The White Lotus Season 4 Unveils Major Format Change with French Riviera Setting
HBO has officially announced the setting for the highly anticipated fourth season of The White Lotus, marking a significant departure from the series' usual format. For the first time, the show will feature two White Lotus properties, both located on the stunning French Riviera, with the storyline centred around the glamorous Cannes Film Festival.
Dual Hotels and New Filming Approach
The new season will utilise the Airelles Château de la Messardière as the "White Lotus du Cap" and the Hôtel Martinez as the "White Lotus Cannes". This dual-property approach represents a notable shift from previous seasons, which exclusively used Four Seasons hotels as stand-ins for the fictional resort. The change follows reports in October 2025 that HBO did not renew its marketing partnership with the Four Seasons group.
Filming is currently underway, with primary locations spanning Cannes, Saint-Tropez, and Monaco, plus additional shoots in Paris. However, the narrative will remain tightly focused on the Côte d'Azur region. A source familiar with production told Variety that filming will occur on location during the Cannes Film Festival, with cast members expected to attend for three to four days in the second week and "walk the red carpet at least once." It remains unclear whether filming will directly overlap with official festival events.
Star-Studded Cast and Production Details
The official ensemble cast for season four includes an impressive roster of talent:
- Helena Bonham Carter
- Vincent Cassel
- Steve Coogan
- Caleb Jonte Edwards
- Dylan Ennis
- Corentin Fila
- Ari Graynor
- Marissa Long
- Alexander Ludwig
- Chris Messina
- AJ Michalka
- Kumail Nanjiani
- Nadia Tereszkiewicz
Additional cast members feature Chloe Bennet, Sandra Bernhard, Heather Graham, Max Greenfield, Frida Gustavsson, Charlie Hall, Jarrad Paul, Rosie Perez, Ben Schnetzer, and Laura Smet. Specific roles have not yet been disclosed.
Creator Mike White returns as executive producer and writer, alongside David Bernad and Mark Kamine. The season will "follow a new group of White Lotus hotel guests and employees over the span of a week, taking place during the Cannes Film Festival," according to HBO's official description.
Background and Previous Seasons
The White Lotus premiered in 2021, with each season exploring a new location and cast of wealthy vacationers interacting with hotel staff, culminating in dramatic deaths. Season one was set in Hawaii, season two in Italy, and season three in Thailand. The third season, which aired last year, featured stars like Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, and Jason Isaacs, earning 23 Emmy nominations despite receiving mixed reviews. The Independent's critic Adam White gave the finale three stars, calling it a "violent end to a bad season."
Plans for a France-set season first emerged in September 2025, with location scouting across Paris and the French Riviera reported the following month. The 2026 Cannes Film Festival is scheduled from 12 to 23 May, featuring new films from directors like Asghar Farhadi and Pedro Almodóvar, with honorary Palme d'Or awards for Barbra Streisand and Peter Jackson, and Park Chan Wook as jury president.
