Cobra Kai season 6: Everything we know about the final season

Cobra Kai season 6 is the final season of the hit Netflix show, and it sounds like the Karate Kid spin-off is just around the corner. One star has teased filming after the WGA writers' strike and the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike, came to an end, while co-creator Hayden Schlossberg has been busy talking about the new season's bumper runtime.

We've got everything you need to know about Cobra Kai season 6 below, with exclusive quotes from the showrunners, plot speculation, and our best guesses at who might form the cast and when the release date might fall. So, for the ultimate guide to the Netflix show's sixth and final season, head to the below. Black belts at the ready!

Cobra Kai season 6 release date speculation

Prior filming start times can clue us in to a rough window for the Cobra Kai season 6 release date. Both the fourth and fifth season aired 11-12 months after filming began. Xolo Mariduena told Collider that filming is "just around the corner" and that the first episode was already filmed. A 2024 timeframe wouldn’t be out of the question, especially as Deadline indicates cameras will begin rolling early next year. Hayden Schlossberg also said on Twitter that a 2024 release date remains the goal for Cobra Kai season 6.

But the one-two punch in close proximity of the fourth season in December 2021 and fifth season in September 2022 won't be repeated. The pair of seasons were essentially filmed back to back and, as Jon Hurwitz told us "nothing" has been filmed at the time of season 5's release. That’s despite the conversation surrounding a Ralph Macchio interview with ComicBook.com spiralling out into suggestion that some season six scenes had already been filmed. Expect a late 2024 window for those awaiting the end of the Cobra Kai saga.

Who could be in the Cobra Kai season 6 cast?

We expect most of the Cobra Kai cast, if not all, to be retained for a sixth season. That would mean Ralph Macchio and William Zabka are back as Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence respectively.

They would be joined by the karate kids: Xolo Mariduena, Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan, Jacob Bertrand, Peyton List, and Gianni DeCenzo. Devon actor Oona O’Brien could even be upgraded to series regular. In terms of the older cast, Courtney Henggeler and Vanessa Rubio will likely return, as will Alicia Hannah-Kim, who played Kim Da-Eun. Sean Kanan’s Mike Barnes and Chozen actor Yuji Okumoto are perhaps bigger question marks, however; their status is still up in the air depending on where the story goes next.

Kreese actor Martin Kove would factor in far more heavily in a potential Cobra Kai season 6 after his dramatic jail break in the season five finale. "The one person who is out there to potentially wreak havoc is Kreese, who makes his escape at the very end," Jon Hurwitz told us. "There’s plenty of drama to be had."

And what of Terry Silver actor Thomas Ian Griffith? "In terms of Terry Silver, this may be the end for him – or maybe not," Hurwitz said. "You never know with a character of his means and determination. But we love Thomas Ian Griffith, it’s been amazing working with him the last couple of years. We’ll see if we get to work with him more."

A fascinating new addition to the cast has also been unveiled. C.S. Lee is joining the line-up as Karate Kid character Master Kim Sun-Young, per Deadline. He taught both Kreese and Silver, and Kim Da-Eun, introduced in season 5, is his granddaughter.

Possible Cobra Kai season 6 story and theories

t was announced in January 2023 via open letter from showrunners Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Scholssberg that Netflix had renewed the show for a sixth and final season.

"Our day one goal with Cobra Kai has always been to end it on our own terms, leaving the Valley in the time and place we've always imagined. So it is with immense pride and thankfulness that we are able to announce that achievement. The upcoming season six will mark the conclusion of Cobra Kai," the trio wrote.

"While this may be a bittersweet day for the fandom, the Miyagiverse has never been stronger," the letter continues. "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."

Cobra Kai season 5 ended with Cobra Kai seemingly being disbanded, Terry Silver being arrested for his various crimes, and Kreese escaping from prison. Miguel and Robby also buried the hatchet and Johnny is finally settling into his newfound role as a family man.

For now, it appears everything has wrapped up nicely. But there’s still the Sekai Takai tournament over the horizon. The "Super Bowl of karate" is something the creators have in mind when considering a new season.

"We don’t know all of the details of what that involves, other than it’s the biggest tournament yet in the series," Schlossberg said. "We’ll see how that all plays out. We’ll just say we have lots of ideas for the future of where we’re going with these characters."

A global karate tournament could be on the agenda, and the show has two remaining antagonists to lead the charge: Kreese and sensei Kim Da-Eun, who had a significant stake in Cobra Kai.

Could the pair lead a new team to Sekai Takai? It’s certainly something on the table, though don’t expect Kenny or Tory to join their ranks. The pair have left Cobra Kai behind, so new characters (and contenders) will have to emerge from the shadows to take on Miyagi-do’s prized students.

Then there’s also Johnny dealing with becoming a dad for the second time. A minor time skip – no House of the Dragon-style jumps here – may help speed up that plotline, while also intensifying one of our favorite fan theories: Terry Silver might be dying. If he is shuffling off this mortal karate coil, Silver must have one more trick up his gi to help the sensei sign off from the series in style. Watch this space.

What else have the creators said about Cobra Kai season 6?

Co-creator Hayden Schlossberg previously teased that things would get bigger and better for season 6.

"It’s always starting from a place of how do we take it to the next level while staying true to the original movie?" the co-creator told us. "I use the Rocky movies as comparison: there’s always some new angle, something that feels bigger, or going back to the roots of what it is.

"But you know what you’re gonna get: you’re gonna get awesome montages, Johnny being amazing, and the soap opera has some really big moments still to come."

He also said on Twitter/X that Cobra Kai season 6 would last 10 episodes and the total runtime would be the longest yet (via Screen Rant).

The creators told Collider that they aren’t keen on covering old ground either. "We have a few more tricks up our sleeve for where we go from here, but it does get bigger every year," they said. "And we're trying at all times to make sure we're not plagiarizing ourselves at this point."

As Jon Hurwitz told us, the season 5 finale was "intended to have a different kind of feeling at the end there. We see how some people could see it as a little bit of a series finale kind of feeling, but Kreese has a famous line in one of the earlier seasons: ‘Peace is just a lull between battles.’"

He added, "We look forward to moving forward. Looks like everything’s ok in the Valley! Let’s see how it continues."

In the open letter announcing the show's cancellation, the creators told fans to "strap in for the BIGGEST SEASON OF COBRA KAI YET. And let today be a celebration of all that's come, as well as all that's still left to be told. We couldn't do it without you."

For more on the previous season, be sure to check out our full spoiler chat with creators Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. Then dive into our extended breakdown of the Cobra Kai season 5 ending.