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Bridgerton Season 4 is now upon us, with Part 1 dropping in January 2026 and Part 2 given a February 2026 release date. That means we're not only getting all the juicy details from Benedict and Sophie's romance, but we should be finding out about that long awaited Season 5 in the coming weeks as well. 

Of course, we can't forget Queen Charlotte's prequel series. If that all sounds like a lot, then our Bridgerton watch order should help you navigate the steamy world of the Netflix hit. If you're feeling a bit lost, don't worry: We've got the Bridgerton seasons 1-3 recap you've been looking for.

What is the best Bridgerton watch order?

Bridgerton might seem like a surprise hit that came out of nowhere, but it is based on a series of prose novels and the track record of mega-successful TV producer/writer/director Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy). But like the world of Bridgerton itself, the show has created a unique bubble for itself that most all of us want to visit (and in some cases stay).

For the ideal method of watching Bridgerton, we recommend taking in the series as Shonda Rhimes and the other creators of the show intended - in the order of release, even if that means waiting to watch the prequel until after seasons 1 and 2.

Here's the release Bridgerton watch order:

• Bridgerton, season 1 (2020)
• Bridgerton, season 2 (2022)
• Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, season 1 (2023)
• Briderton, season 3 part 1 (2024)
• Bridgerton, season 3 part 2 (2024)
• Bridgerton, season 4 part 1 (2026)
• Bridgerton, season 4 part 2 (2026)

How to watch the best of Bridgerton

Never let it be said that watching the best isn't the best way to watch. Be it due to time constraints or attention span, or heaven forbid you're prepping to rewatch the whole thing but want to stick to the highlights, we've chosen the essentials for you to hop, skip, and jump your way across the Ton to catch the essential story bits as well as the best moments of the series.

• 'Diamond of the First Water' Bridgerton, season 1 episode 1
• 'Art of the Swoon' Bridgerton, season 1 episode 3
• 'A Bee In Your Bonnet' Bridgerton, season 2 episode 3
• 'The Viscount Who Loved Me' Bridgerton, season 2 episode 8
• 'Queen To Be' Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, season 1 episode 1
• 'Gardens in Bloom' Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, season 1 episode 5
• 'Crown Jewels' Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, season 1 episode 6
• 'Out of the Shadows' Bridgerton, season 3 episode 1
• 'Old Friends' Bridgerton, season 3 episode 4
• 'Into the Light', Bridgerton, season 3 episode 8

How to watch Bridgerton in chronological order

Thankfully, most of Bridgerton takes place in chronological order. There aren't extensive flashbacks throughout the show, but there are some pivotal moments that are told out of order to help give fans context into what is happening in the moment. Of course, the biggest jump in the Bridgerton chronological order comes with the Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, which takes place several years before the events of the man show. 

The best Bridgerton Chronological Order is:

• Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Season 1
• Bridgerton Season 1 Episode 2 'Shock and Delight' flashback showing Simon's abusive childhood
• Bridgerton Season 2 Episode 3 'A Bee in Your Bonnet' showing Edmund's death in front of the Bridgerton family
• Bridgerton Season 1
• Bridgerton Season 2 
• Bridgerton Season 3
• Bridgerton Season 4

As you can see here, Bridgerton Season 3 doesn't include any critical flashbacks. It should also be noted that it isn't necessarily clear what order the two main flashbacks in Season 1 and Season 2 happen in as ages are somewhat vague. However, we've made our best guess about the correct Bridgerton Chronological Watch Order.

Where to watch Bridgerton

As a true Netflix original, Bridgerton is exclusively available on Netflix. Netflix has treated this show like a crown jewel, preventing it from being on any other streaming service or even allowing a home video release as a DVD or Blu-Ray.

Do I watch Bridgerton or Queen Charlotte first?

You do not need to watch Queen Charlotte before Bridgerton, nor should you. Because while Queen Charlotte is set roughly 30 years before the main series, it contains key scenes set in the main show's timeline that would spoil some of the events of the main series, including when certain key individuals find out the mystery of who Lady Whistledown is.

It is best, unless you are fully prepared with a mental corset to rein in your spoiler radar, to finish Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2 before Queen Charlotte.

Will there be a Bridgerton season 5?

Bridgerton Season 5 is coming, but we're still a bit light on details about it. As Netflix have already played with the order that they adapt the original Julia Quinn books, fans aren't sure which couple will get their time to shine in Bridgerton Season 5. Netflix have confirmed that they're going to make Bridgerton Season 5, but they haven't said when filming will begin. Our best guess for a Bridgerton Season 5 release date is late 2027 or early 2028, but that is pure speculation.

How many seasons will Bridgerton have?

This is a question that depends entirely on how long people continue to eat up the deliciously juicy gossip and spicy scenes in Bridgerton. Currently, Netflix has renewed Bridgerton for Season 5 and Season 6, but that isn't necessarily where it will end. There are eight novels in the original Julia Quinn series, though the Netflix series has adapted them in a slightly different order. Of course, there is nothing stopping Netflix from continuing the stories of the characters or ordering more Bridgerton spinoffs if fans still can't get enough.

What is the storyline of Bridgerton?

Broadly speaking, the Bridgerton series follows the Bridgerton family as they engage in Regency era London amidst the social mores, romances, scandals, and other significant (and not so significant) trifles of that time - buoyed by the accoutrements of modern-day sensibilities when it comes to the music, personalities, and frankly less racist modern sensibilities.

What is the difference between Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte?

The main Bridgerton show primarily follows the Bridgerton family while in the royal court of a mature Queen Charlotte, while the matriarch's prequel series primarily follows her origin about how she married into the British Royal family, while still continuing some flashforward scenes involving the older Charlotte and other characters from the Bridgerton series itself.

Why did Netflix skip the third Bridgerton book?

Fans of the original book series couldn't help but notice that Netflix hasn't adapted the books in the order they were written. Bridgerton Season 3 adapted the story of Book 4, Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Meanwhile, Season 4 focuses on the plot of Book 3, An Offer from a Gentleman. The reason is that the producers didn't feel that they had done enough to set up Benedict and Sophie's romance at the end of Bridgerton Season 2, so they moved it to Season 4 instead. 

What couple will Bridgerton season 4 be about?

As stated above, Bridgerton Season 4 is going back to adapt Book 3, An Offer from a Gentleman. That means the main focus is on Benedict and Sophie as the central couple of Bridgerton Season 4. Who will be the focus of Season 5? We don't know yet, but fans are already fiercely debating it.

Whether its the bane of your existence or the object of all your desires (or both), Bridgerton is back. Read all our spoiler-y thoughts on Bridgerton season 3 here, and then delight at a guide to how to watch all of Bridgerton (and the spinoff), how to read the Bridgerton books (all 16 of them!), an our exclusive interview with the show's costume designer John Glaser, as well as some recommended reads for all Bridgerton fans.