lead-up to a final season where, without spoiling anything, it’s time for June to figure out who she is going to be for the rest of her life and where the real fight is, and what she has to do to win the real fight."

Meanwhile, Miller has said that he does not "feel an allegiance" to wrap June "up the way she’s wrapped up in The Testaments novel." The series creator explained to Deadline, "I just want to follow the story and make sure it makes sense. But the thing that you should remember is that all the voiceover we’re hearing, this story is June story. It’s not called Gilead, it’s The Handmaid’s Tale. I certainly have been thinking of the show as a memoir of part of June’s life, not the part where she would consider herself a handmaid."

He added, "I think that in the end, just like before we started the show, they had lives. She’s gonna go on and continue on in whatever way she continues on and we’re not going to see it. And because we got to see this part so intimately, I feel like you care about what happens to her next, but that’s not this tale."

Next: How The Handmaid's Tale Star Elisabeth Moss Became One of the Highest-Paid Actresses in Hollywood