New York’s high society is about to get a whole lot messier. Oh yes, The Gilded Age season 4 is finally arriving, and there’s a major cast shake-up to get your head around before the premiere. Julian Fellowes’ lavish HBO drama is returning with more family feuds and complicated romances. But after that dramatic season 3 finale, things aren’t looking particularly rosy for the Russell family. George (Morgan Spector) and Bertha (Carrie Coon) are facing a marriage crisis, just as their daughter Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) has a baby on the way. And there’s still the small matter of who tried to murder George. Although plenty of familiar faces will be back, two cast members have been confirmed to be sitting out season 4, and several others are also unlikely to return. Thankfully, there are some exciting newcomers to make up for it. So, here’s exactly when and where to watch The Gilded Age season 4, as well as who’s leaving and joining the cast, and a quick recap of the end of season 3. Here’s The Gilded Age season 4 episode 1 release date and time The Gilded Age season 4 episode 1 premieres on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on HBO Max. If you’re in the US, you can also watch it live on the HBO channel. If you do, the premiere airs at 9pm ET / 8pm CT, with a separate 9pm PT broadcast for West Coast viewers. For those of you in the UK, season 4 episode 1 arrives on Monday, November 2, at 2am GMT on streaming service NOW. It will also air simultaneously at 2am on Sky Atlantic, with a later 9pm GMT evening broadcast that day. The Gilded Age season 4 full release schedule Credit: HBO Thankfully, there’s no complicated release schedule to keep track of. Just like season 3, we’re getting eight episodes, which will air weekly on Sundays. That means the season 4 finale is expected to arrive just before Christmas, on December 20. Here’s when each episode is due to drop in the US: Episode 1 – Sunday, November 1, 2026 Episode 2 – Sunday, November 8, 2026 Episode 3 – Sunday, November 15, 2026 Episode 4 – Sunday, November 22, 2026 Episode 5 – Sunday, November 29, 2026 Episode 6 – Sunday, December 6, 2026 Episode 7 – Sunday, December 13, 2026 Episode 8 – Sunday, December 20, 2026 Which cast members are leaving and joining The Gilded Age season 4? Credit: HBO Well, there’s some disappointing news for fans of two familiar characters, as Patrick Page and Sullivan Jones won’t be returning for The Gilded Age season 4. Page played George Russell’s former secretary Richard Clay, who was fired after a failed business deal and subsequently went to work for one of George’s rivals. And with Clay suspected of involvement in George’s attempted murder, his absence is particularly surprising. As for Jones, he played T. Thomas Fortune, the newspaper editor who developed romantic feelings for Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), despite being married himself. Both characters could potentially return in future seasons, but they won’t be appearing this time around. Credit: HBO According to recent reports, four more characters also probably won’t be returning. They include Nathan Lane’s Ward McAllister, whose reputation suffered following his controversial book, and Nicole Brydon Bloom’s Maud Beaton, who was sent back to Ohio after deceiving Oscar. Rachel Pickup’s Miss Andre was also fired for leaking the Russell family’s secrets, while Claybourne Elder’s John Adams tragically died in season 3. Thankfully, there are plenty of new faces joining the drama. Jim Gaffigan will play President Grover Cleveland, with Neal Huff appearing as oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller. Other newcomers include Dennis Haysbert as Dr. Reginald Harris, Bonnie Milligan as magazine editor Knapp Curtis, and Adrienne Warren as Peggy’s cousin Ava. And don’t worry, Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton and Taissa Farmiga are all returning. All the details for the season 4 premiere Credit: HBO The first episode is titled ‘Ring the Bells’, and it sounds like we’re being thrown straight back into the drama. According to the synopsis, Bertha must deal with Gladys experiencing a difficult childbirth, while Peggy reaches an important milestone and Agnes prepares to host a prestigious dinner. Yes, Gladys is about to become a mother, but it sounds like the arrival of her baby won’t be straightforward. HBO’s season 4 synopsis warns that Bertha’s determination to conquer New York society has come at a cost, with her family now facing the consequences. Agnes also sees an opportunity to regain her former position, while Marian begins a new chapter and Peggy struggles to win over her future in-laws. The premiere has a runtime of approximately 62 minutes. What happened at the end of The Gilded Age season 3? Credit: HBO Well, quite a lot. And perhaps the biggest cliffhanger involved George Russell, who narrowly survived an assassination attempt. Thankfully, Dr. William Kirkland (Jordan Donica) managed to save his life. But the identity of whoever ordered the shooting remained a mystery. And surviving a murder attempt didn’t exactly bring George and Bertha closer together. Their marriage had been under strain ever since Bertha pushed their daughter Gladys into marrying Hector, the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb). In the season 3 finale, George told Bertha he was returning to New York and wouldn’t be coming home until he’d figured out what he wanted. He didn’t explicitly ask for a divorce, but things weren’t looking good. To make matters even more complicated, Gladys revealed she was pregnant. Bertha was delighted about becoming a grandmother, although she was also trying to hide the fact that her own marriage was falling apart. Elsewhere, Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) and Larry Russell (Harry Richardson) finally reconciled after their relationship troubles. Credit: HBO Peggy also had a reason to celebrate after accepting William’s marriage proposal. But his mother Elizabeth (Phylicia Rashad) had already made her disapproval of Peggy clear. Meanwhile, Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) was still struggling with the fact that her younger sister Ada (Cynthia Nixon) was now head of the household. Agnes’ son Oscar (Blake Ritson) was also considering a marriage of convenience with Enid Winterton (Kelley Curran), following the heartbreaking death of his former lover John Adams. And Jack Trotter (Ben Ahlers) managed to leave his days as a footman after finding success and fortune with the invention of his alarm clock mechanism. In short, there’s plenty of unfinished business heading into season 4. And something tells me New York’s wealthiest families aren’t about to enjoy a particularly peaceful few months. For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, like our Facebook page. Featured image credit: HBO Post navigation Next story
