Stranger Things: Tales from '85 — release date, trailer, cast, plot, and everything we know about the Netflix spin-off

The series will mirror 80s Saturday morning cartoons

· TechRadar

Features By Lucy Buglass published 18 February 2026

(Image credit: Netflix)

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An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Stranger Things: Tales from '85 : key information

- Arrives on Netflix in late April
- Set between seasons 2 and 3
- A teaser trailer was released in February
- Confirmed to be an animated series
- There's an all-new voice cast for the series

If you're already missing Stranger Things season 5, you're in luck, because Stranger Things: Tales from '85 is bringing more of Hawkins into your life. The Netflix spin-off is an animated series that aims to have the feel of a classic 80s Saturday morning cartoon.

Timeline-wise, Stranger Things: Tales from '85 will slot between the events of the second and third seasons, focusing on the same characters we know and love. The key difference is that there's an all-new voice cast, meaning the Stranger Things original cast will not be reprising their roles.

Here's everything you need to know about the next chapter of Stranger Things.

Stranger Things: Tales from '85 release date

The Party returns for Stranger Things: Tales from '85. (Image credit: Netflix)

Stranger Things: Tales from '85 will premiere on Netflix on April 23, 2026. Currently, it hasn't been confirmed how many episodes there will be.

While you wait for the spin-off, all five seasons of Stranger Things are available in full on Netflix. It might be worth checking out seasons 2 and 3 again to refresh your memory of what happens.

Stranger Things: Tales from '85 trailer

Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 | Official Teaser | Netflix - YouTube

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Currently, we only have one teaser trailer for Stranger Things: Tales from '85, which was released on February 2, 2026. It gives us a taste of what to expect, and there's plenty of familiarity for long-time fans to enjoy.

You'll see Hopper being protective of Eleven, the gang riding their bikes, and plenty of locations that have been adapted for this new, exciting animated version of Hawkins. Crucially, it also teases that something survived in 1985. But what, exactly?

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