Will season 5 of The Handmaids Tale be the last?

The Handmaid's Tale renewed for sixth and final season, will continue with Testaments sequel

Hulu made the announcement at the Toronto International Film Festival season 5 premiere, with creator Bruce Miller confirming development on the continuation.

June's crusade against Gilead will come to a definitive end, as Hulu has renewed its popular thriller series The Handmaid's Talefor a sixth and final season.

Creator and showrunner Bruce Miller made the announcement Thursday night at the season 5 premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, also confirming that he is developing a sequel, titled The Testaments, to be set years after the events of the Elisabeth Moss-starring, Emmy-winning series.

Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne in 'The Handmaid's Tale' season 5 first look CR: Hulu

"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," Miller said in a statement of the show, which became the first streaming series to win a major Emmy in 2017. "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."

The series follows Moss as June, an American woman forced into sexual slavery alongside other "handmaids" amid a totalitarian regime fronted by religious conservatives. In later seasons, she and her fellow handmaids escape the clutches of Gilead — established amid the ruins of the former United States — to Canada.

Moss is set to return for season 5 later this month, alongside cast members O-T Fagbenle, Samira Wiley, Ann Dowd, Amanda Brugel, Madeline Brewer, and Bradley Whitford.

"The word 'wild' is in my brain. It's wild. It's a little wild. I truly don't know how to describe it," Brewer previously told EW of the new season. "I mean, we're so much out of Gilead. And everyone is experiencing things that they have not yet experienced. Everyone's going through a transformative period."

Handmaid's Tale actress Alexis Bledel previously confirmed that she would not be back for a fifth season, noting in a statement to EW that she felt she had to "step away" from the program "after much thought."

The Handmaid's Tale season 5 premieres Sept. 14, with two episodes debuting that day, followed by new weekly installments every Wednesday. A season 6 premiere date has yet to be announced.

Related content:

  • June enjoys the blessed fruits of Fred's murder in fiery Handmaid's Tale season 5 preview
  • It's all-out war between June and Serena in first teaser for The Handmaid's Tale season 5
  • A mourning Serena Waterford looks like evil incarnate in The Handmaid's Tale season 5 first look
  • Alexis Bledel is leaving The Handmaid's Tale ahead of season 5
  • Handmaid's Tale star Madeline Brewer says Janine uses up more of her 'nine lives' in 'wild' season 5

Episode Recaps

  • S5 E10 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale finale recap: Starting over

    By Matt Cabral

  • S5 E9 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: Gilead strikes back

    By Matt Cabral

  • The Handmaid’s Tale -- “Motherland” - Episode 508 -- June considers a tempting but risky offer from a surprise visitor. Serena hits rock bottom and searches for allies. June (Elisabeth Moss), shown. (Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)

    S5 E8 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: A mother's love 

    By Matt Cabral

  • S5 E7 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: Born to run

    By Matt Cabral

  • S5 E6 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: Surprise escapes, a shocking execution, and unexpected pregnancies

    By Matt Cabral

  • S5 E5 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: June and Luke separated in midseason cliffhanger

    By Matt Cabral

  • S5 E4 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: June and Serena plot their next moves

    By Matt Cabral

  • S5 E1 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: Drama on both sides of the border

    By Matt Cabral

  • S5 E1 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale premiere recap: Fred is dead, but June's troubles are far from over

    By Matt Cabral

  • The Handmaid’s Tale

    S4 E9 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: Gilead reunions rock June and the Waterfords

    By Amanda Ostuni

  • The Handmaid’s Tale -- “Testimony”

    S4 E8 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: June testifies against the Waterfords, as others face past demons

    By Amanda Ostuni

  • S4 E7 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: June struggles to adjust to life outside Gilead

    By Amanda Ostuni

  • S4 E6 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: Moira risks everything for June's freedom

    By Amanda Ostuni

  • S4 E5 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: June and Janine pursue new purposes in Chicago

