Dark Winds Season 4 will air on AMC on February 15, 2026. And in the new season, Lt. Joe Leaphorn and his team look for a Navajo girl who has gone missing. We go from the reservation to Los Angeles in the 1970s in this story.
Fans will be back, there will be new cast members, and the tone will be darker. A trailer for the series is already out. Find out about the cast, when it comes out, what it’s about, and more here.
Is There a Season 4 of Dark Winds?
Image © 2025 AMC Networks / Graham Roland / George R.R. Martin
Following its official renewal for a fourth season, AMC has confirmed that Dark Winds will be back for another season. The upcoming fourth season will continue the story of Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and the Navajo Tribal Police in the gritty terrain of the 1970s. The new plot moves from the Navajo Nation to Los Angeles and starts with a tense search for a missing Navajo girl.
What’s Been Confirmed So Far
The series Dark Winds is executive produced by Robert Redford, George R.R. Martin, and Graham Roland, who worked together on Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.
Season 4 has been officially picked up for eight episodes. It will be shown on AMC and AMC+, just like the previous seasons were. It came out during Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order, so fans got their first look at it.
Must see details:
- Premiere date: February 15, 2026, at 9 PM ET/PT.
- Streaming: AMC and AMC+.
- Location: Filmed in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
- Creative leads: Graham Roland, John Wirth, Tina Elmo, Chris Eyre, Anne Hillerman, Vince Gerardis, Jim Chory, Max Hurwitz, and Thomas Brady.
What’s the Main Plot This Time
The story is about how Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernadette Manuelito try to find and save a Navajo girl who has gone missing. The case takes them away from the Navajo Nation and into the chaos of Los Angeles, where they find a obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.
- Takes Leaphorn: From safe camping to streets in the city.
- Focus: Quickly save the girl before it’s too late.
- Villain: A killer with ties to crime groups.
- Source material: The Ghostway by Tony Hillerman served as an inspiration.
Who Stars in the Cast of Dark Winds Season 4?
Image © 2025 AMC Networks / Graham Roland / George R.R. Martin
Dark Winds Season 4 has a great mix of returning and new cast members, giving the fan-favorite noir drama new life. People who liked the characters in the third season are back, and they have some exciting new roles as well.
Returning Cast Members
Joe Leaphorn, played by Zahn McClarnon, is back and now also stepping behind the camera in Zahn McClarnon’s directorial debut. Jim Chee and Bernadette Manuelito are back to continue the stories of how they feel. Other people who are going to be there are Emma Leaphorn, Deanna Allison, and Gordo Sena.
- Zahn McClarnon: Lt. Joe Leaphorn.
- Kiowa Gordon: Jim Chee.
- Jessica Matten: Bernadette Manuelito.
- Deanna Allison: Emma Leaphorn.
- A. Martinez: Scarborough Police Department Chief Gordo Sena.
New Cast Additions
Season 4 brings in some great new artists. These new cast members add to the story and raise the stakes, since the team is in danger outside of the reservation.
- Franka Potente: Irene Vaggan.
- Isabel DeRoy Olson: Billie Tsosie.
- Chaske Spencer: Sonny.
- Luke Barnett: FBI Agent Toby Shaw.
- Titus Welliver: Dominic McNair.
When Is Dark Winds Season 4 Release Date?
Image © 2025 AMC Networks / Graham Roland / George R.R. Martin
Fans won’t have to wait much longer. The latest update confirms that the fourth season of Winds will start right after Valentine’s Day, following the pattern set in the previous season. With post-production wrapped, excitement builds for the debut.
Official Premiere Date and Schedule
The first show’s date has been set by AMC. Every week, all eight episodes will come out, making the whole season a thrilling ride.
- Date: February 15, 2026.
- Time: 9 PM ET/PT.
- Where to watch: AMC and AMC+.
Episode Count and Format
The structure of Season 4 stays the same as the previous seasons, giving it a movie-like feel.
- Episodes: Eight.
- Runtime: Each one takes about an hour.
- Filming timeline: Spring and summer 2025.
- Location: The series was filmed in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Is There a Teaser for Dark Winds Season 4?
Image © 2025 AMC Networks / Graham Roland / George R.R. Martin
AMC Networks put out a teaser video that gave fans their first closer look at the missing Navajo girl case. In the trailer, Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernadette are in tense scenes that happen a long way from Santa Fe.
This breaking sneak peek has scary dialogue and dark images. It proves the connection between the Navajo Nation and the sprawling cities of New Mexico and Los Angeles.
What Does the Teaser Reveal?
At the beginning of the AMC teaser, Joe says that he had been a police officer for four years before his first murder case. Now, danger is every day. Scenes cut quickly between them to show a dangerous search for the missing Navajo girl, and the emotional weight is very heavy.
- Narration: Joe’s words about four years ago, and the first murder.
- Visuals: Streets in cities far from Santa Fe.
- Themes: Rescue race, finding out who you are, and justice.
Where Can Fans Watch It?
During Anne Rice’s Talamasca premiere or on the AMC site, you can watch the whole video. The trailer came out in March, which led to a lot of talk.
- Watch: AMC YouTube or AMC+.
- Debut: With the Secret Order from Talamasca.
- Total tease: It tells the whole story of all eight episodes.
- Includes: People in the main cast, like Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn.
Final Thoughts
Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee are back for Dark Winds Season 4 with a new, important case involving a missing Navajo girl. When the story leaves the Navajo Nation, it goes to dangerous places outside of Santa Fe and across New Mexico.
For eight episodes of action and mystery, the whole cast is back. Fans can look forward to a bold season with ties to the border patrol and emotional turns for Leaphorn. This February, don’t miss it on ABC.
FAQs
Is Bernadette in season 4 of Dark Winds?
Yes, Bernadette is back with Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee in the new story about a missing Navajo girl.
Is Dark Winds coming back in 2025?
Yes, AMC confirmed Dark Winds returns February 15, 2026, with eight episodes filmed in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Are any of the actors in Dark Winds Navajo?
Some cast members have ties to the Navajo Nation, supporting the show’s cultural accuracy.
Why did Bernadette leave the Dark Winds?
In the last story, Bernadette left to join border patrol but returned with Leaphorn and Joe in season 4.
Is Dark Winds over for good?
No, Dark Winds is not over. AMC renewed it, and Joe Leaphorn returns with Jim Chee and all cast members.