You’ve heard the yelling. You’ve seen the memes of Jeremy Allen White looking stressed in a kitchen apron. Maybe you’ve even started calling people "Chef" ironically at dinner parties. But now you actually want to sit down and watch the show that has basically redefined "anxiety-inducing television," and you’re hitting a wall.
It’s a weirdly common problem. Because of how the show is branded, people often go hunting in the wrong places. If you are looking for where is The Bear streaming in 2026, the answer depends entirely on your GPS coordinates, but it’s simpler than the chaotic "Forks" episode makes it look.
Honestly, the confusion usually starts because The Bear is an FX production, yet it doesn’t actually air on the FX cable channel in the way most people expect. It’s a "streaming exclusive," which is a fancy way of saying you need an app, not a cable box.
The Short Answer: Where to Find Carmy and the Crew
If you are in the United States, there is exactly one home for the Berzatto family drama: Hulu.
That’s it. That’s the tweet.
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Every single episode of Seasons 1, 2, 3, and 4 is currently sitting there waiting to stress you out. If you have the Disney Bundle (which most people do these days), you can also find it directly inside the Disney+ app under the Hulu tile.
But here is where it gets slightly tricky. If you’re traveling or living outside the States—say, in London, Toronto, or Sydney—Hulu doesn't exist. In those territories, The Bear lives exclusively on Disney+ under the "Star" banner.
Quick Reference for 2026 Viewers
- United States: Hulu (or Hulu on Disney+)
- United Kingdom: Disney+ (Select seasons also appearing on ITVX as of late 2025)
- Canada: Disney+
- Australia: Disney+
- Latin America: Disney+ (formerly on Star+)
Why Can’t I Find It on Netflix?
I get this question a lot. "Is The Bear on Netflix?"
No. It never has been, and barring some massive corporate collapse at Disney, it likely never will be.
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The Bear is owned by Disney (through FX and 20th Television). Since Netflix is their biggest rival, they aren't exactly keen on handing over their biggest Emmy-winner to the competition. It’s the same reason you won’t find Stranger Things on Disney+.
What’s the Deal with Season 5?
If you’ve already binged the first four seasons and are currently scouring the internet for more, you aren't alone. Season 4 ended on that massive cliffhanger with Carmy essentially walking away from the kitchen, leaving Sydney and Richie to figure out the wreckage.
The good news? Season 5 is officially happening.
Production kicked off in early January 2026. If the show follows its usual "serve it up while it's hot" summer release schedule, we are likely looking at a June or July 2026 premiere. Just like the previous seasons, it will drop all episodes at once on Hulu in the US and Disney+ internationally.
The "Free" Option (For some of you)
Streaming is expensive. We all feel it. If you’re looking for a way to watch without adding another $15 to your monthly bills, there are a few legal workarounds.
In the UK, a recent partnership between Disney and ITV means that the first season of The Bear has actually been made available for free (with ads) on ITVX. It’s a "taste of Disney+" strategy designed to get you hooked so you’ll pay for the rest.
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In the US, Hulu still offers a 30-day free trial for new subscribers. If you’re fast, you can definitely crush all 40 existing episodes within a month. Just make sure you have some Tums nearby; the "Review" episode in Season 1 alone is enough to give anyone acid reflux.
How to Watch If You’re Traveling
If you’re a US subscriber traveling abroad, you might notice the Hulu app stops working or shows you a "not available in your region" message.
This is where a VPN comes in. By using something like ExpressVPN or NordVPN and setting your location to a US server, you can access your Hulu account as if you were sitting on your couch in Chicago. Conversely, if you’re from the UK and want to use your Disney+ account while in the States, a VPN set to London will let you access the "Star" library where The Bear is kept.
Actionable Steps to Get Started
Stop searching and start watching. Here is the move:
- Check your existing bundles. If you pay for Verizon, Spotify Premium for Students, or certain American Express cards, you might already have a Hulu or Disney+ subscription you haven’t activated yet.
- Download for the road. If you’re planning to watch the "Fishes" episode (the Christmas one with Jamie Lee Curtis), do yourself a favor and download it for offline viewing. You’ll want to be able to pause and take a breather without the video buffering.
- Check your settings. If you’re watching on Disney+ outside the US, the show is rated TV-MA. If your profile is set to "Junior" or has parental controls turned on, The Bear won’t even show up in the search results. You’ll need to toggle the content rating to 18+ in the profile settings.
The kitchen is open. Just remember: every second counts.