Bridgerton Season 4 Release Date Set for Two-Part Launch With Benedict and Sophie at the Center

The bridgerton season 4 release date is set for a split rollout in early 2026, with the next chapter arriving in two drops rather than all at once. Part 1 premieres Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, followed by Part 2 on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, both releasing at 3:00 a.m. ET.

Two-part schedule and how many episodes are coming

Season 4 will run eight episodes, released in two batches of four. That means viewers will get the opening stretch of the story in late January, then return a month later for the final episodes and the season’s conclusion.

Here’s the release plan in Eastern Time:

• Part 1 (Episodes 1–4): Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026 at 3:00 a.m. ET

• Part 2 (Episodes 5–8): Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 at 3:00 a.m. ET

Exact episode runtimes have not been disclosed publicly.

Why Season 4 is a big pivot for the series

This season shifts the spotlight to Benedict Bridgerton, the family’s artistic, free-spirited second son, as the show adapts a Cinderella-leaning romance centered on class, identity, and the rules of the Ton. The love story pairs Benedict, played by Luke Thompson, with Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha, a character whose path intersects with Benedict’s world in a way that challenges the usual power dynamics of the series.

The season’s early hook is built around a masquerade setup that introduces a “Lady in Silver” mystery and sets Benedict on a chase that’s more emotional than casual. The show’s broader ensemble remains in play, but Season 4’s main engine is the push and pull between social standing and personal choice—one of the franchise’s most reliable themes, now framed through a romance that moves between upstairs glamour and downstairs constraints.

Some specifics have not been publicly clarified about how much of the season will be structured around the masquerade fallout versus later episodes that explore Sophie’s day-to-day reality.

How split releases work, and what to expect at 3:00 a.m. ET

A split-season release has become a common strategy for big, conversation-driving series. Instead of dropping the full season and letting buzz peak and fade in a single weekend, the two-part format creates a second wave of attention, recaps, and rewatching when the back half arrives.

Mechanically, the release time matters because the season appears for everyone at once, which is why viewers in the Eastern time zone see it hit at 3:00 a.m. ET. For fans trying to avoid spoilers, that global drop can compress the window between “available to watch” and “everywhere online,” especially for high-profile romances with twisty reveals. It also means the first four episodes will likely drive initial theories, character debates, and scene-by-scene analysis for a full month before the second half resolves them.

What it means for fans, casual viewers, and the people behind the show

The split schedule affects different groups in practical ways. Dedicated fans who like to watch immediately can plan around two separate premiere nights, while casual viewers may choose to wait until late February to watch the whole season in one run. The monthlong gap can also shape how people experience the romance: Part 1 often functions like a long first act, while Part 2 carries the heavier payoff.

There’s also an industry impact. A two-part launch gives cast and creative teams two promotional peaks instead of one, which can help keep the season in the public conversation longer. And for local production crews and supporting vendors tied to large-scale series work, extended visibility can translate into longer-tail demand for related marketing, events, and brand partnerships—though those details vary widely and are not always announced in advance.

The next milestones on the calendar

The next clear milestone is the Part 1 premiere on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, when viewers will finally see how Benedict and Sophie’s story begins on-screen. After that, the next major date is the Part 2 release on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, when the final four episodes arrive and the season’s central romance reaches its resolution.