Netflix’s beloved Regency-era drama Bridgerton is officially set to return for a fifth season — and if Shonda Rhimes is to be believed, viewers can expect it to be “really sexy”. But if you are excited to find out more details about the new instalment, here’s everything we know so far about Bridgerton season 5, including which Bridgerton sibling could possibly lead the new instalment.

Created by Chris Van Dusen and produced by Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland, the Netflix series is based on Julia Quinn’s bestselling Bridgerton novels. Each season follows a different Bridgerton sibling navigating love, reputation and society under the ever-watchful eye of Lady Whistledown.

Season 4 concluded with Benedict Bridgerton (played by Luke Thompson) marrying Sophie Baek (played by Yerin Ha), while major developments reshaped the futures of Eloise and Francesca.

The series was renewed for seasons 5 and 6 in May 2025, even before season 4 premiered. Speaking on SiriusXM in October 2025, Rhimes said that “The writers are in the writer’s room working on that [season 5], so I know what season 5 is all about from beginning to end.”

Who could be the next Bridgerton to find love in season 5?

Although official details remain under wraps, season 5 is expected to follow either Eloise Bridgerton (played by Claudia Jessie) or Francesca Bridgerton (played by Hannah Dodd).

Showrunner Jess Brownell hinted at who season 5 will focus on during the Paris premiere of season 4. Speaking to Deadline on the red carpet, she revealed a subtle clue in her outfit — an elegant mauve suit featuring a dainty white pocket square, embroidered with the initials E and F.

“Both characters with the initials on my pocket square will get seasons in five and six,” Brownell said. “In what order? I can’t say,” she added.

As for which of the two will lead season 5 of the period romance drama, Brownell kept that detail under wraps. “You’ll learn really soon [who leads Bridgerton season 5],” she recently told Decider.

“We tend to make an announcement close to the start of production about who the new leads are. So you should expect that this season as well,” she added.

If the series returns to Julia Quinn’s original book order, season 5 would centre on Eloise. As the fifth Bridgerton sibling, her love story is told in the fifth novel, To Sir Phillip, With Love (2003), which chronicles her romance with Sir Phillip Crane (played by Chris Fulton). Sir Phillip appeared in season 1, when he was married to Marina Thompson (played by Ruby Barker).

That said, Bridgerton has already shown that it is not bound strictly by the novels’ sequence. Season 3 moved ahead to focus on Colin (played by Luke Newton) and Penelope (played by Nicola Coughlan), even though Benedict’s story precedes theirs in the books. So, if the writers choose to shift the order once again, Francesca could just as easily lead the next season.

In Part 2 of season 4, Francesca’s husband, John Stirling (played by Victor Alli), dies in his sleep, mirroring the events of Julia Quinn’s novel When He Was Wicked (2004). In the books, Francesca later falls in love with John’s cousin, Michael Stirling. For the series, the character has been reimagined as Michaela Stirling (played by Masali Baduza).

Speaking about this change, Brownell told Entertainment Weekly that the decision was made with “immense thought” and respect for the source material, adding that it allows the series to explore its first major queer romance.

Do we know the cast of Bridgerton season 5?

The full season 5 cast has not been officially announced yet, but much of the ensemble is expected to return, including Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton and Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton.

Meanwhile, Adjoa Andoh is also likely to reprise her role as Lady Danbury, as Brownell shared with Deadline that her character is “absolutely a part of the story in season 5.”

Is there a release date for Bridgerton season 5?

There is no official release date for Bridgerton season 5, but Rhimes has confirmed that development is already underway.

Meanwhile, in February 2026, Brownell told Decider that season 5 is “starting production very soon.”

Source:  https://www.goldderby.com/tv/2026/bridgerton-2026-emmys-submissions-not-nicola-coughlan/