Expected Netflix Release Date and Everything We Know

Picture Credit: Netflix

The Pogues are coming back for one last time on Netflix. Season 5 of Outer Banks began production in June 2025 and officially wrapped in December 2025. Here’s our updated everything you need to know about the fifth and final season of the show as of April 2026, including the latest production updates, casting, the international filming stint in Croatia, and more. 

In case you missed it, Netflix renewed the series for its final season on November 4th, 2024, a few days after Poguelandia and ahead of the release of season 4, part 2. The renewal came alongside a note that confirmed the team behind the show had always dreamed of reaching five seasons to tell the full story of the Pogues and that they’d been granted that wish. 

Co-showrunners Shannon Burke, Josh Pate, and Jonas Pate wrote, “With a little sadness, but also excitement, we’re putting season 4 behind us, and are turning to season 5, in which we hope to bring our beloved Pogues home in the way we imagined and planned years ago. Season 5 will be our last season, and we think it will be our best yet. We hope you’ll join us for one more paddle out to the surf break.”

Picture: OBX and Netflix on Instagram

Since season 4 was divided into two halves, comparing its performance to prior seasons and other shows is a bit more challenging. What we do know is that the show spent 10 weeks in the weekly global top 10s in total, picking up 292.80 million hours watched, which equates to around 49.60 million views. By our estimates, however, season 4 lost 15% of its viewership season over season.

Season 4 featured in the weekly top 10s of 75 countries, slightly down from the 77 that featured season 3. 

What to Expect from Outer Banks Season 5

As a quick recap of season 4’s big feature-length finale (read an extensive recap here), and how it sets up season 5, the episode takes the Pogues to Essaouira, Morocco, where they navigate a bustling, unfamiliar terrain in pursuit of the fabled Blue Crown. Of course, things didn’t go entirely to plan. 

Kie, devastated by JJ’s brutal murder, has vowed revenge against Groff. Rafe’s betrayal, Groff’s ruthless nature, and a desperate treasure hunt intertwine, leading to JJ’s courageous yet tragic demise. As he retrieves the Blue Crown amidst a raging sandstorm, he sacrifices himself to save Kie, only to be ruthlessly stabbed by Groff. His final words, affirming his love for Kie, seal a heartbreaking moment, leaving the Pogues shattered and forcing them to face a future without him.

In season 5, the Pogues will be hunting down Groff, who has fled to Lisbon with the Blue Crown. Of course, amidst the chaos, Sarah and John B’s revelation of their pregnancy adds emotional weight to the ending and will introduce an extra dynamic for Season 5. 

The co-showrunners have known precisely how the series will end for a long time. They told Netflix, “We’ve always known from the beginning what the last scene would be, if we would be lucky enough to get it that far.” 

We can’t discuss what to expect from season 5 without mentioning that JJ Maybank was controversially killed off in the final episode. That led to an outcry (more on the fan’s campaigns in a moment), with hopes of getting the character reinstated in some form in season 5. 

Madelyn Cline has confirmed that there will be no time jump in season 5, telling Variety, “We pick up pretty soon after Season 4 ends. We have one big time jump in all five, but just like the prior seasons, everything happens in such a short amount of time; it feels like it would be this huge, months-long adventure, but it actually doesn’t take that much time at all. I think this one follows the same formula.”

Who will be in the cast for Outer Banks Season 5?

According to the official Netflix cast slate, all the prominent core members are set to return, including Chase Stokes as John B, Madelyn Cline as Sarah Cameron, Madison Bailey as Kiara, Jonathan Daviss as Pope, Carlacia Grant as Cleo, Austin North as Topper, Drew Starkey as Rafe Cameron, and Fiona Palomo as Sofia.

Notably, two returning actors have been officially promoted to series regulars for the final season: Cullen Moss (Sheriff Shoupe) and J. Anthony Crane (Chandler Groff).

Speaking with Blavity, Madelyn Cline said, “It is bittersweet. It’s a little sweeter than bitter,” adding, “I’m so proud to be a part of it.” 

We should also note that the Outer Banks cast including Chase Stokes, Madison Bailey, Jonathan Davis, Carlacia Grant, and Drew Starkey, took the stage at TUDUM 2025 to answer playful fan questions (including one jokingly from Jonathan’s mom), teased each other about who’s the favorite, gave a hilariously vague answer to “What’s Rafe’s deal?”, and joined other Netflix stars for a massive group photo while celebrating their fans with lots of laughs and energy.

