Bridgerton season 4 release date leaks (and it's sooner than we thought)

We’ve known for a while now that the fourth season of Bridgerton will be coming sometime in 2026. The question that we’ve been waiting for an answer to is when exactly in 2026 will Bridgerton season 4 drop. 

Unlike certain Netflix shows which have followed similar release cadences, there has been absolutely no pattern for Bridgerton releases. Season 1 dropped in December, season 2 arrived in March, and season 3 was dropped in a split season across May and June. The lack of consistency has made it hard to predict the show’s release date; however, it seems we no longer have to guess as Netflix appears to have leaked the release date and it’s coming sooner than we thought! 

Bridgerton season 4 will reportedly be split into two parts with the first coming in January 2026 and the second in February 

In a since-deleted post on the Netflix Netherlands Instagram account obtained by What’s On Netflix, it has been confirmed that Bridgerton season 4 will be released in two parts. That’s right, Netflix has opted to once again split the season rather than drop the full season at once. 

According to the dates on the season 4 poster shared by Netflix Netherlands, the first part of Bridgerton season 4 will release on Thursday, January 29, 2026. Fans will then have to wait a month for part two arrive on Thursday, February 26, 2026. It’s unclear how the season will be split, but the assumption is that the season will be evenly split, with four episodes dropping on Jan. 29 and the final four episodes arriving on Feb. 26. 

A late January release is earlier than many insiders had predicted Bridgerton season 4 would arrive, as many anticipated the fourth season would arrive in spring or early summer. Instead, it seems the show will be used to help kick off the first quarter of the new year as one of the first big releases of 2026. 

Netflix has been scaling back on split-season releases in recent months, but it’s a tactic Netflix continues to lean into for its biggest releases. We saw it most recently with Wednesday season 2 being split into two parts and we’re seeing it with Stranger Things season 5 being released in three parts over the holiday season. With Bridgerton remaining one of Netflix’s biggest titles, it makes sense that it too will be split into two parts once again with season 4. 

Bridgerton season 5 might be responsible for Bridgerton season 4 getting an early release date

Many fans were anticipating a spring or summer release for Bridgerton season 4; however, there seems to be a very likely reason why Netflix is looking to release the season before spring: to avoid season 5 spoilers. 

Netflix has already renewed Bridgerton for seasons 5 and 6, and it’s expected that season 5 will officially begin production in Spring 2026. This means production could begin on Bridgerton season 5 as early as March 2026. 

It has not yet been confirmed which Bridgerton season 5 will center around, but once production begins it is likely to quickly become apparent who the lead will be. By dropping season 4 ahead of the start of production on season 5, Netflix can allow Benedict’s season to stand on its own and reveal the lead for season 5 before production begins but after part 1 of season 4 releases. In fact, we could even get that news on Valentine’s Day 2026. 

Netflix has been known to host annual Bridgerton celebrations on Valentine’s Day each year and it’s expected that will continue in 2026. By releasing season 4 part 1 before Valentine’s Day, the cast will be able to react to the first four episodes of the season while also giving some teases as to what to expect in the final four episodes of the season. It would also be a perfect opportunity to announce the lead for season 5, a move that would likely lift interest even more in part 2 with fans eager to see how the season not only continues Benedict and Sophie’s love story but paves the way for Eloise or Francesca to take center stage in season 5. 

As for the official season 4 release date? Well, we wouldn’t be surprised if the date is confirmed widely by Netflix on Christmas Day. This is a day that Netflix has used to drop Bridgerton surprises in a nod to the first season’s Christmas Day 2020 release.