Sorry, Vikings: Valhalla season 4 isn't happening (here's why)

It's time for our favorite Vikings to hang up their swords and bid us a bittersweet farewell. The third and final season of Vikings: Valhalla brings the fan-favorite story to a close on July 11, one of the many Netflix original series ending this summer. Unfortunately, when you finish binge-watching season 3, you won't have a fourth season to look forward to for the Vikings spinoff.

If you're wondering why Netflix canceled the series, here's the truth: Netflix didn't cancel Vikings: Valhalla, but there is a reason behind the show ending with only three seasons rather than continuing for more. In comparison, History's Vikings ran for six season and 89 episodes. By the end of Valhalla's run, the show will have amassed only 24 episodes, which is the size of a broadcast season.

Back in November 2019, Vikings: Valhalla was officially ordered to series at Netflix with a 24-episode order, as confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. At the time, the outlet wondered if the streamer would divide the order into two parts or air as a "super-sized" season. Netflix hasn't, if memory serves, ordered this many episodes of a single season.

Why Vikings: Valhalla ends with season 3

But when the show premiered with its eight-episode first season in February 2022, it became clear that the 24-episode order would likely be split between three seasons. In March 2022, Netflix officially gave the green light to seasons 2 and 3. While we could have hoped that the series could continue beyond that order, Netflix revealed that season 3 would be the last in October 2023.

When the news of the final season broke, series creator Jeb Stuart shared an exclusive statement with IGN to shed a bit of light on ending the series with only three seasons:

"I am so grateful to have had three seasons to tell the stories of Leif, Harald, and Freydís. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to show the evolution of how three of the most famous Vikings became the icons we know today, and we have done just that. I hope when the audience gets to see the new season, they’ll be excited by all the new heights that we’ve taken these heroes."

- Jeb Stuart, creator

Stuart's statement explained that from the outset, he planned to chart the evolution of the show's three main characters — Freydis, Leif, and Harald — and by the time they reached the third season, the story of their evolution had been told. Netflix, too, confirmed that in season 3, Stuart brings the story and its characters to a "natural creative conclusion," which seems to suggest that it was Stuart's choice, or at least one made creatively, to end the series.

The rest of Stuart's statement to IGN from back in October 2023 further elaborates on the decision for season 3 to end the series. Even though with additional moments in history to pull from for these three characters, Stuart stayed true to the story he started telling with season 1 and honored that gameplan. After all, it's rare these days for shows to be able to tell a full story and end on their own terms, even if doing so only amounts to 24 episodes.

Here's the rest of Stuart's explanation on why Vikings: Valhalla ended:

"When we started this project 5 years ago, I worked hard with this incredible cast and crew to craft a journey that we all hoped would be satisfying. Of course, with real historical figures, there are always more aspects of their lives that could be explored, but it made sense story-wise for our Leif, Freydis, and Harald’s voyages to end with our third season. And we really cannot wait for the fans to see the conclusion of this chapter of history."

- Jeb Stuart, creator

After you finish watching the final eight episodes of the series on July 11, you'll have to be the judge of whether you would have wanted the series to continue with season 4 or if the ending is in fact satisfying as Stuart promises. Obviously, since it's a hit franchise, you can never say never on the Vikings saga truly being over, but as of this writing and Valhalla's ending, there's no word on further installments, especially no further installments of this particular spinoff.

Watch Vikings: Valhalla only on Netflix.