The White Lotus will return for a fourth season, continuing the acclaimed anthology series from creator Mike White. Despite Season 3 just wrapping up, anticipation is already building as fans speculate about the next luxurious locale, returning cast members, and a possible premiere date.
The hit HBO series blends biting satire with lavish visuals and dark intrigue and has seen success across its previous settings in Hawaii, Sicily, and, most recently, Thailand. With each installment set in a high-end resort, the next chapter promises more dysfunction among the ultra-rich in yet another enviable vacation destination.
Season 4 was greenlit before the third season even premiered. In a press release issued in January 2025, HBO confirmed its renewal of the show. “We’re going on some locations scouting in the next couple of weeks, so we’ll know soon,” HBO executive Francesca Orsi told Deadline, adding that while nothing was confirmed yet, “chances are somewhere in Europe” is likely.
When Could Season 4 Be Released?
While no official premiere date has been set, fans shouldn’t expect new episodes soon. Previous gaps between seasons offer a hint: the show’s first season debuted in July 2021, followed by Season 2 in October 2022, and Season 3 in February 2025. Due to delays, including the Hollywood writers’ strike, Season 3 was pushed, and a similar delay could follow.
Given White’s typically quick turnaround, mid-2026 might be the earliest possible window for Season 4.
“We were supposed to start scouting in April, and I was like, ‘You guys, I haven’t been home in three years,'” White told The Hollywood Reporter.
Fabio Lovino/HBO
What About the Location?
Though rumors floated about a chilly Scandinavian backdrop—Mike White reportedly contacted the Norwegian Film Institute for a potential grant—those plans seem unlikely. Executive producer David Bernad entirely ruled out a cold setting.
“Mike does not like the cold…[White] is a California guy. He is not built for the cold,” Bernad said on The Bill Simmons Podcast.
Instead, there’s mounting speculation that the next setting may be in Australasia or Africa.
“Going down under has been on White’s radar,” White said during an interview at Sydney’s Vivid festival in 2023. “We kind of have to come to Australia if we keep going,” he said, adding that the local talent and scenery “check all the boxes.”
Europe is still a strong contender. White said he’s being deliberate with the choice, noting to THR, “Where we choose to go next could be hugely impactful [to that locale]. That’s why it was so cool to shoot in Thailand. It’s hard to go backward. Like, ‘Oh, we’ll do it in Paris!’ That feels like a cop-out.”
Who Could Return From the Cast?
One of the hallmarks of The White Lotus is its rotating cast, with only a few actors returning across seasons. Among those, Jon Gries (Greg) has appeared in all three installments, while Natasha Rothwell (Belinda) starred in the first and third. Whether they survive Season 3’s finale remains to be seen.
As for new faces, interest is already high. Casting director Meredith Tucker told The Hollywood Reporter that “an agent reached out, like, ‘It’s an emergency,'” over an unconfirmed rumor of auditions for Season 4. “White has not written one thing,” she said. “Don’t call me until after this one.”
Even a potential “all-star” season has been teased. Season 3 star Patrick Schwarzenegger and Mike White joked about bringing together previous actors, with Schwarzenegger saying, “They could get all the douche guys in one hotel together,” referencing Jake Lacy and Theo James’ characters from Season 1 and 2, respectively.
Until scripts are finalized and the location is locked, casting news will remain speculative. As The White Lotus continues to dominate HBO viewership—Season 3 reportedly saw a 78 percent increase over Season 2, averaging 12.2 million viewers per episode, according to Esquire—expectations for the next season are sky-high.