Netflix’s Biggest Romance Series of 2026 Is Still Crushing Charts With 889M Hours Watched

There is no denying that romance series are taking over TV. From Heated Rivalry to Off Campus, the genre has found undeniable success over the last year. However, another romance series has been at the top of the list for much longer. Bridgerton proved how well a romance adaptation could work when it took over Netflix in 2020, and in the years since, the series has never lost its popularity. Even after four seasons, Bridgerton is still going strong.

Each season of Bridgerton, adapted from Julia Quinn‘s book series, revolves around the love stories of different members of the same family. Already, the series has covered four of Quinn’s books, and with four more left to be adapted, it doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. With its blend of period setting and modern sensibilities, Bridgerton is unique, even as the romance genre on television becomes more crowded, and that is why viewers keep coming back to the series.

‘Bridgerton’s Season 4 Success Proves the Series Isn’t Going Anywhere

Each season of Bridgerton shifts to a new main character, following a different sibling as they fall in love. Season 4, which details Benedict’s (Luke Thompson) romance with Sophie (Yerin Ha), is the most recent installment, having released at the beginning of the year. Since its premiere, Season 4 has officially reached 889 million hours watched on Netflix, which proves how dedicated the show’s audience is. The season tells a story unlike previous installments, exploring class disparity through Sophie and Benedict’s romance and showing a new side of society for the very first time.

Season 4’s viewership demonstrates Bridgerton‘s continued popularity in 2026, and the series shows no signs of ending. It has already been renewed for two more installments, and after that there are still two Bridgerton books left to adapt. The Netflix series even earned a successful spin-off, titled Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, and while that show didn’t continue for another season, Bridgerton‘s creative team has repeatedly emphasized their interest in other spin-offs, proving that the original series still has plenty of greater franchise potential.

‘Bridgerton’ Paved the Way for Many More Romance Adaptations

It makes sense that Bridgerton has gained so much attention because there is nothing quite like it. The series may not be fully historically accurate, but it combines everything fans love about romance and period dramas to build something unique. Even as period dramas continue to be popular, with The Buccaneers, The Gilded Age, The Other Bennet Sister, and more premiering in recent years, Bridgerton stands out. Whether it’s to embrace more inclusive casting or to exaggerate Regency-era fashion, Bridgerton consciously makes changes for the story it’s telling over strict accuracy.

These choices make Bridgerton an unparalleled show that never ceases to surprise fans, even those who have read the books. Although some plot deviations haven’t always sat well with book readers in particular, the series continues to offer happily-ever-afters that never fail to capture attention, and in the six years since Bridgerton‘s premiere, no other romance adaptation has been able to compete.

Release Date

2020 – 2026-00-00

Network

Netflix

Directors

Tom Verica, Tricia Brock, Alex Pillai, Alrick Riley, Bille Woodruff, Cheryl Dunye, Sheree Folkson, Julie Anne Robinson

Writers

Abby McDonald, Sarah L. Thompson, Daniel Robinson, Oliver Goldstick, Leila Cohan-Miccio, Azia Squire, Sarah Dollard, Eli Wilson Pelton, Janet Lin

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  Luke Thompson

  Lady Violet Bridgerton

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  Ruth Gemmell

  Benedict Bridgerton