'The White Lotus' season 4: What to expect, early rumours and behind-the-scenes changes ahead of production

Following the buzz of its season three finale, HBO’s hit anthology series The White Lotus is already building momentum for its fourth chapter. Earlier this year, Variety confirmed that HBO has renewed the hit series for a fourth season, with production scheduled for 2026.

While exact plotlines and cast details remain under wraps, creator Mike White and executive producer David Bernad have teased several developments.

Bernad confirmed season four will continue the show's trend of warm settings, stating, “I feel confident we will never do a season in the cold. Mike White is not for it. He is a California guy.” This aligns with White’s long-held vision of exploring diverse global destinations.

White has expressed a strong interest in filming in Australia. Speaking at Sydney’s Vivid Festival, he shared, “My dream would be to hit every continent, so yeah, [Australia] is like its own continent basically. It would be so fun... the beauty is inarguable.”

Meanwhile, composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, who crafted the show’s hauntingly iconic scores, announced he will not return for season four. In an interview with the New York Times, Tapia de Veer cited ongoing “creative differences” with the team.

He explained, “I feel like this was, you know, a rock ’n’ roll band story... I’ve been in before where the guitar player doesn’t understand the singer at all.” He also revealed frustrations over the direction of season three’s theme music, saying, “There was no direction,” and disclosed that Mike White ultimately vetoed a proposed extended version fans had anticipated.

Despite the musical departure, anticipation remains high for the next instalment of The White Lotus, with Australia emerging as the top contender for its next exotic retreat.