'Bridgerton' Season 4 Officially Wraps Filming for 2026 Release

The year 2025 was never going to be an easy one for Bridgerton fans. One of Netflix's most popular series, the show is currently running on an 18-month production cycle between seasonal releases. With Season 3 arriving midway through 2024, there was no way Season 4 was going to premiere before 2026, and with no Queen Charlotte-like spinoff in the works, there's nothing for the streaming service to give fans in between. However, Netflix is doing its best to keep fans engaged, releasing an utterly adorable video to mark the end of principal photography on the forthcoming season.

Much like its "binge release model" has wound up working against the streaming service in terms of marketing shows, compressing its footprint in the entertainment landscape almost to nothing, the production schedule to achieve that release is also showing signs of hurting Netflix's viewership. Studies are starting to show that having viewers wait more than 15 months between seasons is actively detrimental to building audience recognition. 

The problem is that since Netflix insists on releasing all episodes at once, the entire season must be completed by release day. It's not like Grey's Anatomy, where the production usually begins filming somewhere in the episodes 6-8 range during the week the new season premieres, and aims to stay about seven or so weeks ahead of what's on the air at all times for the next six months. 

So (again!), until Netflix admits it was wrong about the binge model, fans will have entire years off between seasons. At least we have this delightful video, which I do hope makes your day just a little bit brighter in these uncertain times.

Here's the current Season 4 logline.

The fourth season of Bridgerton turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict. Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down -- until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother's masquerade ball.

The revolving lead roles in Bridgerton's love stories land on Luke Thompson's Benedict for Season 4, with Yerin Ha as Sophie; the rest of Bridgerton clan confirmed to return also includes Jonathan Bailey & Simone Ashley (Viscount & Viscountess Anthony & Kate Bridgerton), Luke Newton & Nicola Coughlan (Colin & Penelope Bridgerton), Victor Alli & Hannah Dodd (Lord John & Lady Francesca Sterling), Ruth Gemmell (Dowager Lady Violet), Claudia Jessie (Eloise), Will Tilston (Gregory), Florence Hunt (Hyacinth), and Sophie Lamont (Celia the Housemaid). 

The rest of the series' main ensemble will also be back, including Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Hugh Sachs (Brimsley), Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), Daniel Francis (Marcus Anderson), Polly Walker (Portia Featherington), Lorraine Ashbourne (Mrs. Varley), Masali Baduza (Michaela Stirling), Martins Imhangbe (Will Mondrich), Emma Naomi (Alice Mondrich), and Julie Andrews (the Voice of Lady Whistledown).

The new cast additions for Season 4 include Katie Leung (Annika) as Sophie's stepmother, Lady Araminta Gun, along with Michelle Mao (Goosebumps) and Isabella Wei (1899) as her stepsisters, Rosamund and Posy Li. We'll also meet a few folks from below stairs, including Oli Higginson (Julia), Geraldine Alexander (The Child in Time), and Gracie McGonigal (The Power). 

Jess Brownell will continue as showrunner for Bridgerton Season 4 after taking the reins in Season 3, with Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, Tom Verica, & Season 1 and 2 showrunner Chris Van Dusen as executive producers. It is not known at this time if Brownell will step away from the showrunner role after Season 4, or if she will helm the next two seasons as well. It is also unknown whether Season 4 (and Seasons 5 and 6) will be released in multiple batches, although the smart money suggests that all three will likely be split into (at least) two parts.

Bridgerton Season 4 is slated to arrive in "early 2026." (If that doesn't mean at least part of it will arrive on Valentine's Day weekend, I'll eat one of Queen Charlotte's hats.) 

Seasons 1 through 3 of Bridgerton and the Queen Charlotte prequel are all streaming on Netflix.