When is 'Bridgerton' Season 5 coming to Netflix? Here's everything we know so far about the show's future
'Bridgerton' Season 4 Part 1 concluded with a heartbreak. Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) failed to recognise Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) as the woman from the masquerade. Instead, he asks her to be his mistress, leaving her devastated. As fans brace themselves to see what fate has in store for the lovers from two very different worlds in Part 2, the makers of the show have already confirmed that Season 5 is well underway.
Showrunner Jess Brownell teased the leads for 'Bridgerton' Seasons 5 and 6 in a creative reveal using her pocket square. Speaking to Deadline at the show's premiere, she said, "Both characters with the initials on my pocket squares will get seasons five and six. In what order? I can't say." The initial 'E' points to Eloise (Claudia Jessie), the second eldest Bridgerton daughter, who has avoided marriage. Unlike her sister Daphne Basset (Phoebe Dynevor), she isn't eager for a wedding. However, with her best friend Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) now married to Colin (Luke Newton), Eloise may soon focus on her own romantic prospects, as per Country and Town House.
The initial 'F' points to Francesca, whose story is based on Julia Quinn's sixth 'Bridgerton' novel, 'When He Was Wicked'. Although Francesca married Lord John Stirling (Victor Alli) at the end of Season 3, he died two years later. After suffering a miscarriage and grieving for four years, she eventually falls in love with his cousin Michael. In the TV adaptation, Michael has been gender-swapped to Michaela Stirling, played by Masali Baduza, who was introduced at the end of Season 3. Brownell confirmed that while Francesca's early romance with Stirling is beloved, her story will explore what she feels is missing, hinting at her eventual relationship with Michaela.
"I think a lot of people will ship Francesca and John—as do I. But part of her exploration going forward will be about whether or not there is in fact something missing. Book readers will know what it means when she meets Michaela," Brownell said. With Eloise as the focus of Quinn's fifth novel, 'To Sir Phillip, With Love', Season 5 may center on her, leaving Francesca's full story for Season 6. However, Shondaland has shown flexibility with the book timelines, as seen when Benedict and Sophie's story (book 3) aired before Colin and Penelope's (book 4). So, whether Eloise or Francesca leads Season 5 remains uncertain.
Although Bridgerton hasn't finished Season 4 yet, fans are already eager for Season 5. Season 4 began filming in autumn 2024, so if production continues at a similar pace, Season 5 could start sometime in 2026 or early 2027. For now, Netflix is keeping all details about the next season under wraps, as per Glamour. There's no official premiere date for 'Bridgerton' Season 5, but if the show follows its usual two-year pattern, it might not debut until 2028.
