Blue Lights Season 4 Confirmed: Cast and 2026 Release Plans

Good news for fans of the Belfast police drama Blue Lights—the show has been officially renewed for a fourth season. The BBC confirmed the news well in advance, ensuring the adventures of Grace, Annie, and Tommy will continue.

The Official Renewal Announcement

Blue Lights was renewed for both its third and fourth seasons in a single announcement back in February 2024. This two-season order from the BBC signals a major commitment to the Belfast-based drama.

Co-creators and writers Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson expressed their excitement about the renewal, stating:

“We’re thrilled that the BBC is committing to Blue Lights in this way. From the beginning, we wanted to write a show that had scale and ambition in its storytelling, and this decision gives us everything we need to do that. Thanks to our audience who have responded so powerfully to the show. Time for us to get to work!”

Lindsay Salt, BBC Director of Drama, also confirmed the show’s future, saying the corporation is committed to “bring two more series of our beloved Belfast drama to air.”

Who Is Returning for the Cast?

While official casting for season 4 has not been formally announced, it is expected that the main cast from the third season will reprise their roles. The anticipated returning characters and actors include:

• Siân Brooke as Grace Ellis
• Martin McCann as Stevie Neil
• Katherine Devlin as Annie Conlon
• Nathan Braniff as Tommy Foster
• Joanne Crawford as Helen McNally
• Andi Osho as Sandra Cliff
• Frank Blake as Shane Bradley
• Dearbháile McKinney as Aisling
• Michael Smiley as Paul ‘Colly’ Collins

Release Date and Production Schedule

An exact release date for Blue Lights Season 4 has not been set, but a pattern has emerged from previous seasons. Season 1 debuted in March 2023, Season 2 in April 2024, and Season 3 in September 2025. This pattern suggests a new season arrives roughly every 12-17 months.

Based on this, most speculation points toward a release for Season 4 in 2026. The production company itself has indicated the new series will arrive next year, with filming expected to begin in early 2026. The series is currently in pre-production.

The Story Ahead

The third season of Blue Lights concluded in November 2025, leaving several story threads unresolved. It took the officers into a sinister world hidden behind a veneer of middle-class life, focusing on the accountants and lawyers who facilitate organized crime. With a new global gang ruling Belfast, the danger came closer to home for the officers than ever before.

Season 4 is expected to continue exploring the personal and professional challenges the team faces in a city with a unique and complex political history. The show is known for tackling difficult subjects and basing its plotlines on real-world events in Northern Ireland, making it a grounded and powerful drama.

Fans of the series can catch up on all 18 existing episodes of Blue Lights from the first three seasons, which are available to stream in full on BBC iPlayer.

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