Ghosts Season 6: Finale Cliffhanger, Cast News, and 2027 Return Explained

The Season 5 Finale Left Things Hanging, and Fans Are Still Talking

CBS's "Ghosts" is trending again on Google this week, and the reason is not a new episode. It is the fallout from a season finale that aired back in May, combined with a fresh round of cast and scheduling news that has kept the sitcom in headlines throughout June. According to Deadline, Collider, and Variety, the show wrapped its fifth season with a genuine cliffhanger, then followed it up with a series regular promotion and an unusual scheduling shake up that has fans searching for answers about what happens next.

For a show that has spent five seasons as comfort viewing, that is a lot of moving parts at once. The two part season 5 finale aired May 21, 2026, on CBS, closing out a storyline about Woodstone Mansion's ownership with a twist that showrunners have since confirmed will carry directly into season 6. Add to that a network decision to push the next full season all the way to early 2027, and it is easy to see why "Ghosts" searches are spiking even without a new episode on the air this week.

What's Actually Happening: The Finale, the Cliffhanger, and the Season 6 Delay

The season 5 finale centered on a crisis for Woodstone Mansion itself. According to recaps from PRIMETIMER and SoapCentral, the local mayor secretly sold his majority stake in the estate to a corporation planning to demolish it and build a data center, giving the ghosts roughly 72 hours before their home would be torn down. Sam's husband Jay, along with Kyle and Pete, raced to England to track down a historical portrait that could get Woodstone declared an official historical landmark, the only legal loophole that could stop the sale. They made it back just in time, the landmark status went through, and Sam used money from selling her screenplay to buy back the mansion, restoring her and Jay as its rightful owners.

The catch: Pete, who can only exist within the boundaries of the Woodstone property, was away from the estate for too long during the rescue mission and vanished from the back seat of the car moments before the group made it home. It is the first time the series has shown one of its ghosts actually disappear, and showrunner Joe Port told Deadline and Collider that season 6 will open with a time jump of several months to explain what happened to Pete in the interim, along with updates on Sam's movie career and the rest of the ghosts. Richie Moriarty, who plays Pete, has not left the show, so a resolution is expected, but the series is clearly using the disappearance as its next big mystery.

A Scheduling Shake Up Follows the Finale

Shortly after the finale aired, CBS confirmed a scheduling change that surprised longtime viewers. Per Variety and CBR, the network is holding the full season 6 run until a midseason launch in early 2027, freeing up the Thursday comedy slot "Ghosts" has occupied since its 2021 debut for a new supernatural sitcom called "Eternally Yours," created by the same "Ghosts" showrunners, Joe Port and Joe Wiseman. CBR reported that the move "potentially suggests 'Ghosts' has passed its prime," while also noting that budget considerations tied to Paramount's 2025 merger with Skydance Media, and a broader reduction in CBS's comedy slate, likely factored into the decision.

Importantly, this is not a cancellation. CBS is airing two one hour specials to bridge the gap, a Halloween episode in late October 2026 and a holiday episode in mid December 2026, both counted among the season's 22 total episodes. Those specials will pick up Pete's cliffhanger and the time jump before the show returns to its regular weekly run at midseason.

Full Cast List

The entire ensemble is expected to return for season 6, with one notable promotion. The cast includes:

Rose McIver as Samantha "Sam" Arondekar, a freelance journalist who gained the ability to see and communicate with ghosts after a near death accident.
Utkarsh Ambudkar as Jay Arondekar, Sam's husband and a chef who cannot see the ghosts but frequently gets pulled into their schemes anyway.
Brandon Scott Jones as Captain Isaac Higgintoot, a Revolutionary War era soldier.
Danielle Pinnock as Alberta Haynes, a 1920s jazz singer.
Richie Moriarty as Pete Martino, a 1980s scoutmaster whose fate is the show's biggest open question heading into season 6.
Asher Grodman as Trevor Lefkowitz, a 1990s finance bro who died without pants.
Rebecca Wisocky as Hetty Woodstone, the original lady of the house from the early 1900s.
Sheila Carrasco as Flower, a 1960s free spirit.
Devan Chandler Long as Thorfinn, a Viking explorer.
Roman Zaragoza as Sasappis, a Lenape man who has haunted the property the longest.

