We Finally Know When To Expect Rick And Morty Season 6

Not only did fans of animated sci-fi comedy "Rick and Morty" have to wait a full two years between the series' third and fourth seasons, but only the first five episodes of Season 4 initially aired upon its eventual premiere. Just under six months then elapsed before it then picked back up again, amounting to two years and seven months in total between the Season 3 finale and the final episode of its fourth season (via IMDB). However, despite the onset of a global pandemic some months later, Season 5 of "Rick and Morty" premiered just over one year after the conclusion of its previous season, and aired on a more typical, weekly schedule for the entirety of its ten episode run.

As "Rick and Morty" Season 6 approaches, some fans might be wondering whether it will follow a considerable gap or premiere within the year, given that there's precedent for each of these possibilities. During its recent Adult Swim Fest, "Rick and Morty" network Adult Swim finally revealed when fans can expect Season 6, putting at least some of that speculation to rest.

On November 12, Adult Swim hosted the first day of its annual Adult Swim Fest online — whereas in past years the event occurred in-person, its organizers opted instead to produce a festival that could be livestreamed in 2021 (via LA Times). Among musical performances by various artists, its schedule likewise featured a number of watch parties for episodes of some of the network's most popular shows. Prior to a watch party for two episodes of "Rick and Morty," Adult Swim announced, in its signature white text on a black background, that "Rick and Morty" Season 6 will be out sometime next year (via Adult Swim on YouTube).

The fact that "Rick and Morty" is coming back for a Season 6 is no surprise, given that prior even to the Season 5 premiere, a "Rick and Morty" writer revealed that he was in the process of working on Season 7. This most likely means that the series' writers room completed work on Season 6 before that even, leaving it in the hands of its animators many months ago. That Season 6 could premiere next year, then, seems to be the direct result of its staff starting work on production well in advance of its planned release. While Adult Swim has yet to announce a specific date, confirmation of a 2022 release means that for the second time in a row, fans won't have to wait long for "Rick and Morty" to return.