The Handmaid's Tale season 6 Episode 1: Release date news, time, streaming details, and more about the premiere

Hulu's original series, The Handmaid's Tale, is coming to an end with its final season. The Handmaid's Tale Season 6 is set to be released on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, after three years since the renewal announcement in 2022.

This season will delve into the aftermath of the several cliffhanging moments of the Season 5 finale, including June's revenge on Gilead and the Commander. Based on Margaret Atwood's novel by the same name, this unique Hulu series was released on April 26, 2017.

The plot? It tells the story of June Osborne, who finds herself stuck in the theonomic society of Gilead. During the post-American Civil War times, in Gilead, women were treated as child-bearing machines (Handmaids). June, called Offred (Handmaid), goes through several struggles throughout the seasons, including physical, mental, and sexual abuse. In Season 4, she finally escapes the oppressive regime and takes refuge in Canada.

In the following season, she fights for her identity while struggling to connect with her husband and friend Moira in Canada after the traumatic events she went through in Gilead. She is torn between staying in Canada or continuing the resistance in Gilead.

Release date and time of The Handmaid's Tale Season 6, Episode 1

The wait is finally over! After three years and facing several hurdles — including a production halt due to the writer's strike — the futuristic dystopian series is finally set to release its final season.

The Handmaid's Tale Season 6 Episode 1, titled "Train," is set to be released globally on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, on Hulu at 12 AM ET. This means the debut episode will be out at 9 PM PT on Monday, April 7, 2025. The season will have a total of 10 episodes, and three episodes will be released on the premiere day itself.

Hulu subscription begins from as low as $9.99/month. Here are some plans

Hulu ad-supported plan: $9.99/month or $99.99/year
For students: $1.99/month
Hulu ad-free plan: $18.99/month
Hulu Live+ TV (Disney+ and ESPN+) with ads: $82.99/month

How did The Handmaid's Tale Season 5 end?

Even though Season 5 had a slow start, the end left several cliffhangers and shocking developments. At the end of the season, June and Serena find themselves on a westbound train out of Toronto, each fleeing dangerous situations. Throughout the seasons, June and Serena are adversaries, but as they are on the same journey together, viewers can expect a fragile alliance.

Luke, June's husband, is arrested for killing a man sent by Gilead to assassinate June. Meanwhile, Serena was escaping from oppressive treatment in Canada, where the couple was trying to steal her baby and control her.

In Gilead, Nick's protectiveness towards June was exposed, which led to his detention and a strained relationship with his wife. On the other hand, Janine's refusal to obey Commander Lawrence makes her fate uncertain.

Can June rescue her daughter Hannah from Gilead? Can she be the voice of the resistance and save the other handmaids from the totalitarian rule? What happens to Janine and Nick? All these burning questions will be addressed in the final season of The Handmaid's Tale, which is set to be released on April 8, 2025.

What to expect from The Handmaid's Tale Season 6, Episode 1?

As per Rotten Tomatoes, the synopsis of The Handmaid's Tale Season 6 Episode 1 titled Train reads,

"June and Serena's journey takes an unexpected turn; Moira makes a bold decision; Nick deals with a powerful visitor."

The debut episode of the show, as per the synopsis, might deal with an unlikely alliance between June and Serena on the risky train. Their newly formed fragile alliance might be tested on the journey itself. Apart from that, Moira might join the resistance against Gilead in Toronto. Nick is expected to face further challenges after his protectiveness for June is exposed. Finally, the viewers might see Commander Lawrence and Aunt Lydia face karma for their past actions.

The star-studded cast of The Handmaid's Tale Season 6 includes the protagonist June Osborne, played by Elisabeth Moss.

Apart from that, the main recurring cast also features