The biggest cast news of the summer, reported by Deadline and Collider in June, is that Ben Feldman has been promoted from recurring guest star to full series regular for season 6, reprising his role as Kyle Rosenblatt, a man who gained the ability to see ghosts after a roller coaster accident involving a bird. Showrunners Joe Port and Joe Wiseman said in a statement that Feldman is "a truly gifted actor that is equally adept at comedy and emotion, and he's an incredible addition to an already stacked cast." The season 5 finale set up more screen time for Kyle by having him move into Woodstone while Sam travels for several months to oversee filming of her holiday rom-com script, "Polar Opposites."

Where the Story Stands Right Now

As of the end of season 5, Woodstone Mansion is safe and legally protected as a historical landmark, and Sam and Jay are its owners again after a tense ownership battle. Sam has also sold a screenplay, "Polar Opposites," which is being turned into a movie, meaning season 6 will likely follow her balancing a budding Hollywood career with life at the house. Kyle is moving into Woodstone in her absence, setting up an expanded role for him and more ghost interaction now that he is a series regular. And Pete, the emotional core of the finale's cliffhanger, is missing after pushing himself past the property's boundary to help save his friends' home, a storyline the Halloween special is expected to address directly.

Where to Watch Ghosts

"Ghosts" airs on CBS and is available to stream live and on demand with a Paramount+ subscription. All previously aired seasons, including the complete season 5 run, are streaming on Paramount+ now for anyone looking to catch up before the Halloween special. New episodes typically become available on the platform the day after they broadcast on CBS.

Season Release Schedule

Here is how the rest of the "Ghosts" release calendar is expected to play out, based on CBS's official announcements:

Season 5: Aired October 2025 through May 2026, concluding with the two part finale on May 21, 2026.
Halloween Special (Season 6, hour long): Late October 2026.
Holiday Special (Season 6, hour long): Mid December 2026.
Season 6 Regular Run: Begins at CBS's midseason point, expected early 2027, with 22 total episodes for the season including the two specials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ghosts canceled?

No. CBS renewed "Ghosts" for a sixth season, and the show is not ending. The confusion stems from the network moving season 6 out of its usual fall slot and into a 2027 midseason launch, which some outlets have framed as a sign the show has lost its priority position on CBS's schedule.

What happened to Pete in the Ghosts finale?

Pete disappeared after staying away from the Woodstone property boundary for too long while helping rescue the mansion from demolition. Showrunner Joe Port has confirmed this cliffhanger will be addressed early in season 6, starting with the Halloween special, and that a time jump will bridge the gap between seasons.

When does Ghosts season 6 come out?

A Halloween special airs in late October 2026 and a holiday special airs in mid December 2026, both on CBS. The remainder of the 22 episode season begins airing weekly at CBS's midseason point, expected in early 2027.

Is Kyle a main character now?

Yes. Ben Feldman, who played Kyle in a recurring capacity for two seasons, has been promoted to series regular for season 6. His character is also moving into Woodstone Mansion as part of the season's story setup.

What to Watch Next

If the wait for "Ghosts" season 6 has you craving more low stakes, high heart comedy, a few shows scratch a similar itch. "Abbott Elementary" offers the same workplace mockumentary warmth with an ensemble cast that plays off each other the way the Woodstone ghosts do. "Schitt's Creek" is the gold standard for character growth wrapped in a tight, quotable comedy, perfect for a rewatch binge. And for viewers who specifically miss the supernatural angle, "The Good Place" pairs philosophical comedy with the kind of found family energy that made "Ghosts" a hit in the first place. All three are widely available on major streaming platforms and make for easy comfort watching while Woodstone Mansion sits quiet until the Halloween special.