Cobra Kai season 6 three-part release dates, synopsis, trailer, and everything to know

Cobra Kai is one of Netflix’s most popular series, and fans have come to expect new seasons of the karate dramedy to premiere each year. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case in 2023 because the renewal for season 6 came so late, not to mention the writers' and actors' strikes. However, now that it's 2024 we're back on track and we have nothing but great developments to share with our readers. Cobra Kai returns this month!

The highly-anticipated season will be split into not two but three parts, with the first batch of episodes premiering on Thursday, July 18. The second part will then come later in the year on Thursday, Nov. 28, and we'll be waiting for the last part — just the finale episode which is being called "The Finale Event" — until 2025. Netflix has not confirmed when the Cobra Kai season 6 finale will be released, but we know it won't be this year. Talk about going big for the final season! Do you expect anything different from this show?

Netflix also confirmed the final season will be 15 total episodes! That's five more than usual.

Ahead of the release of part 1, Netflix shared the official trailer for the first five episodes of season 6:

I'm hyped after watching that trailer! With the song "Shout It Out Loud" by Kiss playing, we see Daniel and Johnny try to work together again — not without complications! — as they combine dojos to train for the upcoming Sekai Taikai tournament. Of course, Johnny's strategy is a little intense for Daniel, but I think they'll see eye to eye eventually. Daniel is cautious about blending their two styles, understandably, however, it looks like the kids are ready to go. The trailer also teases the turn of Kreese, who's already running another dojo. Uh oh!

We've detailed everything else we know about the final season below.

Netflix waited an excruciatingly long time to announce Cobra Kai season 6, but the streaming network renewed the series in January 2023 after the beloved nostalgia-filled comedy last added new episodes in September 2022. With the months going by without a renewal announcement, fans were starting to get nervous. But fortunately, Netflix gave the series the greenlight and they’re calling this the “biggest” and “baddest” season. It’ll also mark the final season.

The creators of Cobra Kai, Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, shared a letter with fans via Netflix on Jan. 20, 2023, with the announcement that the show’s upcoming sixth season will be its last. They explain the decision to end the show, noting that they’ve wanted to conclude Cobra Kai “on our terms.” Though they see this as the end of the story, they do tease that spinoffs could happen at some point in the future.

“This fandom is the BEST on the planet and we hope to be telling more Karate Kid stories with you down the line. Because as we all know, Cobra Kai Never Dies,” the creators write.

First look photos

Along with the release dates announcement, Netflix shared first look photos at Cobra Kai season 6, which are super telling. Chozen is, fortunately, all healed from his injury in the season 5 finale, and Johnny and Carmen are getting ready for their baby! Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang are also coming together, finally. Check them out:

Teasers

Not only do we have the season 6 trailer finally, but Netflix has also released multiple teasers ahead of the release. We’re so excited to see our favorite characters on our screens again and can’t wait to watch how the story ends! See all of the videos below.

Release dates announcement video:

Final season announcement video:

The streamer also released a video of the Cobra Kai cast getting ready to start table reads. At the time that this clip below was released, however, it was already confirmed that the new season was on hold because of the strikes. In any case, it was still great to see the actors back together again:

Synopsis

Though it's short for now, Netflix shared the following synopsis to get us hyped for season 6:

"Picking up with Cobra Kai eliminated from the Valley, our senseis and students must decide if and how they will compete in the Sekai Taikai — the world championships of karate."

- Season 6 synopsis

Cast

The teaser featuring the cast coming together for a season 6 table read confirmed that the main cast and most of the supporting would return! Among those who were confirmed to be returning through their presence in the featured video, along with the cast list Netflix confirmed, are:

• Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso
• William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence
• Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz
• Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso
• Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene
• Jacob Bertrand as Eli ‘Hawk’ Moskowitz
• Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso
• Peyton List as Tory Nichols
• Martin Kove as John Kreese
• Yuji Okumoto as Chozen Toguchi
• Vanessa Rubio as Carmen Diaz
• Dallas Dupree Young as Kenny Payne
• Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri
• Alicia Hannah-Kim as Kim Da-eun
• Griffin Santopietro as Anthony LaRusso
• Oona O'Brien as Devon

Thomas Ian Griffith has been the big bad in Cobra Kai for a few seasons now. While Terry Silver did get what was coming to him in Cobra Kai season 5, the question remains if Silver will be back for season 6. As you can see, Griffith was not part of the Cobra Kai season 6 table read for the TUDUM promo, and he wasn't included in Netflix's cast list. I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of Terry Silver just yet, though.

