Bridgerton. (L to R) Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek, Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton in episode 401 of Bridgerton. Cr. Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2025
Bridgerton will officially return for its fourth season in 2026 (expected early in the year), chronicling the love life of the family’s eldest sibling, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson). Ahead of the new season, we’ve compiled everything you need to know, including all the latest updates and first looks.
Based on Julia Quinn’s beloved novels and adapted by Shonda Rhimes’ production Shondaland, Bridgerton has quickly become one of the most successful Netflix Originals. With over a billion hours consumed since its debut, which equates to over a hundred million views, Bridgerton is among Netflix’s most elite and most-watched shows. It also holds a significant feat, being the only title to occupy three spots on Netflix’s all-time most-watched TV list.
Jess Brownell replaced Chris Van Dusen as the showrunner of season 3 and will continue as the showrunner in season 4. Meanwhile, Van Dausen remains as an executive producer.
In May 2025, Netflix released a first-look teaser for season 4, offering a sneak peek at the masquerade ball — one of the most pivotal moments of the season. Take a look:
When will Bridgerton Season 4 be on Netflix?
Bridgerton Season 4 wrapped filming on June 20, 2025, and is currently in post-production. The season consists of 8 episodes. As we spotted, we predicted an early 2026 release, given that several book tie-ins are set to release in January that support this line of thinking.
Then, in early October 2025, Netflix’s Netherlands social accounts leaked that season 4 would be split into two parts, with part 1 arriving on January 29th and part 2 on February 26th, 2026. Each part will consist of 4 episodes. The news was then officially confirmed on October 13th, 2025, with new first looks, a teaser trailer, and that leaked poster in full.
Who has been cast in Bridgerton Season 4?
Season 4 of Bridgerton welcomes several exciting new faces alongside its returning ensemble. The main addition is Yerin Ha as Sophie Beckett, the love interest of Luke Thompson’s Benedict Bridgerton. Another notable newcomer is Susan Brown as Mrs. Crabtree, the wise housekeeper at Benedict’s Wiltshire residence, My Cottage. When she learns of his blossoming relationship with Sophie, she and her husband, Mr. Crabtree, become quiet allies, helping the couple navigate the social challenges that threaten to keep them apart.
Other confirmed cast members include Katie Leung as Lady Araminta Gun, Francesca Lara Gordon as Virginia (guest appearance), Fiona Marr as Irma, Simon Ludders as Humboldt, Hersha Verity as Lady Dillingham, Adam Hashmi as Lord Adams, Karl James-Wilson as Constable Turner, James Vaughan as Dr. Lewiston, Fred Woodley Evans as Hendricks, and Alejandra Deane as Miss Alvarez.
Series Regulars
- Luke Thompson (Benedict Bridgerton)
- Yerin Ha (Sophie Baek)
- Jonathan Bailey (Anthony Bridgerton)
- Victor Alli (Lord John Stirling)
- Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury)
- Julie Andrews (Lady Whistledown)
- Lorraine Ashbourne (Mrs. Varley)
- Masali Baduza (Michaela Stirling)
- Nicola Coughlan (Penelope Bridgerton)
- Hannah Dodd (Francesca Stirling)
- Daniel Francis (Lord Marcus Anderson)
- Ruth Gemmell (Violet Bridgerton)
- Florence Hunt (Hyacinth Bridgerton)
- Martins Imhangbe (Will Mondrich)
- Claudia Jessie (Eloise Bridgerton)
- Luke Newton (Colin Bridgerton)
- Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte)
- Will Tilston (Gregory Bridgerton)
- Polly Walker (Portia Featherington)
- Emma Naomi (Alice Mondrich)
- Hugh Sachs (Brimsley)
Additional Key Cast
- Simone Ashley as Kate Bridgerton
- Isabella Wei as Posy Li
- Michelle Mao as Rosamund Li
- Katie Leung as Lady Araminta Gun
What is the plot of Bridgerton Season 4?
Each season of Bridgerton chronicles the romance of another sibling. Season 1 followed Daphne and Simon’s love story; season 2 told the enemies-to-lovers saga between Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma; and season 3 covered the dramatic relationship between Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington.
Looking ahead to season 4, the upcoming episodes adapt An Offer from a Gentleman, the third novel in Julia Quinn’s series. It chronicles the love life of Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson), the second-oldest son of the family. Benedict is the most laid-back of all his siblings, and he’s certainly not in any rush to enter a relationship. However, during a masquerade ball, Benedict runs into the ‘Lady in Silver’ Sophie Beckett (Yerin Ha) — the illegitimate daughter of an earl who is raised by her cruel stepmother –and they pursue an unlikely relationship. The story is narratively similar to Cinderella.
In EW’s 2026 preview, Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell framed season 4 as a deliberate reworking of a familiar Cinderella-style romance, starting with Sophie Baek. Brownell said the writers begin with “a character trope that we’ve seen a million times before,” but emphasized that Sophie is “no such thing” as a damsel in distress, describing her instead as “a very headstrong young woman” determined to choose her own fate and believe in a bigger life.
Brownell also called An Offer From a Gentleman “the easiest book to adapt” so far, explaining that it naturally fit television storytelling and offered “rich set pieces” with “juicy conflict and high stakes.” She added that fans can expect “quite a few of the set pieces from the book” to appear on screen, including the masquerade ball where Benedict meets the mysterious Lady in Silver.
On Benedict’s arc, Brownell said viewers have watched him enjoy his freedom for three seasons, but by season 4 that lifestyle has “worn a little thin.” She noted that Benedict senses “something is missing in his life,” and that meeting the masked woman in the premiere is the moment when “everything will change for him.”
Reflecting on filming the masquerade dance sequence, Brownell praised the chemistry between Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha, recalling that watching the scene play out felt “like watching theater.” She said the take was so strong that the crew joked, “Just print that,” calling the moment “perfect,” “moving,” and full of “tension and sparkle and chemistry.”
Pictures via EW
Bridgerton season 5 begins filming in Spring 2026
Looking ahead to season 5, the series will likely cover Eloise Bridgerton’s story, as told in the novel To Sir Phillip, With Love. In the novel, Eloise begins corresponding with Sir Phillip Crane, a widowed father of two. After exchanging letters more and more regularly, there eventually comes a marriage proposal, and Eloise runs away to meet him. The story focuses on distance relationships and how their dynamic develops when they eventually meet face-to-face.
We have recently learned that Bridgerton season 5 will begin filming in Spring 2026. While we don’t know how long the production will last, Bridgerton usually takes a while to complete, usually around eight months. Season 1 filmed July 2019 to February 2020; season 2 filmed March to November 2021; and season 3 filmed July 2022 to March 2023. A lengthy production cycle shouldn’t be overly surprising given how grand the series is. According to some reports, the budget for each season is approximately $80 million or more.
Season 5 is once again due to be filmed in the United Kingdom.
What’s more, once shooting wraps, post-production is equally time-consuming. Look no further than previous seasons, in which season 1 took 10 months to air after wrapping, season 2 took 4 months, and season 3 took an enormous 14 months. For a rough estimate, this puts the season 5 release date in the Spring 2027 range, but don’t be surprised if it’s later. Beyond that, season 6 is also officially on the way. Suffice to say, Bridgerton has a good few years left on our screens — and that’s without mentioning potential spinoffs. Shonda Rhimes has suggested the series could run up to eight seasons in total.
Which season are you most excited about? Benedict’s story in season 4, or Eloise’s tale making up season 5? Tell us in the comments down below!
