Space may be the final frontier, but the five-year mission of Paramount+'s Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will be coming to a conclusion at the end of the show's fifth season in 2027. Before that happens, however the penultimate season is coming your way beginning July 23, 2026. Here's what to remember before Strange New Worlds Season 4 arrives - and a glimpse of what's to come courtesy of the new season's trailer.

What is Star Trek: Strange New Worlds?

The show follows Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and the crew of the fabled Enterprise before Captain James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) takes the center seat. However, that doesn't mean there aren't any familiar characters aboard. Pike's first officer, Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn), will be familiar to fans of the original Star Trek pilot "The Cage" (where she's called Number One), while Science Officer Spock (Ethan Peck) will be familiar to anyone with even a passing familiarity with the franchise.

Also on the bridge is the iconic character Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), as well as new characters like pilot Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) and Chief of Security La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong). Supporting the explorers on their genre-hopping exploits is the familiar medical team, which is comprised of Doctor M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) and Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush). And the ship is held together by the engineering team, which includes original character Pelia (Carol Kane) and returning character Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (Martin Quinn).

Together, the crew travels the galaxy with new adventures every week, as the show restores the episodic nature of previous Star Trek shows after the more serialized format of shows like Star Trek: Discovery and Picard.

How did Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 end?

At the conclusion of the previous season, the Enterprise crew encountered an ancient evil that required some unconventional tactics to overcome. Ultimately, Pike's lover Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano), changed by her all-too-close encounter with the Gorn, was forced to transform into a sentient statue who will keep the evil contained. In the season finale, she and Pike experience a vision of what their life together would have been like had she not been compelled to such a fate.

Instead, Strange New Worlds Season 4 begins with Pike still commanding the Enterprise, but left to face loss in his recent history and his not-too-distant future alike, thanks to his foreknowledge of an unfortunate fate awaiting him. Meanwhile, Spock and La'an continue to be in a romantic relationship with one another, while USS Farragut first officer James T. Kirk continues to work his way to being the commander we all know he's meant to be.

Is there a Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 trailer?

As the show flies towards the era of the original Star Trek series, Strange New Worlds mixes its core cast with increasing presence from characters from TOS, with the trailer for the new season underscoring that with even more James Kirk. Here's the official trailer for the upcoming penultimate season of Strange New Worlds:

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 will debut on Paramount+ on July 23rd, 2026.

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