So, you're scouring the internet trying to figure out when the ladies of Orange County are coming back to grace your TV screen. Honestly, the timeline for The Real Housewives of Orange County has become a bit of a moving target lately. If you feel like you just finished watching the Season 18 reunion, you're not wrong—but the machine at Bravo never truly stops moving.
Let’s get the big question out of the way first.
When is the RHOC season 19 release date actually happening?
The RHOC season 19 release date was July 10, 2025. I know, some corners of the internet are still speculating about 2026, but if you look at the actual broadcast logs, the premiere aired on a Thursday night at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo. It was a supersized episode that basically hit the ground running with Shannon Beador trying to navigate her "single and ready to mingle" era while Tamra Judge... well, Tamra was being Tamra.
The season ran all the way through the fall, eventually wrapping up with a three-part reunion that concluded on November 20, 2025. If you're looking for new episodes right now in early 2026, you've likely missed the live boat. However, you can find the entire nineteenth season streaming on Peacock.
Why the confusion about the dates?
Bravo has a habit of shifting their premiere months. For a long time, we were used to spring starts, but lately, they’ve settled into this mid-summer groove. Season 18 started in July 2024, and Season 19 followed that exact same pattern by dropping in July 2025.
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If you're hearing rumors about a "release" in 2026, what you're actually hearing is the buzz for Season 20. Production for the landmark 20th season is already the talk of the town because, let’s be real, twenty years of oranges is a massive deal for reality TV history.
The cast shakeup nobody saw coming
The most shocking thing about Season 19 wasn't just the return of a certain blonde bombshell; it was the fact that for the first time in nearly two decades, Bravo didn't add a brand-new housewife to the starting lineup. They kept the Season 18 core—Shannon, Heather, Tamra, Gina, Emily, Jenn, and Katie—and just added fire.
And by fire, I mean Gretchen Rossi.
Yeah, after a 12-year hiatus, Gretchen came back as a "friend of" the housewives. It wasn't just a cameo. She was deep in the mix. Watching her and Tamra reignite a feud that had been simmering since 2013 was like stepping into a time machine, only with better lighting and more expensive handbags.
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- Shannon Storms Beador: Still the "Kissing Bandit," but dealing with the fallout of her relationship with Tamra.
- Heather Dubrow: Navigating her new Beverly Hills penthouse life while trying (and often failing) to keep the peace.
- Tamra Judge: Dealing with some heavy personal stuff, including her daughter Sophia leaving the nest.
- Katie Ginella: This was her "make or break" season. Spoiler alert: it was a bit of a "break."
What really happened with Katie Ginella?
If you followed the season, you know Katie had a rough go. By the time the reunion rolled around in late 2025, she was on an island. It’s recently been confirmed in January 2026 that Katie Ginella will not be returning for Season 20.
She posted a pretty raw update on Instagram on January 9, 2026, admitting that while the firing was disappointing, she wasn't surprised given how "iced out" she felt by the end of filming. There’s even been talk that producers tried to recruit her best friend, attorney Kathleen Martinez, to take her spot, but Kathleen allegedly turned them down in solidarity.
Behind the scenes: Production and filming
Filming for the nineteenth season actually kicked off way back in January 2025. This gave the editors plenty of time to cut together that July premiere. The crew moved between the usual haunts—Newport Beach, Corona del Mar—and even took the ladies on a wild trip to New Orleans.
One of the more interesting production tidbits? Tamra Judge actually "quit" the show via Instagram in March 2025 while they were still filming. Everyone panicked. But, in true Housewife fashion, she was spotted filming with Heather Dubrow just a week later. It was likely a heat-of-the-moment reaction to a blowout fight, but it kept the blogs fed for months.
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Where the show stands now
Since we are currently in early 2026, the focus has shifted entirely to the Season 20 casting. The "OG of the OC," Vicki Gunvalson, was officially announced at BravoCon 2025 to be returning as a full-time housewife for the big anniversary season.
If you are just catching up on Season 19, keep an eye out for the guest appearances. Jo De La Rosa (the original OG!) and Elizabeth Lyn Vargas both pop up. Even the "Joshs" from Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles make a cameo.
Actionable Next Steps for RHOC Fans
If you're looking to catch up on everything before the Season 20 cameras start rolling in earnest, here is your checklist:
- Binge Season 19 on Peacock: All 20 episodes, including the three-part reunion, are currently available.
- Watch the After Show: Bravo released "After Show" segments for Season 19 on YouTube that explain a lot of the context behind the Shannon and Tamra fallout that didn't make the main edit.
- Follow the Season 20 Leaks: Since production for the next season typically starts in the winter/spring, keep an eye on Instagram tags for "The Quiet Woman" or "Pelican Hill"—that’s usually where the first filming sightings happen.