A Disappointing Update On The ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4 Release Date

We know that Bridgerton season 4 will release in 2026, allegedly. But we now have an update that reinforces just how long the wait has been and will continue to be.

The good news is that Netflix has just shared that season 4 of Bridgerton has wrapped filming as of today. The bad news is how long of a wait there is still to come and how long the gaps between these seasons still are.

So, if filming has wrapped now, which we can round up to the beginning of July, we can use past data to figure out when Bridgerton season 4 is actually going to be released. And it’s a while yet.

Bridgerton season 3 wrapped filming in March 2023 and stayed in post-production until May 24, 14 months later. So, if season 4 wrapped now, 14 months from the beginning of July would be the beginning of September 2026.

Given that season 3 of Bridgerton season 3 aired in May 2024, that makes this a gap of two years and five months between seasons. We could scale down a few months maybe if we assume season 3 was interrupted by strikes to some degree, but it’s still over two years.

Previously, showrunner Jess Brownell has said outright that there is just no way around this:

“We are working to try and put the seasons out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film and then they have to be edited, and then they have to be dubbed into every language,” she continued. “And the writing takes a very long time as well, so we’re kind of on a two-year pace, we’re trying to speed up but somewhere in that range.”

She may have said they’re trying to speed things up, but given the data we’ve seen here, that does not appear to be happening unless they can dramatically increase their production schedule. And the idea that shows have to be filmed and edited and dubbed and written (with source material to reference) is not exactly something that other shows don’t also have to deal with. But I suppose that’s why 1.5-3 years is the new norm.

There are eight books in the Bridgerton series, and if this large gap remains, it will be the mid-to-late 2030s before the show finishes the source material in full. But given how well it performs, it stands to reason that Netflix has every reason to see it through to the end. Here’s the synopsis for season 4 via Netflix:

“Season 4 turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict. Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down. That is, until an enthralling woman captures Benedict’s attention at Violet Bridgerton’s (Ruth Gemmell) masquerade ball. While Benedict knows his love interest as only the Lady in Silver, she’s actually Sophie, a resourceful maid with her own secrets and dreams.”

It remains to be seen whether Bridgerton season 4 will be broken up into two parts like season 3. Fans are sick of that, but it’s a coinflip whether or not Netflix keeps doing it with its big shows currently. My guess would be yes. See you this fall. Sorry, next fall.

Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.

Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.