10 returning Netflix shows that we're most excited to watch in 2024

With only a few more days left of 2023, it's only reasonable to start looking ahead at the Netflix shows coming in 2024. Although some big Netflix shows will be missing from the Netflix calendar, Netflix has so many good shows coming back with new seasons in 2024. We're talking Bridgerton. We're talking Outer Banks. We're talking Emily in Paris. The list goes on and on.

We picked 10 of the best returning Netflix shows to highlight in this list and get fans excited for the new year. We don't know the release dates for all 10 shows or if some of the shows will 100% be released in 2024. As we've learned in the last few years, lions, tigers, bears, delays, pandemics, strikes, and more can interrupt the production pipeline at any moment. For all 10 shows on the list, Netflix has confirmed the release date or year or the show has wrapped filming, is in production, or starting production soon and is expected to be released in 2024.

Let's get the list started with what's sure to be a fan favorite, Bridgerton season 3.

Bridgerton season 3

• Release Date for Part 1: May 16, 2024
• Release Date for Part 2: June 13, 2024

Netflix didn't release a new season of Bridgerton in 2023, but we did get to see Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. That's changing in 2024, and Netflix already confirmed the release date for Bridgerton season 3, but there's good news and bad news. Bridgerton season 3 is getting the dreaded two-part release. The first half of the season will arrive on May 16, but then fans will have to wait four weeks until June 13 before Netflix releases the second part of this season.

Bridgerton season 3 will follow Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), which is actually the story of the fourth Bridgerton book by Julia Quinn, Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Sorry, Bendict! Fans are also especially excited to check back in with Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate (Simone Ashley) in the new season.

There's no doubt Bridgerton season 3 will be one of the biggest and best Netflix shows of 2024.

Outer Banks season 4

Estimated Release Date: Late Summer/Fall 2024

Outer Banks is one of the most highly anticipated Netflix shows returning in 2024. Production on season 4 started in June 2023 before shutting down for a few months because of the actors' strike. It was one of the first Netflix shows to start filming again after the strike ended, which clearly shows Netflix is shooting for a 2024 release with Outer Banks season 4. Unfortunately, we don't know when exactly to expect the new season. We're expecting things will ramp up after the first of the year. If they are able to wrap production by the end of spring, we should see season 4 in the second half of 2024.

As for John B., Sarah, and the Pogues, they're moving forward after finding El Dorado in season 3 and a perfect time jump. The group looks to be getting back into the world of treasure-hunting, and this time, they're looking for the treasure of the famous pirate, Blackbeard.

Chase Stokes, Madelyn Cline, Madison Bailey, Jonathan Daviss, Rudy Pankow, Carlacia Grant, Drew Starkey, and Austin North are back for season 4.

Squid Game season 2

Estimated Release Date: Fall/Winter 2024

Of all the shows coming back with new seasons in 2024, Squid Game season 2 will likely be the biggest release of the year. The series is the biggest Netflix release of all time, and fans streamed nearly 2 billion hours of Squid Game in its first 28 days on Netflix back in 2021. It's still unclear when exactly Squid Game season 2 will be released on Netflix, but production on the series started in July 2023 and was expected to last for 10-12 months.

Netflix confirmed that Lee Jug-jae, Lee Byung-Hun, Wi Ha-jun, Gong Yoo, Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Sung-hoon, Yong Dong-guen, Park Gyu-young, Jo Yu-ri, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Lee Jin-uk, Choi Seung-hyun, and Roh Jae-won will star in the new season.

It's possible that we could be waiting until 2025 for Squid Game season 2, but it's much more likely that we'll see the new season in the late fall or early winter of 2024.

Emily in Paris season 4

Estimated Release Date: Fall/Winter 2024

It doesn't feel like Christmas without a new season of Emily in Paris, but that's what is happening in 2023. The second and third seasons of Emily in Paris were released in December of the last two years, and it's been a great time to watch this great series. No matter, though, because Emily in Paris season 4 should be released sometime in the second half of 2024.

The fourth season, which was delayed by the writers' and actors' strikes, starts filming in January 2024. Production and post-production on new seasons of Emily in Paris is rather short compared to other popular Netflix shows, so we should see the new season on Netflix by the end of the year.

Lily Collins is back as Emily Cooper in season 4 after that bombshell season 4 finale. Where the show and Emily's relationships go from here, we'll have to wait to find out. We do know, though, that Emily and the gang are taking a little trip to Rome in season 4. "Emily in Rome" just doesn't quite have the same ring to it, though.

