Rivals Season 2 Premieres May 15, 2026 on Disney+ and Hulu

The second season of the Disney+ and Hulu series Rivals premieres on May 15, 2026, with three episodes available simultaneously, marking the return of the hit adaptation of Jilly Cooper's 1988 novel set in the fictional Cotswolds county of Rutshire.

The 12-episode season, an expansion from the first season's eight installments, picks up shortly after the events of the 2024 debut. It centers on the escalating rivalry between Corinium Television owner Lord Tony Baddingham, played by David Tennant, and Rupert Campbell-Black, portrayed by Alex Hassell as a former Olympic showjumper turned Member of Parliament. Tony, who appeared to die in the season one finale after a confrontation with TV executive Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams), survives and launches a campaign of scandals and schemes to dismantle Rupert's competing network, Venturer. Relationships strain amid secret affairs, hidden truths, and the hedonistic backdrop of 1980s British high society, involving polo matches, political maneuvering, and media power struggles.

The first half of the season follows a hybrid release: episodes four through six arrive weekly on May 22, May 29, and June 5. The remaining six episodes are...