'Bridgerton' Officially Renewed for Seasons 5 & 6

I have gone on record as doubtful that Bridgerton would run eight seasons on Netflix, despite the series being one of the streaming service's most successful to date, and the assurances of series creator Shonda Rhimes that she came into this project prepared to see it through to the final Bridgerton wedding. It's not that I doubted Rhimes wouldn't fight for it, or that Netflix wouldn't want to keep her happy. However, there are logistical hurdles, and with Netflix's track record of canceling shows after three or four seasons, it seemed a genuine question whether the series would be renewed. 

But for those who wouldn't believe it until they saw it, here it is: Netflix confirmed at the 2025 Upfront presentations that it officially commissioned Bridgerton Seasons 5 and 6.

Once again, the streaming service is only doing two seasons at a time, so it's still not a given that the show will go a full eight. However, it ensures that all of the Bridgerton siblings who are currently played by adults* will be paired off. It also means that those who felt that Season 3 brought a very definitive ending to the first part of the Bridgerton story will get a second trilogy. 

(*The actors playing Gregory and Hyacinth were both born in early 2007 and just had their 18th birthdays. Season 5 will be the first season where they will appear as adult actors.)

The real question, though, is if the show plans to return to age/alphabetical order with Season 5, or if the plan is to set up Francesca to directly follow Benedict and conclude the second set of three with Eloise. With Season 7 and 8 still unconfirmed (and I'll believe they'll get commissioned when I see it!), putting Eloise second would provide Season 6 with an emotionally satisfying conclusion, since she, like Penelope, has been a running main character since the show's very first season. (If they stick to the books, her husband was also introduced in Season 1, bringing the show full circle.)

Meanwhile, should the series actually go the distance, a time jump will probably have to get snuck in along the way. The last two novels focus on Gregory and Hyacinth, who are supposed to be 15 and 13 in the upcoming Season 4; to ensure both are of age by Season 7 (because Hyacinth gets married before Gregory), the show must find two years to skip over. Season 4 is already assisting with this; Benedict's story has a natural time jump since he meets Sophie during the height of the 1815 season, and then meets her again during the period between seasons, and returns with her to London in time for the start of the 1816 season. That would make the youngest siblings 16 and 14 at the end of Season 4. 

If the show manages to burn another year (maybe a time jump where we understand Francesca spent it in deep grief over losing her husband?), that will be just enough to get the Hyacinth over the line of being of a globally acceptable marriageable age by the time the show reaches its final year. (Considering who she marries, swapping the two and having her as the eighth and final season would also be the correct call.)

While we continue to consider the implications of this renewal, here's the current Season 4 logline and the sneak peek of the new season Netflix released.

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.

Season 4 sets Luke Thompson's Benedict Bridgerton as lead, with Yerin Ha as Sophie; the Bridgerton clan 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). 

(Daphne and Simon are once again AWOL. Sorry to Phoebe Dynevor and Rege-Jean Page.)

Season 4's confirmed returning ensemble so far includes 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).

(Still hoping to add Penelope's sisters, Harriet Cains as Philipa Featherington-Finch and Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington-Dankworth, to this list.)

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 if Season 4 (and Seasons 5 and 6) will be released in multiple batches or not, though smart money says all three will probably be split into two parts.

Bridgerton Season 4 is slated to arrive in "early 2026." (If that doesn't mean at least half 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.