The Night Agent season 2

Estimated Release Date: Fall/Winter 2024

The Night Agent is one of the most-watched Netflix shows of 2023, and fans should be especially psyched that The Night Agent season 2 is coming in 2024. Netflix announced the new season in the spring of 2023, just one week after the series premiered. We know that strikes delayed production, but according to Gabriel Basso, who stars as Peter Sutherland, production on season 2 starts in early 2024. That should be more than enough time to film, edit, and promote the second season.

We don't actually know what to expect in season 2. At the end of season 1, Peter is, officially, a Night Agent, but it's unclear where the second season's story will begin. We should learn a lot about who's going to be in season 2, what's going to happen, and more in the new year. Stay tuned for more news about season 2.

The Umbrella Academy season 4

Estimated Release Date: Spring/Summer 2024

Netflix confirmed The Umbrella Academy season 4 is coming to Netflix in 2024. Unfortunately, it's the final season of the Netflix original series. Production on season 4 wrapped around the time the writers' strike started in May 2023. There's a lot of post-production for a show like this, but it's also pretty clear Netflix is stashing this show for a big 2024 release. While unconfirmed, we're thinking The Umbrella Academy season 4 will bridge the gap in spring or summer between the new shows coming in the first three or four months of 2024 and the returning shows in the second half of the year.

Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, and Justin H. Minh are all back in season 4, along with newcomers Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally, and David Cross. We'll share more updates for the final season of The Umbrella Academy, but we aren't planning to wait too long in 2024 to watch the new season of the hit series.

Vikings: Valhalla season 3

Estimated Release Date: Spring 2024

Like The Umbrella Academy, Vikings: Valhalla season 3 is likely done and waiting for a release date to be announced. The series is also ending after this season, which is a super bummer for fans of the series. I thought it had the legs to last another two or three years, but Netflix decided this was the end of the great series. Hopefully, we'll get a solid resolution of the ventures of Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter), Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett), Freydís Eiríksdóttir (Frida Gustavsson), and the rest of these characters.

The first two seasons of Vikings: Valhalla were released on Netflix in early 2022 and 2023. We should see the new season premiere by March or April 2024. If you're not caught up on Vikings: Valhalla, we recommend binge-watching the first two seasons before the third season premieres in 2024.

Virgin River season 6

Estimated Release Date: Fall/Winter 2024

Virgin River is always one of the most popular shows on Netflix. The drama series starring Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson returned in 2023 for its fifth season, which was released in September, and two Christmas episodes, released in November. The wait for Virgin River season 6 is going to be a little lengthy, but it will definitely be worth it.

Right now, we're expecting Virgin River season 6 to be released in the fall or winter of 2024. Production on season 6 is scheduled to begin in February or March, according to Henderson, who spilled the beans on production starting on a Virgin River Christmas-themed Instagram Live with Breckenridge.

It will be really interesting to see where the show goes in season 6. Many storylines were tied up in season 5, especially with the Christmas episodes, but there's always more to Mel and Jack's relationship and this story. Along with Henderson and Breckenridge, Annette O'Toole, Tim Matheson, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Colin Lawrence, Sarah Dugdale, and Zibby Allen are back for season 6.

The Diplomat season 2

Estimated Release Date: Summer/Fall 2024

The Diplomat season 2 started filming before the actors' strike in the summer of 2023. The cast and crew resumed production in late 2024 after the writers' and actors' strikes ended, and that's a very good sign that this show will be returning rather soon. We're predicting a summer or fall release date for The Diplomat season 2, and after the explosive final minutes of the season 1 finale, we can't wait!

The Diplomat should be one of the next Netflix shows to wrap production, which positions it as another bridge between the new shows coming in 2024 and some of the heavy-hitting Netflix shows coming in late 2024.

We can't wait to see Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, and the rest of this great cast in the second season. At the end of season 1, Kate Wyler (Russell) and Austin Dennison (David Gyasi) figured out who was responsible for the attack on British ships off the coast of Iran just before Kate's husband, Hal (Sewell), and Stuart Heywood (Ato Essandoh) were involved in a car bombing. Are they alive? We'll have to wait to find out.

Heartstopper season 3

Estimated Release Date: Summer 2024

Heartstopper season 3 is coming to Netflix in 2024, and we have some great news to share about the new series. Filming on the show's third season wrapped in December 2023, which means we're going to see the new season very soon. At the time of publishing, we're expecting another summer release for Heartstopper season 3. The second season premiered in August 2023, while the first season hit Netflix in the spring. Technically, we could see the season in the spring, but Netflix usually likes to space things out. We rarely see two seasons of a series released in the same 12-month period.

Kit Connor and Joe Locke are back in season 3 as Nick and Charlie! If you haven't caught up on Heartstopper, we highly recommend this series. It's one of the best teen shows on Netflix, maybe, ever. Catch up on the first two seasons on Netflix now!