Orange is the New Black season 6: Cast, spoilers, trailers, streaming guide and more

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

Orange is the New Black season 5 only launched on Netflix last month, but most hardcore fans will have already binged their way through all 13 episodes.

And with that finale, people are already more than a bit excited about Orange is the New Black season 6 – so here’s everything we know so far.

Will there be an Orange is the New Black season 6?

When Netflix show Sense8 was canned, the broadcaster explained that cult adoration could only get you so far – with a “tiny” audience the numbers just don’t add up.

Of course, Netflix doesn’t announce its audience figures and Orange is the New Black season’s 5 ending could well work as a series finale…

orange is the new black fire
Related: Orange is the New Black – the best episodes

But worry not. Way back in February 2016, Orange is the New Black was renewed for three seasons – that is: season 5, season 6 and season 7. So if they stick to that deal, Orange is the New Black has at least two more years to run.

What is the Orange is the New Black season 6 release date?

Season one dropped on Netflix back in July 11, 2013, but all the other seasons were released in June.

So it’s not confirmed, but we’ll take a punt on June 2018.

Is there an Orange is the New Black season 6 trailer yet?

With the most recent season only having just aired, there isn’t a season 6 trailer just yet. We’ll have one here as soon as it exists, though.

Orange is the New Black season 6 streaming guide

As with seasons 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, Orange is the New Black season 6 will be streaming (legally) one place and one place only, and that’s on Netflix.


Unless you want to wait aaaaages for the DVD/Blu-ray release, you’ll have to sign up for a Netflix account.

It’ll set you back £5.99/$8 a month (or £7.49/$10 for two screens and HD and £8.99/$12 four-screen for Ultra HD).

Give us some Orange is the New Black season 6 spoilers, please.

Facts are thin on the ground, but there are some bits and pieces of information doing the rounds.

Writer and producer Lauren Morelli has confirmed that Orange is the New Black season 6 won’t dodge the messy fallout from the season 5 riot.

Orange is the New Black prison riot

“A conversation they constantly came back to in the writers room revolved around committing to the riot, as well as its aftermath” she told The Hollywood Reporter.

“If this is going to be the season, then that means we are tying ourselves into the reality of the consequences of that.”

Related: Orange is the New Black – 11 questions we NEED answered after that season 5 finale

So no sneaky flashforwards that totally ignore that cliffhanger ending, or flashsideways to dodge them altogether.

We’ll let you know anything beyond that as soon as it’s out there.

Who will be in the Orange is the New Black season 6 cast?

At the moment, we just don’t know.

Season 5 was the first in the series not to feature either prison counsellor Sam Healy (Michael J Harney – who still had his place in the credits) nor Jane Ingalls (Beth Fowler), whose character was released offscreen on compassionate grounds.

The end of season 5 sees our main cast split into two groups going off in different directions, including – tragically – the end of Flaritza (Flaca – Jackie Cruz and Maritza – Diane Guerrero). This could mean several characters being written off.

Related: Orange is the New Black – top characters ranked

And of course during season 5 a number of significant characters met a sticky end, including Thomas Humphrey (Michael Torpey) and Desmond ‘Desi’ Piscatella (Brad William Henke). Despite being frequently present, Poussey Washington (Samira Wiley) was killed off at the end of season 4.

orange is the new black fire build-up

But being dead doesn’t stop you popping up on screen in Orange is the New Black – its handy flashback structure means that anyone could return.

What we can assume is that quasi leader of the ensemble Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) will come back, as will her on-off-on-off-on-off-on-off-on partner Alex Vause (Laura Prepon). Beyond that, we’ll let you know when we do.

Will Orange is the New Black take place in Litchfield Prison?

Again, nothing’s for certain.

With the riot coming to a predictably unhappy end in the season 5 finale, we could perhaps never see Litchfield’s urine-soaked floors again.

Prisons don’t just close down, even after a riot. They’re very expensive buildings, and even if MCC decides to cut ties, the prison will likely continue to exist. But both sets of our cast could well be relocated to other, maximum security facilities.

Will Laverne Cox return to Orange is the New Black in season 6?

The trans star is one of the breakout actresses from the show, but wasn’t seen much in season 5. Her character Sophia Burset went on the trail of Jane Ingalls and was often missing from our screens.

Will Sister Jane’s release mean Sophia is back with us, or will Laverne’s super busy schedule – Rocky Horror Picture Show and more – mean that she’ll leave the show altogether?

And will Ruby Rose come back to Orange is the New Black in season 6?

Another busy star is Ruby Rose, who has been tuning up for a key role in Pitch Perfect 3 on her downtime.

Her Stella Carlin was in Orange is the New Black seasons 3 and 4 as a sometime love interest for Piper Chapman, who eventually turned on her.

Orange is the New Black season 6: Cast, spoilers, trailers, streaming guide and more

When Stella nicked the cash from Piper’s dirty panty business, Chapman had her revenge. Stella was last seen being dragged off to maximum security prison after Pipes framed her for possession of all sorts of dangerous contraband.

Rose was hotly rumoured for a return in season 5, but it never happened. With many of the riot survivors likely to end up in max, will Stella surface once more?

Orange is the New Black season 6 returns to Netflix in 2018