'The Handmaid's Tale' (Season 6): Release Schedule of All Episodes, Plot, Cast & Where to Watch

The dystopian drama ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ returns for its sixth and final season on April 8, 2025. Based on Margaret Atwood’s novel, the series has captivated audiences with its portrayal of a totalitarian society and the resilience of protagonist June Osborne. As the narrative approaches its conclusion, fans eagerly anticipate the resolution of June’s journey and the fate of Gilead. This article provides an overview of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (Season 6) plot, cast, episode release schedule, and viewing platforms.

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Recap So Far:

The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian drama based on Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel of the same name. Set in a near-future totalitarian state called Gilead, the series follows June Osborne, a woman forced into sexual servitude as a “Handmaid” after environmental disasters and plummeting birth rates render most women infertile. Under Gilead’s strict theocratic rule, Handmaids are assigned to elite households to bear children for the ruling class. Over the first five seasons, June evolves from a quietly defiant woman trapped in an oppressive system to a bold symbol of rebellion. She escapes Gilead, reunites with her husband Luke and daughter Nichole in Canada, but her rage and trauma continue to fuel her mission to dismantle Gilead from the outside. Meanwhile, power players like Serena Joy, Aunt Lydia, and Commander Lawrence reveal complex, shifting allegiances as the cracks in Gilead’s foundation begin to show. The final season picks up as tensions rise both inside Gilead and across the border, promising an explosive conclusion to June’s journey.

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (Season 6) Cast and Characters:

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Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne: The central character and former Handmaid turned resistance fighter.
Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford: The wife of a high-ranking Gilead official, whose complex relationship with June evolves throughout the series.
Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia Clements: A strict enforcer of Gilead’s laws who oversees the Handmaids.
O-T Fagbenle as Luke Bankole: June’s husband, who remains committed to reuniting with her.
Max Minghella as Nick Blaine: A Gilead commander with deep connections to June.
Madeline Brewer as Janine Lindo: A fellow Handmaid and close ally of June.
Bradley Whitford as Commander Joseph Lawrence: An architect of Gilead’s economy with ambiguous loyalties.
Samira Wiley as Moira Strand: June’s best friend and a former Handmaid who escaped to Canada.
Amanda Brugel as Rita Blue: A former Martha in the Waterford household who seeks freedom.
Sam Jaeger as Mark Tuello: A U.S. government agent involved in efforts against Gilead.

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (Season 6) Complete Release Schedule of All Episodes:

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 6 will premiere on Hulu in the United States with the first three episodes on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Subsequent episodes will be released weekly on Tuesdays, concluding with the series finale on May 27, 2025.

Episode 1: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Episode 2: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Episode 3: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Episode 4: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Episode 5: Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Episode 6: Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Episode 7: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Episode 8: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Episode 9: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Episode 10: Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Where to Watch:

In the United States, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 6 will be available exclusively on Hulu. Viewers can watch the series with a Hulu subscription, which offers various plans to accommodate different viewing preferences. Internationally, the series will also be accessible on Disney+ in select regions, including the United Kingdom, where it will air on Channel 4.

For a glimpse of what’s to come, watch the official trailer: