‘The Bear’ Season 5: Release Date, Cast & More About the Final Season

The season 4 finale of The Bear was titled, “Goodbye,” so could the end of the chaotic, so-called comedy culinary series be near? Jeremy Allen White‘s character, Chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, makes a huge decision for himself and the restaurant at the end of the fourth season, which had fans asking the question: Is a season 5 of The Bear the last one?

Hollywood Life has the latest updates on The Bear‘s fate below. 

Was The Bear Renewed for Season 5?

FX officially renewed The Bear for season 5 one week after season 4 premiere! Per Deadline, FX Chairman John Landgraf confirmed the news in a statement, which read, “The Bear continues to be a fan favorite worldwide and their response to this season — as seen through incredibly high viewership — has been as spectacular as any of its previous seasons. Year-in and year-out, Chris Storer, the producers, cast and crew make The Bear one of the best shows on television, and we are excited that they will continue to tell this magnificent story.”

In July 2024, Variety asked FX chairman Landgraf about the show’s future, and he candidly responded, ” We really don’t know.”

“These decisions are really creative decisions,” he explained. “And so it’s really [creator] Chris [Storer’s] decision on The Bear. It’s about, how much more story does he have to tell? I mean, obviously, I’m hoping he has more than one more season of story to tell. But not to the extent that if there was one great season or three mediocre ones, I’d rather have one great one. You just have to follow the creative.”

Is Season 5 the End of The Bear?

Jamie Lee Curtis told Entertainment Tonight in March 2026 that season 5 of The Bear is the last.

“It is the end of the show,” the Oscar winner told the outlet. “Everybody knows it’s the end of the show. I’m not breaking any news to anybody. They’ve said it from the beginning. It’s the end of the show. It’s not me announcing any endings of anything. I do not [do that].”

However, FX and Hulu have yet to confirm whether season 5 is the final one.

All fans know is that Carmy is definitely leaving The Bear restaurant, and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Syd (Ayo Edebiri) and Natalie (Abby Elliott) give him permission to do so after he affirms that his departure is “real.”

When Will The Bear Season 5 Be Released?

FX has officially confirmed that season 5 of The Bear will premiere on June 25, 2026. The upcoming season will also be the show’s last. Reports indicate that all eight episodes will drop on Hulu the same day, while FX will air episodes weekly afterward.

The release date continues the show’s tradition of premiering new seasons in June. Season 1 debuted in June 2022, followed by season 2 in June 2023, season 3 in June 2024 and season 4 in June 2025.

which could mean nothing #thebear pic.twitter.com/LpAQEHtGq7

— caiden (@golddusttwoman) June 26, 2025

What Could the Plot of The Bear Season 5 Be?

Season 5 is expected to focus heavily on the aftermath of Carmy’s decision to step away from both the restaurant and the culinary industry. With Carmy leaving The Bear in the hands of Syd and Richie, the final season could shift its emotional center toward Syd as she navigates the pressure of leading the restaurant forward.

Fans have also pointed out a major parallel between season 4 and season 1. In season 4, Syd wakes up from a nightmare involving a chaotic cooking show and torrential rain, mirroring Carmy’s haunting dream about The Bear from the show’s first season. The similarity has led some viewers to believe Syd could begin facing the same emotional burnout and anxiety that Carmy struggled with throughout the series.

Ahead of the final season, FX and Hulu also surprised fans by releasing a standalone prequel episode titled Gary, centered on Richie and Mikey’s friendship before the events of season 1. According to the episode’s synopsis, “Gary” follows “the two friends’ complicated relationship, uncovering new layers of Mikey’s mental state while offering crucial insight into the man Richie is when audiences first meet him in Season One — adding emotional context that reframes their story from the very beginning.”

What the Cast Has Said About The Bear‘s Future

In July 2024, the same month that FX’s boss, John, said they “don’t know” what will happen with The Bear, series star Liza Colón-Zayas told RadioTimes.com that she wants the show to continue for “at least another five years.” However, she admitted the fate of the series felt “fragile.”

“There’s that line that Richie had in the beginning, like, ‘It is a delicate ecosystem.’ And I think that as long as that is inspired and nurtured, then we’ll have the magic that we have,” Liza said, adding, “So that’s more important.”

Ebon echoed his co-star in a separate interview that same month with The Telegraph, noting, “I feel like we’re getting near to the end of The Bear. It seems like that story is wrapping up to me.”

The cast has also remained busy with projects outside of the series. Jeremy recently portrayed Bruce Springsteen in Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere and is also set to appear in The Mandalorian & Grogu, while Ebon recently starred as Ben Grimm/The Thing in Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Where to Watch The Bear and Catch Up on Past Seasons

All seasons of The Bear can be streamed on Hulu and Hulu with Disney+.