The Bear Season 5: Release Date for the Final Season on Disney+

Season 5 of *The Bear* premieres on June 25, 2026, on FX and Hulu in the United States, and on June 26 on Disney+ internationally, including France. This season consists of 8 episodes released all at once, compared to 10 in previous seasons. Confirmed by FX as the series finale, it marks the end of the journey for Carmy Berzatto and his team at The Bear restaurant. Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach will reprise their roles.

Key points to remember

• Release date: June 25, 2026, on FX/Hulu (U.S.), June 26 on Disney+ France
• A total of 8 episodes, which is 2 fewer than Seasons 2, 3, and 4 (and the same number as Season 1)
• FX Officially Confirms Final Season
• Returning main cast: Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Abby Elliott
• France Platform: Disney+ via the Star bundle
• Short format of approximately 30 minutes confirmed

When does Season 5 of *The Bear* come out?

Season 5 of *The Bear* is scheduled to premiere on June 25, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT) on FX and Hulu in the United States. On Disney+ internationally, including France, all 8 episodes will be available starting June 26, 2026.

This date comes exactly one year after Season 4, which premiered on June 25, 2025, on Hulu and on June 26, 2025, on Disney+ internationally. FX is thus sticking to its annual late-June release window, which has become a regular event for fans of the series.

The one-day gap between the U.S. release (June 25) and the international release (June 26) is due to Disney+'s release schedule. French subscribers will therefore be able to watch the first episode on the morning of June 26, with all 8 episodes made available at once, as is customary for the series.

How can I watch *The Bear* in France?

In France, Season 5 of *The Bear* will be available on Disney+ via the Star bundle, just like the previous four seasons. All episodes will be available on the day of the premiere, with no weekly releases.

Disney+ prices in France in 2026 start at €6.99/month for the Standard plan with ads, €10.99/month for the ad-free plan, and €15.99/month for the Premium plan. Disney+ also offers an annual subscription and a student plan, which lower the monthly cost.

For newcomers to the world of *The Bear*, catching up is easy: Seasons 1 through 4 are still available in their entirety on Disney+. That gives you plenty of time to binge-watch all 32 episodes before watching the finale.

Disney+ is available on all major platforms: iOS and Android mobile apps, web browsers, Smart TVs (LG, Samsung, Sony), Apple TV, Chromecast, game consoles, and most cable set-top boxes in France. Content is available in French, the original language, and with French subtitles, allowing you to enjoy *The Bear* with Jeremy Allen White’s original voice performance.

Please note that in France, the Star bundle—included with all Disney+ subscriptions since 2022—provides access to a broader adult catalog, including FX productions such as *The Bear*, *Shogun*, and *The Old Man*. No additional options are required to watch the series.

How many episodes are there in Season 5?

Season 5 has 8 episodes, compared to 10 for Seasons 2, 3, and 4 (Season 1 also had 8 episodes). This shorter format is likely due to the creators' desire to deliver a dense and focused finale, without artificially stretching out the plot.

The short-form format remains in place: about 30 minutes per episode, as has become the norm for the series. The total runtime for the season is therefore around 4 hours—the equivalent of a feature-length movie when binge-watching.

To put this into context, the series had a total of 38 episodes prior to this final season (8 episodes for Season 1 and 10 for Seasons 2, 3, and 4). Adding the 8 episodes from Season 5, the complete run of *The Bear* totals 48 episodes. This is a relatively short run for a high-profile series that spanned five years, which can be explained by its half-hour episode format rather than a full hour.

Want to enjoy Disney+ without paying the full price? A co-subscription lets you split the cost by legally sharing your subscription with other verified users. Find out how to share a Disney+ subscription on spliiit.

Who is in the cast of the final season?

The main cast returns. Jeremy Allen White reprises his role as Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, the Michelin-starred chef who has returned to Chicago. Ayo Edebiri once again plays Sydney Adamu, the sous chef. Ebon Moss-Bachrach continues to play Richie, and Abby Elliott returns as Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto.

These four actors have been the emotional heart of the series since 2022. Their extended-family dynamic centered around the restaurant has defined the identity of *The Bear*, and their return for this final season allows each character’s story arc to come to a satisfying conclusion.

FX has not yet released the full list of recurring characters. Several of the show's regular guest stars could appear in this final season, following in the footsteps of the guest stars who made an impact in previous seasons. Since Season 5 is the last, we can expect several symbolic comebacks.

What is Season 5 about?

The plot of Season 5 begins the morning after Carmy leaves the restaurant business. The Michelin-starred chef has decided to leave the kitchen, leaving The Bear in the hands of Sydney, Richie, and Sugar.

