The battle between old money and new money is about to explode in The Gilded Age Season 4. HBO confirmed the hit period drama will return in 2026, and the first footage promises a fierce Agnes van Rhijn versus Bertha Russell showdown.
The new season picks up after Bertha’s costly victory in the opera war. The official Season 4 logline states Bertha changed Society at a price. Now her family must deal with what comes next while Agnes van Rhijn grabs a chance to take back her place at the top.
Bertha Russell’s Victory Comes With a Heavy Personal Cost
The Season 3 finale left Bertha Russell on shaky ground. Her husband George Russell survived an assassination attempt but told Bertha he no longer knows if he loves her. He then left for New York without her, creating a major crack in their powerful marriage.
Carrie Coon returns as the ambitious Bertha, but Season 4 will show her dealing with the fallout of her success. Her daughter Gladys married the Duke of Buckingham and announced a pregnancy, meaning Bertha might be living her dreams through her child while her own relationship falls apart.
The HBO Max promo video released in May 2026 gives fans a first look at Bertha. In the clip, she delivers a sharp line setting up the season’s theme: “Life’s meaning isn’t where we came from, it’s where we’re going.” This line directly challenges the old money mindset that Agnes van Rhijn represents.
Agnes van Rhijn Takes a Stand Against New Money Power
Christine Baranski’s Agnes van Rhijn is ready to fight back. After watching Bertha rise to the top, Agnes sees an opening to regain her influence among New York’s elite families.
The upcoming season connects Agnes to the New York Historical Society, giving her more power and importance in high society circles. This new position means she can finally stand directly against the new money families, especially the Russells.
Agnes blames Bertha for using cash to buy support and change the rules of Society. But Bertha fires back that the past does not matter as much as the future people are building. This clash of values will play out in a direct confrontation between the two women, possibly at the New York Historical Society itself.
Peggy Scott Faces In-Law Drama While Marian Forges Her Own Path
Season 3 ended with William proposing to Peggy Scott. Season 4 will show Peggy working hard to win over her future in-laws, a battle that highlights the social pressures and expectations tied to marriage in the 1880s.
Denée Benton returns as Peggy, and her storyline will show the extra challenges she faces as a Black woman navigating high society. Getting accepted by her partner’s family will not be easy, and viewers will see her fight for respect and love.
Marian Brook also steps into a new chapter. The character played by Louisa Jacobson will forge her own path, finding independence and making choices about her career and relationships outside her traditional family’s rules.
Marian and Larry Russell’s romance continues to heat up. The two talked about getting back together in the Season 3 finale, but any marriage between them would force the van Rhijn and Russell families to blend. This is bad news for Agnes, who has only tolerated the new money Russells so far.
New Faces and Returning Cast Members Join Season 4
Kelley Curran has been promoted to series regular for Season 4. Her character Enid “Turner” Winterton, the former maid who tried to seduce George Russell, is set to marry Oscar van Rhijn (Blake Ritson). This marriage would bring Enid, who now has new money, directly into Agnes’ family.
Enid’s return could reopen old wounds for Bertha. Having her former maid marry into the van Rhijn family while Bertha’s own marriage is falling apart creates a messy situation full of tension.
Four new guest stars will also appear in Season 4. Jim Gaffigan plays Grover Cleveland, the 22nd President of the United States, who comes to New York to ask the city’s wealthy elites for support. Dallas Roberts plays Daniel Manning, Cleveland’s Secretary of the Treasury. Elizabeth Marvel takes the role of Nurse Virginia Saville, a caring nurse at a settlement house on the Lower East Side. Andrew Burnap plays Porter, an educated socialite looking to invest in new business projects.
The main cast returning includes Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon as Ada Brook, Morgan Spector as George Russell, Louisa Jacobson as Marian Brook, Denée Benton as Peggy Scott, Taissa Farmiga as Gladys Russell, Harry Richardson as Larry Russell, Blake Ritson as Oscar van Rhijn, and Audra McDonald as Dorothy Scott.
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Production and Release Timeline for The Gilded Age Season 4
The Gilded Age Season 4 started filming in February 2026. The production team shot scenes at several locations, including the Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island, and multiple spots around New York City.
HBO confirmed the show’s return through a “Coming Soon” promo video released in late May 2026. The video featured first-look footage from the new season along with previews of other HBO shows like Harry Potter, House of the Dragon Season 3, and Lanterns.
The new season will arrive sometime in 2026, giving fans a shorter wait than the 18-month gap between Seasons 2 and 3. An exact release date has not been announced yet, but the promo confirms the show is on track for this year.
There are also reports of a possible two-year time jump in Season 4, which would move the story further into the 1880s and allow new historical events and figures to enter the plot.
The Season 3 finale also introduced President Grover Cleveland coming to New York to rally the city’s elite to his cause. Season 4 will expand this storyline as the real historical figure played by Gaffigan tries to win over the Russell and van Rhijn families.
HBO Programming head Francesca Orsi praised the show’s success when announcing the renewal in July 2025. She called The Gilded Age a “can’t-miss it” entertainment experience that keeps viewers coming back each week.
For viewers in the USA, the show streams on HBO Max. UK audiences can watch on NOW TV, and fans in Australia find it on Paramount+. Season 4 will likely follow the same release pattern when it debuts later in 2026.
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