Rivals fans won’t have to wait much longer for the next instalment of the hit drama, with Disney+ officially confirming when the remaining episodes of season two will be released.
Following a dramatic mid-season break, the popular adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper’s bestselling novel will return with three brand-new episodes on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
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Episodes seven, eight and nine will all arrive together, giving viewers plenty to get stuck into as the battle for television supremacy in Rutshire becomes increasingly explosive.
But that’s not all. The remaining episodes will follow a weekly release schedule, with the season two finale arriving on Disney+ in December.
Here’s everything you need to know about when new episodes of Rivals are released, how many episodes are left and what to expect from the second half of the series.
When do new episodes of Rivals season 2 come out?
The next episodes of Rivals season two will be available to stream on Disney+ from Wednesday, November 11.
Disney+ has confirmed that episodes seven, eight and nine will be released together as a three-episode drop.
After that, the series will return to a weekly release schedule, with the final instalments arriving on consecutive Wednesdays.
The confirmed release dates are:
| Episode | Release date |
|---|---|
| Episodes 7, 8 and 9 | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 |
| Episode 10 | Wednesday, November 18, 2026 |
| Episode 11 | Wednesday, November 25, 2026 |
| Episode 12 – Finale | Wednesday, December 2, 2026 |
That means there are six new episodes still to come, with the second half of the series promising plenty more scandal, romance and rivalry.
What happens in the next episodes of Rivals season 2?
Following the shocking events of episode six, the residents of Rutshire are facing an increasingly turbulent period.
Tragedy, scandal and betrayal threaten to turn the already fierce competition between Venturer and Corinium into an all-out war.
The battle between Tony Baddingham and Declan O’Hara for control of television in the Cotswolds reaches fever pitch, while Rupert Campbell-Black is forced to confront some difficult personal demons.
The newly released teaser trailer offers a glimpse of the drama still to come, with extravagant parties, Bonfire Night chaos, the Hampshire Hunt Ball and a turbulent Christmas all featuring in the remaining episodes.
As affairs unravel and alliances begin to fracture, the characters find themselves facing the consequences of their own ambitions and secrets.
Caught in the middle of the increasingly bitter franchise battle, Taggie O’Hara must find the courage to follow her heart, while those around her struggle to maintain control of their complicated personal and professional lives.
With loyalties being tested and rivalries becoming more intense, the second half of the series looks set to deliver some of the biggest moments of the season.
Who is joining the Rivals season 2 cast?
The new episodes will introduce several exciting additions to the already impressive cast.
Among the new arrivals is Rachael Stirling, known for Believe Me and Detectorists, who joins the series as Araminta Pemberton, the younger sister of Lady Monica Baddingham.
Described as vampish, Araminta’s arrival looks set to bring another interesting personality into the world of Rutshire.
Also joining the cast are:
- Rupert Evans (The Man in the High Castle, Gone) as David Hawkley, an erudite headmaster.
- Santiago Cabrera (Big Little Lies, Star Trek: Picard) as Alejandro Mendoza, an Argentinian polo legend.
Their characters will add further complications to the lives of the existing residents as the story moves towards its conclusion.
Which original Rivals cast members are returning?
David Tennant is back as the formidable Lord Tony Baddingham, with Alex Hassell reprising his role as Rupert Campbell-Black.
The returning cast also includes:
- Aidan Turner as Declan O’Hara
- Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook
- Bella Maclean as Taggie O’Hara
- Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker
- Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones
- Victoria Smurfit as Maud O’Hara
- Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham
- Oliver Chris as James Vereker
- Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones
- Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton
- Rufus Jones as Paul Stratton
- Luca Pasqualino as Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham
- Catriona Chandler as Caitlin O’Hara
- Annabel Scholey as Beattie Johnson
- Gary Lamont as Charles Fairburn
- Hubert Burton as Gerald Middleton
- Gabriel Tierney as Patrick O’Hara
- Lara Peake as Daysee Butler
- Bryony Hannah as Dierdre Kilpatrick
There will also be appearances from returning guest stars Hayley Atwell as Helen Gordon and Rupert Everett as Malise Gordon.
With so many familiar characters returning, viewers can expect plenty of unfinished business as the series moves towards its finale.
How many episodes are there in Rivals season 2?
The second season of Rivals consists of 12 episodes.
The first six episodes have already been released, with the remaining six arriving across November and December.
The unusual release pattern means fans will get three episodes at once on November 11, followed by three individual weekly instalments.
The season finale will be available on Wednesday, December 2, bringing the latest chapter of the Rutshire Chronicles to a conclusion.
Where can you watch Rivals season 2 in the UK?
Rivals is available exclusively on Disney+ in the UK, with the new episodes arriving on the streaming platform according to the confirmed release schedule.
International viewers can also watch the Hulu Original series through Disney+, while audiences in the United States can stream it on Hulu.
Disney+ subscriptions start from £5.99 per month, with different subscription options available.
The platform also offers a wide selection of entertainment from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and Hulu, alongside original dramas, films and documentaries.
What is Rivals about?
Based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s bestselling novel of the same name, Rivals is part of her hugely popular Rutshire Chronicles.
Set in the glamorous and often ruthless world of 1980s British television, the drama follows the bitter rivalry between ambitious television executives Tony Baddingham and Rupert Campbell-Black.
As the battle for control of the fictional television franchise Corinium intensifies, personal relationships, professional ambitions and complicated romances become increasingly intertwined.
The series combines high-stakes business rivalries with extravagant lifestyles, complicated love affairs and plenty of scandal.
Produced by Happy Prince, part of ITV Studios, the adaptation has brought Cooper’s much-loved fictional world to life for a new generation of viewers.
The series is executive produced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Alexander Lamb, Felicity Blunt, Elliot Hegarty, Laura Wade and Dame Jilly Cooper.
Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Laura Wade are among the writers, alongside Sophie Goodhart, Sam Hoare, Mimi Hare, Clare Naylor, Sorcha Kurien-Walsh and Dare Aiyegbayo.
When is the Rivals season 2 finale?
The final episode of Rivals season two will arrive on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, on Disney+.
With the battle between Venturer and Corinium reaching breaking point, and relationships across Rutshire facing unprecedented pressure, there is plenty still to be resolved.
The next three episodes arrive on November 11, so fans won’t have long to wait to discover what happens after the dramatic mid-season cliffhanger.
And with affairs, betrayal, family secrets and professional rivalries all threatening to explode, the countdown to the season two finale promises to be an entertaining one.
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