When Will ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4 Premiere? Showrunner Jess Brownell Warns It Might Be a While

Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 finally premiered on Netflix this morning at the bright and early hour of 12 AM PT/3 AM ET, which means there is a non zero chance that the Polin fan in your life has already binged the entire season and hit rewind on the “Mirror Scene” more than twice. Now that we know how Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton’s (Luke Newton) officially ends onscreen, it is time for the Shondaland show to play cupid for a new Bridgerton sibling. Leaving Bridgerton fans wondering…when will Bridgerton Season 4 come out?

Bridgerton first premiered on Netflix on December 25, 2020, gifting romance fans with a steamy, dreamy yuletide escape from the grim loneliness of the pandemic. A little over a year later, in March 2022, Bridgerton Season 2 brought us the love story of Kate (Simone Ashley) and Anthony (Jonathan Bailey). Then — even though Shondaland served up the passionate prequel series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story in Spring 2023 — there was no new Bridgerton for over two whole years. Bridgerton fans had to wait an agonizing 26 months to learn what would happen next to their favorite characters in the main series. Surely the wait for Bridgerton Season 4 won’t be that long??

When Decider got to chat with Bridgerton Season 3 showrunner Jess Brownell over Zoom recently, we asked if fans would have to buckle up for another long hiatus. The answer is…well…you can read it for yourself. When Will Bridgerton Season 4 come out? Here’s everything we know so far…INCLUDING SPOILERS FOR ALL OF BRIDGERTON SEASON 3!

Will There Be a Bridgerton Season 4 on Netflix?

Yes! The good news is Netflix ordered Bridgerton Season 4 all the way back in 2022. That means the streamer is locked in and ready to make more episodes of the sexy Shondaland hit.

The bad news? Well…

When Will Bridgerton Season 4 Come Out?

Bridgerton Season 2 only took a little over a year to produce, but when Decider asked Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell if fans would have to wait as long for Season 4 as they did for Season 3, she made it clear we ought to manage our expectations.

“We are always hoping to get to fans sooner, but I don’t know if it’s possible,” Brownell said. “This show, every episode is like producing a feature film. It is so involved with so many characters. There are so many plotlines that we are trying to break and weave that it just takes longer to write and to produce than any other show I’ve heard of.”

“So we will work as quickly as humanly possible to deliver and that’s the most, unfortunately, that I can do. I wish I could make it come sooner.”

Bridgerton Season 4 likely won’t premiere until 2026. (Boo!)

At least we know that Bridgerton Season 4 ought to be worth the wait. But will it be focused on Benedict (Luke Thompson), Eloise (Claudia Jessie), or Francesca (Hannah Dodd)?

Which Book Will Bridgerton Season 4 Cover? From Michaela Stirling to Benedict’s Masquerade, All the Clues:

So which Bridgerton sibling will take center stage in Bridgerton Season 4? When Decider spoke to Jess Brownell she revealed that she definitely had a plan in mind for what order she wanted to tell each Bridgerton sibling’s story.

“Francesca’s story, at least in this season is the main one that we are setting up for later down the line,” Brownell said. Not only did Francesca marry John Stirling, Earl of Kilmartin (Victor Alli) in the Bridgerton Season 3 finale, but she meets his cousin, Michaela (Masali Baduza).

“Francesca’s book, for those who are familiar, it takes place over a longer amount of years and it has more twists and turns,” Brownell said. Indeed, it spans many years from her idyllic marriage to John to her time as a young widow re-entering society years after his premature death. John’s cousin, named Michael in the book, plays a key role. (And Francesca certainly seems tongue-tied upon meeting Michaela!)

So does that mean Francesca is up next? Probably not, as her story takes place over such a long period of time. What about Eloise who pursues her own love story hot on the heels of Penelope’s marriage to Colin? Potentially, as both sisters’ stories seem to be well-seeded. However, there’s one massive clue in the Brigerton Season 3 finale that Benedict Bridgerton will be next.

As Benedict bids farewell to Eloise, who is traveling to Scotland with the newlywed Kilmartins and Michaela, the siblings mention their mother’s masquerade ball, due to open next season. Benedict promises he’ll be there with a mask on, hiding from the marriage-minded mamas.

Benedict’s book, An Offer From a Gentleman, opens at Violet Bridgerton’s masquerade ball, which is where Benedict becomes besotted with a mystery woman all in silver. Since Bridgerton Season 3 explored Benedict’s bisexuality — and Michael has become a Michaela — it’s unclear if he’ll still be falling hard and fast for a Miss Sophie Beckett or a gender-bent version of the character.

Either way, the masquerade seems like a confirmation that Benedict is about to fall in love, just when he’s sure he wants nothing serious. (Sound like a romance cliche to you?)