The main challenge of the season: earning the restaurant’s first Michelin star. Sydney takes charge of operations, Richie handles front-of-house duties, and Sugar manages the administrative side. With Carmy no longer in the kitchen, this new dynamic promises to redefine the balance within the kitchen staff.

This starting point allows the writers to wrap up the story arcs of the secondary characters, who have long remained in the shadow of the protagonist played by Jeremy Allen White. Sydney, in particular, has everything it takes to become the narrative centerpiece of this final season.

Why is *The Bear* ending after Season 5?

FX has officially confirmed that Season 5 will be the series' final season. No specific reason has been publicly disclosed, but the decision seems consistent with the narrative arc: Carmy's departure at the end of Season 4 marked a turning point that would be difficult to sustain over several more seasons.

Christopher Storer, the creator, has always described the series as a self-contained story with a clear beginning and end. The short, eight-episode format of this final season reinforces this tight narrative structure, in contrast to sprawling series that drag on beyond reason.

The series has also racked up numerous awards since its debut, particularly at the Emmys, where it has consistently won awards in the comedy categories. Ending on a high note, with a masterfully crafted finale, is a deliberate creative choice that echoes the trajectory of other cult series that chose to end before they ran their course.

Save up to 70% on your streaming subscriptions with co-subscriptions. spliiit verified users so they can share their subscriptions legally. See how it works →

How can I reduce the cost of a Disney+ subscription?

Disney+ offers several subscription plans to suit different budgets. The Standard plan with ads, at €6.99 per month (€10.99 without ads), is the most affordable, but it’s still a recurring expense if you subscribe to multiple streaming services.

A shared subscription is an option for splitting the bill. Through a dedicated platform, you can share your Disney+ subscription with other verified users and split the monthly cost. This solution falls within the scope of legal sharing among users.

Disney+ has introduced an "Extra Member" option that allows users to add an additional member outside their household for an extra fee. This is equivalent to Netflix's "Additional Member" option. The shared subscription service via spliiit an alternative way for users to share these extra members and split the bill among their accounts.

For a comparison of the major premium streaming platforms, read our Disney+ vs. HBO Max analysis. It will help you decide if you're torn between several subscriptions.

What else is there to watch in June 2026?

Season 5 of *The Bear* isn't the only release to look forward to this month. As for premium series, Season 3 of *Severance* is currently in production and is set to arrive sometime in 2027, but there are other Disney+ releases worth checking out starting in June.

On June 2, *Not Safe for Work*, an original Hulu comedy created by Mindy Kaling, premieres. On June 8, *Alice and Steve*, a British series that won an award at Canneseries, premieres. And in theaters, *Toy Story 5* hits theaters on June 17 (it will be available for streaming later on Disney+).

For a complete overview of what's coming to Disney+ in June 2026, check out the list of new Disney+ releases. There, you'll find movie releases, original series, and new additions to the Star catalog.

Frequently asked questions

When does Season 5 of *The Bear* come out?

Season 5 premieres on June 25, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET on FX and Hulu in the United States, and on June 26, 2026, on Disney+ internationally. All 8 episodes will be available on the premiere date, with no staggered weekly releases.

Where can I watch *The Bear* in France?

"The Bear" is available in France on Disney+ via the Star bundle, as it has been since Season 1. All 8 episodes of Season 5 will be released on June 26, 2026, and all previous seasons remain available in their entirety on the platform.

How many episodes are there in Season 5 of *The Bear*?

Season 5 consists of 8 episodes, which is 2 fewer than Seasons 2, 3, and 4, which each had 10 episodes (and the same number as Season 1). The short format of approximately 30 minutes per episode is maintained, for a total runtime of about 4 hours.

Is *The Bear* really over after Season 5?

Yes, FX has confirmed that Season 5 will be the series' final season. The shorter, 8-episode format and the narrative starting point (Carmy's departure) reinforce this sense of closure. No sixth season is currently planned.

Who plays Carmy in Season 5?

Jeremy Allen White reprises his role as Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto, a character he has played since Season 1. He is joined by Ayo Edebiri (Sydney), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Richie), and Abby Elliott (Sugar), who make up the central quartet of this final season.

Do you need to have watched the previous seasons to understand Season 5?

Yes, highly recommended. *The Bear* follows a dense narrative arc centered on the relationships between characters, the restaurant's evolution, and family traumas. Season 5 picks up directly after the Season 4 finale, and its plot relies on that continuity.