The Bear spans 5 seasons (2022-2026) plus the surprise standalone special Gary (May 5, 2026). The series concluded with season 5's eight episodes on June 25, 2026, on FX on Hulu, while FX's linear broadcast runs weekly through August 6. Release order is the order; Gary sits right before season 5.

Why this order?

The Bear ran like clockwork: a new season almost every June from 2022 to 2026, each dropped complete on FX on Hulu. Seasons 1 through 4 (8, 10, 10, 10 episodes) take The Beef from sandwich chaos to fine-dining crucible, and season 5's eight episodes, released June 25, 2026, end the story on purpose: it is the announced final season, and it sticks the landing rather than fishing for renewal.

Two things genuinely confuse trackers, and this page exists to settle both. First: Gary, the standalone episode surprise-released on May 5, 2026 with zero advance marketing. Where does it go? Between seasons 4 and 5. Listings disagree on labels (some catalogs fold it into season 5's episode list, where it shows as the season's earliest date; others shelve it as a special), but the viewing answer is stable: watch it after season 4, before season 5 proper. Second: the final season's split reality. Hulu streamers got all eight episodes on June 25, while FX's linear channel airs them weekly through August 6, 2026, so streamers and broadcast viewers are out of sync all summer. If someone is dodging spoilers until 'the finale airs,' they mean the FX broadcast; the episodes have been streamable since June.

Nothing else exists to slot in: no spinoff, no movie, nothing announced beyond the ending. The Bear is a completed five-course meal, and the only order decision you will ever make is remembering Gary before the last course.

Frequently asked questions

How many seasons of The Bear are there?

Five, released 2022-2026 (8, 10, 10, 10 and 8 episodes), plus the standalone special Gary (May 5, 2026). Season 5, released in full on June 25, 2026, is the announced final season: the series is complete.

What is the Gary episode and where does it fit?

A standalone special surprise-released on May 5, 2026 with no advance marketing. Watch it between seasons 4 and 5. Some listings fold it into season 5's episode list (where it appears as the earliest date) while others label it a special; either way, it plays before the final season's story.

Why does FX still air The Bear if the season already dropped?

The final season used a hybrid release: all eight episodes hit FX on Hulu on June 25, 2026, while FX's linear channel airs them weekly through August 6. Streamers finished weeks before broadcast viewers, which is why spoiler etiquette got complicated this summer.

Is The Bear really over?

Yes. Season 5 was announced and produced as the final season, and no spinoff, movie or continuation has been announced as of July 2026. The story ends where the kitchen closes.

What order do I watch The Bear in?

Release order: seasons 1 through 4, then the Gary special, then season 5. The episode tracker above lists every episode with dates so the hybrid final-season release cannot trip you.

How long does it take to binge The Bear?

46 episodes plus the special, most running 25-40 minutes (a few stretch longer, notably the season 2 finale and Fishes). A committed week covers it; two relaxed weeks is the comfortable pace.

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The Bear Watch Order

Why this order?

How many episodes is The Bear?

Timeline 2022-2026

Where to play it today

Frequently asked questions

The Bear Watch Order