Netflix has officially confirmed that Season 5 of Bridgerton will arrive in 2027, giving fans a much shorter wait before the next romance takes center stage.
The upcoming season will follow Francesca Bridgerton, played by Hannah Dodd, as she steps into a new chapter alongside Michaela Stirling, portrayed by Masali Baduza. The pairing marks the series’s first central same-gender love story.
“[We’re] super grateful and excited!” Baduza told Tudum. Dodd added, “When you spend so much time with a character, you genuinely do want them to be happy. So I am really looking forward to [Francesca] feeling like she deserves love.”
Dodd and Baduza also opened up about the significance of leading a queer love story within the world of Bridgerton. “[Queer love stories] have traditionally been excluded from things like period dramas — and queer people did exist, have always existed, and will always exist,” Dodd said.
Baduza echoed that excitement, adding, “It’s been really special to have Jess [Brownell] guide us on this journey, because she’s very excited about this story. What we really want to achieve is giving a realistic view of queer love onscreen and [giving them] a happily ever after.”
A Love Story Worth Waiting For
Fans have grown used to long gaps between seasons, often waiting two or three years before another Bridgerton sibling gets their moment in the spotlight. This time, however, Netflix moved quickly. Production on Season 5 began in March, only weeks after Part 2 of Season 4 premiered in February, making it the fastest turnaround the series has seen so far.
When audiences last saw Francesca and Michaela, both women were reeling from the death of Lord John Stirling, played by Victor Alli. His loss left Francesca widowed and Michaela grieving not only her cousin but also one of the closest people in her life. Season 5 will pick up two years later, exploring how the pair navigate grief, longing, and the possibility of love together. You can get a sneak peek at their spark in the teaser video below.
Showrunner Jess Brownell teased that emotion will be at the heart of the season.
“If there’s anything really specific about this season, it is the yearning. It’s big-time yearning,” Brownell told Netflix. “It’s going to be a season about queer joy. It is not going to be a season about queer trauma. … We’re having so much fun!”
The new season will be released on Netflix next year. Stay tuned for more updates.