The Pogues at Netflix TUDUM 2025 – Picture: Netflix

Julia Antonelli as Wheezie Cameron (via Showsnob) is officially returning for the fifth and final season of Outer Banks, marking her first major reappearance since season 3 after being mostly absent from season 4. A new set photo shared by J. Anthony Crane revealed Wheezie back at the Camerons’ house, suggesting she could have a larger role as the story ties up loose ends.

Pictured: Jason Alan Carvell, Josh Hooks, and Ali Lopez-Sohaili

Additionally, we’ve learned that a slew of new guest or recurring stars will feature throughout the final season:

• Jason Alan Carvell (Ruthless, Godfather of Harlem) as Anton Finch
• Josh Hooks (The Actor, Shattered) as Driss
• Ali Lopez-Sohaili (Manifest, Nonnas) as Zac
• Slavko Sobin (The Old Guard 2) as Henrique
• Clyde Willems as Javon
• Andrei Lenart (Kill Em All 2) in an undisclosed role
• Deja Dee as D.A. Carruth
• Calvin Noble as Johnny-O
• Jesse La Flair as Srimper 1

Behind the camera, cinematographer Lukas Ettlin is listed as one of the directors for season 5, joining series creators Jonas Pate, Josh Pate, and Shannon Burke.

The Ongoing Campaign to Bring Back JJ 

Given the fan backlash, it is worth noting that fans have mobilized to campaign for JJ’s return for the final season. As with all campaigns, their effectiveness could ultimately be negligible for the final product. 

What have fans been up to in getting their voices heard? Well, we spoke to one of the leaders of a group of fans that organized a big petition, which, as of early 2026, has over 11,000 signatures. They’ve also hired numerous billboards, including several in New York’s famous Times Square and in Los Angeles, with further plans in place. 

Despite these efforts, Rudy Pankow has been confirmed not to return, heavily implying that JJ’s tragic death is indeed permanent.

When and where was Outer Banks Season 5 filmed?

After initial delays pushed the start of the shoot, filming for the final season officially kicked off on June 16, 2025. Production ran through the end of the year, finally wrapping up right before the holidays on December 19, 2025.

As with all prior seasons, the bulk of filming took place in Charleston, South Carolina. However, following season 4’s trek to Morocco, season 5 went international once again. From October to early December 2025, the cast and crew relocated to Croatia to shoot scenes standing in for Lisbon, Portugal.

The Croatian shoot spanned multiple scenic locations, including Dubrovnik, Cavtat, Danče Beach, and Lokrum Island. The production utilized the historic architecture of Dubrovnik’s UNESCO-protected Old Town and Stradun for street-level chase sequences, while Lapad Marina and the Old Port were used for boat-based scenes.

Unfortunately, the international shoot wasn’t without off-screen drama. In late October, reports surfaced via TMZ of an on-set altercation in Croatia, alleging that co-creator Jonas Pate grabbed and shook a production assistant. The confrontation reportedly had to be de-escalated by stars Chase Stokes and Madelyn Cline before filming resumed.

Following the European wrap, the cast returned to South Carolina for their final days of filming to close out the series.

Picture Credit: GrgoxJelavic/PIXSELL

Throughout the year, OuterBanksUpdates on X kept a close eye on production, revealing the crew was on the lookout for some infant twins, hinting heavily at Sarah and John B’s pregnancy progressing. They also teased a potential plane crash, an arrest, and a fancy party. 

When will Outer Banks season 5 be released on Netflix?

With filming fully completed, post-production is well underway. In January 2026, Netflix officially confirmed the show is slated to return this year. While Netflix has yet to announce an exact premiere date, it is highly expected that the final season will hit our screens sometime in the late summer or early fall of 2026.

For those who were frustrated by the split-season format of season 4, it looks like Outer Banks will return to its roots for its final bow. During the “Next on Netflix” presentation in March 2026, Netflix executives Bela Bajaria and Jinny Howe discussed release strategies, and reports indicate that season 5 is expected to revert to a binge-release model. This means all 10 episodes should drop at the exact same time.

What happened to the other Outer Banks story on Netflix Games?

When we initially posted this article, we brought some good news for Outer Banks fans craving for some new content this year. Netflix has confirmed some of the games it has lined up for 2025, and as part of that slate reveal, it’s been confirmed that another season of Outer Banks is coming to the Netflix Stories app. Bad news, though – that additional game has now been scrapped as part of Netflix Stories being discontinued.

Are you excited for the final season of Outer Banks? What are your expectations for what’s coming up? Let us know in the comments below.