Rhythm + Flow France—the Netflix rap competition that airs in France under the title Nouvelle École—returns for its fifth season on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, and it streams worldwide on Netflix, including across the United States. Netflix drops the first three episodes at 12:00 a.m. PT (3:00 a.m. ET), and you can watch on any Netflix plan, including the ad-supported tier that starts at $7.99 a month in the U.S.
Here is everything a U.S. viewer needs to start watching Season 5, from the platform and start time to the new panel of judges and the format itself.
How to watch Rhythm + Flow France Season 5 in the U.S.
Rhythm + Flow France is a Netflix original, so there is only one place to stream it: Netflix. The show carries its original French audio with English subtitles, so language is no barrier for American viewers. No separate purchase, channel add-on, or cable login is required—the series is included with a standard Netflix subscription the same way any other Netflix original is.
As of this writing, Netflix’s ad-supported plan starts at $7.99 a month in the U.S., while the ad-free Standard and Premium tiers cost $17.99 and $24.99 respectively. Season 5 is available on all of them. You can watch through the Netflix app on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, game consoles, iOS and Android, or in any web browser at netflix.com.
When do new episodes arrive? Start time on August 26th
Netflix releases its titles simultaneously around the world at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time, which is 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time. That means the first three episodes of Season 5 unlock overnight in the U.S. on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. The remaining episodes roll out in weekly waves over the following weeks, as earlier seasons of the show have done, building toward the finale and the crowning of a winner.
What is Rhythm + Flow France?
Rhythm + Flow France is the French-language edition of Rhythm + Flow, the rap-competition format Netflix launched in the United States in 2019 with judges Cardi B, Chance the Rapper, and T.I. The French version—titled Nouvelle École, which translates as “new school”—sends undiscovered French-speaking rappers through auditions, freestyle battles, and studio challenges in pursuit of a €100,000 grand prize (roughly $108,000). Across four previous seasons it has become one of Netflix’s most-watched French originals and a reliable launchpad for new artists.
For American viewers, the appeal is twofold: it is the same high-energy competition structure that made the U.S. original a hit, and it is a window into one of the most vibrant rap scenes outside the English-speaking world—an ecosystem most U.S. outlets rarely cover.
Meet the new Season 5 judges
The biggest change this season is the panel. SDM, the sole holdover from last season’s judges, returns to anchor the competition, and he is joined by two newcomers: Théodora and Oli. Oli is one half of the acclaimed French rap duo Bigflo & Oli, while Théodora is among the most talked-about new voices in French rap. The trio replaces a lineup that had previously included SCH, who is not returning for Season 5.
The reshuffle matters because the judges do more than critique: they scout, mentor, and eventually take competing artists under their wing, so a new panel reshapes which styles and which contestants rise through the bracket.
What to expect this season
The format stays true to the franchise blueprint: open auditions winnow a large field down to a pool of serious contenders, head-to-head freestyle battles test who can think on their feet, and studio rounds push artists to turn raw talent into finished songs. Along the way the judges assemble teams, and the season builds toward a finale in which one artist walks away with the six-figure check and, more valuably, a national platform. Expect guest appearances from established French artists, beat-making challenges, and the kind of breakout moments that have previously turned contestants into streaming-chart mainstays.
Watch the Season 5 trailer
Netflix France released the official Season 5 trailer ahead of the premiere. It is in French, but it gives a clear sense of the tone, the new judges, and the level of talent competing this year.
Frequently asked
Is Rhythm + Flow France available in the United States? Yes. It streams on Netflix in the U.S. and in more than 190 countries, with English subtitles.
Is it the same show as Nouvelle École? Yes. Nouvelle École is the French title; Netflix distributes it internationally, including in the U.S., as Rhythm + Flow France.
Do I need to speak French to follow it? No. Netflix provides English subtitles, and the competition format—auditions, battles, performances—is easy to follow regardless of language.
How many seasons are there? Season 5 is the fifth installment of the French edition. The wider Rhythm + Flow franchise also includes the U.S. original and other international versions.
What is the prize? The winner takes home €100,000.
