• Watch the first five minutes of Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 now.
  • Benedict (Luke Thompson) is noticeably absent from Bridgerton House.
  • Violet (Ruth Gemmell) searches Benedict’s rooms — servants hint at a secret.
  • The new season centers on Benedict and Sophie’s love story and premieres Jan. 29.

Watch the opening scene early

Netflix released an exclusive premiere clip from Bridgerton Season 4, Part 1 that drops the opening five minutes ahead of the full debut on Jan. 29, 2026. The short preview reunites viewers with Bridgerton House in full bustle — scones are baked, petit fours arranged, and family members stream back into the drawing room — but one Bridgerton is missing.

Where is Benedict?

Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson), the new season’s leading man, isn’t present for the family’s reunion. Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) quickly notices his absence and, with Footman John (Oli Higginson) in tow, hurries to Benedict’s private quarters to demand answers.

Servants, including Benedict’s valet Hatch (Esh Alladi), urge caution. Footman John even volunteers to fetch Benedict instead of forcing Violet to confront what might be hiding in her son’s room. The clip teases that Benedict has spent months away from society — and that something more than a simple drunken nap might explain his distance.

New love story at the center

Bridgerton Season 4 shifts focus to Benedict and his romance with Sophie (Yerin Ha). The clip sets up family dynamics and raises immediate questions about Benedict’s state of mind and secrets, building tension before the central love story unfolds across Part 1.

Also seen in the brief preview are return appearances from Penelope and Colin (Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton) doting over their newborn, Francesca (Hannah Dodd), Eloise (Claudia Jessie), Lord John Stirling (Victor Alli), and spirited Hyacinth (Florence Hunt).

What the clip reveals — and what it leaves out

The premiere clip is light on explicit answers but heavy on atmosphere. It reestablishes the homey warmth of Bridgerton House and Violet’s protective instincts as matriarch. Benedict’s absence functions as a mystery hook: the household suspects something is concealed in his bedroom, and the brief scene ends with more questions than resolutions — exactly the tone fans expect heading into a new season.

When to watch

Bridgerton Season 4, Part 1 premieres on Netflix on Jan. 29, 2026. The first episode’s opening minutes are available now as a clip — a quick, tension-tinged teaser meant to stir conversation before the series returns in full.

Fans looking for more context can find character bios and additional teasers on Netflix Tudum, which also profiles Violet, Benedict, and the expanded cast. For viewers tracking the central romance, the Benedict–Sophie arc promises a different energy from previous seasons, anchored in family drama and a budding, closely observed love story.

Image Referance: https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/bridgerton-season-4-episode-1-preview