There’s been so much chatter about Hilary Swank, who played Julie Pierce in The Next Karate Kid, joining the cast of Cobra Kai season 6. So far, there hasn’t been confirmation that it’s going to happen, but we want it to! We’ve seen so many great Karate Kid cameos throughout the five seasons. It would make a lot of sense to bring back Julie Pierce, especially as these characters will be taking part in a global tournament in the sixth and final season.

Swank previously mentioned that she had not been asked to be in the show. Macchio also shared his thoughts on the matter and mentioned he would be open to it, according to CinemaBlend.

Writing and filming timeline

Co-creator Jon Hurwitz confirmed on X that the writers’ room started working in Feb. 2023. That said, it doesn’t look like they got very far before they were shut down. Ralph Macchio told Deadline in April that he hadn’t seen a script yet, and Hurwitz also said that “much” of the season hadn’t been written before the writers’ strike started.

Hurwitz confirmed in early May that the show’s writers were part of the WGA strike:

"We hate to strike, but if we must, we strike hard. Pencils down in the Cobra Kai writers room. No writers on set. These aren’t fun times, but it’s unfortunately necessary. The moment a fair deal is in place, we’ll get back to kicking ass. In the meantime, sending strength and support to the negotiating committee."

After the WGA strike ended in September, Hurwitz told fans on X that the Cobra Kai team was slated to “get back into the writers room in the coming weeks.”

According to fans who attended the Cobra Kai panel at Atlanta Comic-Con in February 2023, Ralph Macchio revealed production was slated to begin in May 2023, prior to the strikes happening. Of course, that didn't happen, but fortunately, the strikes came to an end in 2023!

In late 2023, SAG came to an agreement with the AMPTP on a new, three-year contract, meaning the actors’ strike came to an end. Cobra Kai season 6 had been put on hold because of the writers’ and actors’ strike, which prevented any work on the new season. The WGA came to an agreement with the studios and ended their strike in September, and Cobra Kai co-creator Jon Hurwitz confirmed at that time that once the actors’ strike ended, they’d figure out when they could start filming.

Filming for Cobra Kai season 6 began at the start of this year, with the co-creators taking to social media to confirm how great it's felt to be back at it. Jon Hurwitz said it was "amazing" to be reunited with the cast and crew:

In Feb. 2024, Netflix officially confirmed filming on Cobra Kai season 6 had begun with a sneak peek shot at the new installment:

In June, Hurwitz took to X to confirm filming had concluded with a short and sweet message: "...and that's a wrap! #Cobra Kai."

What the season 5 ending means for season 6

The ending of Cobra Kai season 5 is so wild, but we have a feeling that season 6 will be even more eventful. Kreese escapes prison in the season 5 finale, so we’re sure he’ll be a main player in the next season and will probably be seeking vengeance from Silver yet again. We’ll be curious to see what his relationship with Daniel and Johnny will be, considering the two kind of made amends in season 5. There’s a chance they’ll team up in the new season.

Tory and Robby are back together by the end of season 5, as are Sam and Miguel. We’re predicting season 6 will give both couples the happy endings they deserve. Johnny and Carmen’s relationship is also getting more serious and the sixth season will most likely see them welcoming a baby into the world. Johnny will no doubt struggle with fatherhood yet again, but I think he’ll do a better job this time around.

There’s a lot on the line for Cobra Kai season 6, and we’re so happy the story will continue for one more installment! Check back with us on July 18 for our coverage of the first five episodes.