The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6: Everything We Know About the Hit Series' Final Run

The Handmaid’s Tale’s sixth and final season is underway, preparing fans for the dystopian drama’s much-anticipated conclusion.

Based on the bestselling book by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale has been consistently revered for its acting performances, writing and production design, taking home two Golden Globes, 15 Emmys and countless nominations over the series’ run.  

Season 6 of The Handmaid’s Tale was announced ahead of its fifth season premiere in September 2022, with creator and showrunner Bruce Miller expressing his excitement and gratitude for bringing the impactful story to life.

"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," he said. 

The final season, which promises to be "big and wild" according to star Elisabeth Moss, is now in production.

"It definitely has final-season energy,” Moss told TVLine in May 2024. “[It] goes to many different places, and it is very, very surprising all the way through."

With production underway, the show is set to premiere in April 2025, building anticipation for fans eager to see how June Osborne's harrowing story will conclude. From new cast additions and plot twists, here’s everything we know so far about The Handmaid’s Tale season 6.

How did season 5 of The Handmaid’s Tale end?

In the season 5 finale of The Handmaid's Tale tensions mounted as June’s life remained under threat.

Following the shooting incident, June donned a bulletproof vest for protection. Nick, concerned for June's safety, agreed to work with the U.S. government to protect her.

Back in Gilead, he confronted Lawrence at his wedding, informing him of the attack and attributing blame — resulting in Nick being sent to jail, where he was confronted by his wife Rose who leaves him due to his unresolved feelings for June.

Janine faced her own struggles in Gilead, resisting re-posting as a Handmaid in Lawrence’s household, leading to her arrest by the Eyes.

June narrowly survived a hit-and-run attack by a truck with a Gilead bumper sticker. After running over her arm, Luke intervened, pulled the driver from the vehicle and beat him. June’s attacker died as a result, and with a warrant out for his arrest, June insisted they flee immediately.

At the station, Luke, who realized his fate, sacrificed his freedom to ensure June and their daughter, Nichole, could escape and he was arrested while they boarded the train. Onboard, June encountered Serena and Noah in a tense reunion.

What is The Handmaid’s Tale season 6 about?

While specific plot details are still under wraps, Miller, the series creator, and starring cast members have given hints at what fans can expect.

In an interview with Digital Spy in November 2022, Miller expressed frustration with the book’s abrupt ending and a desire to extend the narrative.

“Everybody's like, ‘Who do you think you are, writing more?’ I’m like, ‘Oh my God, it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, to write the rest.’ Because it’s like: what the hell happened?! Oh my God — it’s the most infuriating ending,” he told the outlet.

Miller added that the series will conclude on their “own terms.”

“It’s something we never get with just the way the business is set up,” he said. “Also, more importantly, not something everyone would give to the audience.”

As for character dynamics, Moss hinted that the relationship between June and Serena will become increasingly complex on an episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast in May 2024. 

“I'm the first person to be like, ‘Forget June, let's focus on Serena for this episode.’ Yvonne [Strahovski] said it so well when she said, ‘There's no Serena without June, and there's no June without Serena,’ And that's so true. And so to me, the parallel stories, I love that part of the show so much. So I totally agree with the fans on this one.”

Moss has also been vocal about how the final season will be crafted with the fans in mind, aiming to satisfy long-time viewers who have followed the series through its five installments.

“I feel like this season, we’re giving it back to the audience,” she told TVLine in May 2024. “We definitely really have our eye on that, making sure that it does feel rewarding and satisfying for the fans and like what we would want to watch, you know, as fans of the show.”

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

The final season will see the return of core cast members, including Moss (June Osborne), Yvonne Strahovski (Serena Joy Waterford), Bradley Whitford (Commander Lawrence), Max Minghella (Nick), Ann Dowd (Aunt Lydia), O.T. Fagbenle (Luke), Samira Wiley (Moira), Madeline Brewer (Janine), Amanda Brugel (Rita), Sam Jaeger (Mark Tuello) and Ever Carradine (Naomi Putnam). 

What new cast members are joining the show for the final season?

In July 2024 it was announced that Josh Charles would be joining the series in the final season of The Handmaid’s Tale. However, details of his character are still unknown. 

Charles’ addition to the cast will mark a second onscreen collaboration with Moss, as the two starred in the FX on Hulu spy thriller The Veil in 2024. 

When will The Handmaid’s Tale season 6 be released?

The Handmaid's Tale season 6 began filming in September 2024. The news was shared on the show's official Instagram account with a photo of Moss holding up a clapboard. At the time, the post also confirmed that the new episodes will arrive in spring 2025.

The official premiere date came five months later, when Hulu announced that season 6 will debut on April 8, 2025 in a post on X.

Is there a trailer for The Handmaid's Tale season 6?

The first glimpse at The Handmaid's Tale season 6 came in November 2024, when a short clip from the upcoming season was included in a Hulu/Disney+ sizzle reel. Serena can be seen saying, “Something big is about to happen," to which June replies, "Let's bring them home."

At the same time, Hulu released the first promo photos for the season ahead, as reported by Deadline.

When the streamer announced the premiere date in February 2025, another teaser arrived. Showing scenes of Gilead where June and other handmaids are gathering together, her voiceover says, "They believed that these garments that they put on our bodies told the world who we are. To mark us, they put us in red — the color of blood. They forgot that it’s also the color of rage.”

Where can I watch The Handmaid's Tale season 6?

The sixth and final season of The Handmaid's Tale will be available for streaming on Hulu. Fans can catch up on seasons 1 through 5 on the platform ahead of the new season's release.

Who is directing The Handmaid's Tale season 6?

Moss will once again take on directing duties throughout the season, helming four episodes, including the series premiere, episode 2, the penultimate episode and the series finale, TVLine reported in May 2024. 

Moss previously directed three episodes in season 4 and three in season 5, including the finale. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in June 2021, Moss reflected on the experience of directing for the first time during season 4. 

"I was originally only supposed to [direct] the one [episode], and then I liked it so much that I thought, 'Well, there's an open position later in the season — we don't have a director.' And I kind of put myself forward for the job," Moss said on the show. "I really, really loved it."

The sixth season will also see executive producers Yahlin Chang and Eric Tuchman stepping in as co-showrunners, taking over from Miller.

Why isn’t Bruce Miller returning as showrunner for The Handmaid's Tale final season?

Miller, the creator and executive producer of The Handmaid's Tale, is stepping back from his showrunner duties for the final season to focus on The Testaments, a Handmaid's Tale spinoff currently in development, Variety reported in March 2023. However, he remains involved in the final season as an executive producer and writer.