    By Amanda Ostuni

  • S4 E3 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale season 4 premiere recap: Everyone feels like they're cleaning up June's mess

    By Amanda Ostuni

  • S3 E13 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale season 3 finale recap: The 5 biggest moments

    By David Canfield

  • The Handmaid's Tale -- "Sacrifice" - Episode 312 -- Gilead leadership is rocked by losses among their own. Luke and Moira adjust to new arrivals in Canada. June worries about disruptions to her plan, only to have tragedy strike the entire household. Serena (Yvonne Strahovski), shown. (Photo by: Jasper Savage/Hulu)

    S3 E12 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: The 5 biggest moments from 'Sacrifice'

    By David Canfield

  • The Handmaid's Tale -- "Liars" - Episode 311 -- June must rely on an unpredictable Commander Lawrence to execute her plan, but a terrifying return to a place from June’s past puts everything in jeopardy. Serena Joy and Commander Waterford take a clandestine trip. June (Elisabeth Moss), shown. (Photo by: Jasper Savage/Hulu)

    S3 E11 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: The 5 biggest moments from 'Liars'

    By David Canfield

  • S3 E10 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: The 5 biggest moments from 'Witness'

    By David Canfield

  • The Handmaid's Tale -- "Heroic" - Episode 309 -- Confined in a hospital, Juneís sanity begins to fray. An encounter with Serena Joy forces June to reassess her recent actions. Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) and June (Elisabeth Moss), shown. (Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)

    S3 E9 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: The 5 biggest moments from 'Heroic'

    By David Canfield

  • The Handmaid's Tale -- "Unfit" - Episode 308 -- June and the rest of the Handmaids shun Ofmatthew, and both are pushed to their limit at the hands of Aunt Lydia. Aunt Lydia reflects on her life and relationships before the rise of Gilead. Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), shown. (Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)

    S3 E8 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: The 5 biggest moments from 'Unfit'

    By David Canfield

  • The Handmaid's Tale -- "Under His Eye" - Episode 307 -- June escalates her risky efforts to find Hannah. Emily must face her past crimes as the ongoing international diplomatic crisis becomes more complicated. Serena and Fred contemplate their future in Washington. Fred (Joseph Fiennes) and Serena (Yvonne Strahovski), shown. (Photo by: Jasper Savage/Hulu)

    S3 E7 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: The 5 biggest moments from 'Under His Eye'

    By David Canfield

  • The Handmaid's Tale -- "Household" - Episode 306 -- June accompanies the Waterfords to Washington D.C., where a powerful family offers a glimpse of the future of Gilead. June makes an important connection as she attempts to protect Nichole. June (Elisabeth Moss), shown. (Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)

    S3 E6 Recap

    The Handmaid's Tale recap: The 5 biggest moments in 'Household'

    By David Canfield

How many seasons of Handmaid's Tale will there be?

Will The Handmaid's Tale return for season 6? Blessed be Hulu – The Handmaid's Tale will indeed be back for a sixth season, the streamer has announced. Back in September, Hulu renewed the dystopian drama for a sixth season – however, fans may be disappointed to learn that it will be the show's final outing.

Is The Handmaid's Tale coming to an end?

All tales must come to an end, and unfortunately, that's true even for The Handmaid's Tale. Ahead of season five's arrival earlier this year, it was announced that June and co will be returning for a sixth, final season, which will hopefully wrap up her story in a satisfying way for long-time fans.

Will there be a season six of The Handmaid's Tale?

The Handmaid's Tale renewed for sixth and final season, will continue with Testaments sequel. Hulu made the announcement at the Toronto International Film Festival season 5 premiere, with creator Bruce Miller confirming development on the continuation.

Will Serena become a handmaid?

It's so unexpected the way they crafted Serena becoming a handmaid without her actually becoming a handmaid,” Strahovski told The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the episode about the twist — and major moment of payoff — of Serena being stripped of everything and having nowhere to turn but to June.