Dark Winds Season 4 release date has been officially announced. Fans of the AMC series can mark their calendars for February 15, 2026, when the new season premieres on AMC and AMC+. The upcoming season continues the story of Lt. Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernadette Manuelito, as they investigate a missing Navajo girl. With new cast members, a teaser trailer, and Zahn McClarnon making his directorial debut, Dark Winds Season 4 promises to expand the noir thriller’s 1970s setting while staying true to Tony Hillerman’s original novels.
The noir drama, based on Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee novels, follows the Navajo Tribal Police as they solve complex crimes during the 1970s.
According to AMC’s official description, the investigation leads the officers into a race against time to save the girl from an obsessive killer. The story expands beyond the reservation, highlighting the contrast between rural Navajo territory and urban Los Angeles.
Season 4 introduces several new cast members:
The series is executive produced by Zahn McClarnon, Robert Redford, George R.R. Martin, Graham Roland, John Wirth, Chris Eyre, Tina Elmo, Jim Chory, Thomas Brady, Max Hurwitz, Vince Gerardis, and Anne Hillerman.
Zahn McClarnon will also make his directorial debut this season. He expressed his gratitude to AMC Networks, saying he is excited to continue portraying Leaphorn and to contribute creatively behind the camera.
The season is based on Tony Hillerman’s 1984 novel “The Ghostway”, which continues to explore the Navajo community’s encounters with crime, culture, and justice.
The trailer teases the darker tone of the upcoming season, revealing glimpses of Los Angeles settings, new characters, and a more intense investigation. It will debut during the premiere of Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order.
Season 4 builds on these storylines, combining personal struggles with a new case that tests the team’s limits.
Q1: When is the Dark Winds Season 4 release date?
Dark Winds Season 4 release date is February 15, 2026. It will premiere at 9 pm ET/PT on AMC and AMC+ with eight hour-long episodes.
Q2: Who stars in Dark Winds Season 4?
Zahn McClarnon returns as Lt. Joe Leaphorn, joined by Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Deanna Allison, and new cast members Franka Potente, Titus Welliver, and Isabel DeRoy-Olson.
Dark Winds Season 4 Release Date, Time and Where to Watch
The network AMC has officially confirmed that Dark Winds Season 4 will premiere on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 9 pm ET/PT on AMC and AMC+. The new season will feature eight hour-long episodes, continuing the story of Lt. Joe Leaphorn, portrayed by Zahn McClarnon.The noir drama, based on Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee novels, follows the Navajo Tribal Police as they solve complex crimes during the 1970s.
Dark Winds Season 4 Plot
The upcoming season of Dark Winds centers on the search for a missing Navajo girl. The case takes Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito from the Navajo Nation to Los Angeles in the 1970s, where they confront a dangerous network connected to organized crime.According to AMC’s official description, the investigation leads the officers into a race against time to save the girl from an obsessive killer. The story expands beyond the reservation, highlighting the contrast between rural Navajo territory and urban Los Angeles.
Dark Winds Season 4 Returning Cast and New Faces
Returning cast members include Zahn McClarnon as Lt. Joe Leaphorn, Kiowa Gordon as Jim Chee, Jessica Matten as Bernadette Manuelito, and Deanna Allison as Emma Leaphorn.Season 4 introduces several new cast members:
- Franka Potente as Irene Vaggan
- Isabel DeRoy-Olson as Billie Tsosie
- Chaske Spencer as Sonny
- Luke Barnett as FBI Special Agent Toby Shaw
- Titus Welliver as Dominic McNair
Dark Winds Season 4 Production and Creative Team
Dark Winds was created by Graham Roland, known for Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. The showrunner for Season 4 is John Wirth, who previously worked on Hell on Wheels.The series is executive produced by Zahn McClarnon, Robert Redford, George R.R. Martin, Graham Roland, John Wirth, Chris Eyre, Tina Elmo, Jim Chory, Thomas Brady, Max Hurwitz, Vince Gerardis, and Anne Hillerman.
Zahn McClarnon will also make his directorial debut this season. He expressed his gratitude to AMC Networks, saying he is excited to continue portraying Leaphorn and to contribute creatively behind the camera.
Dark Winds Season 4 Filming and Background
Dark Winds Season 4 was filmed in Santa Fe, New Mexico, during the spring and summer of 2025. The setting reflects the 1970s environment central to the show’s tone and storytelling.The season is based on Tony Hillerman’s 1984 novel “The Ghostway”, which continues to explore the Navajo community’s encounters with crime, culture, and justice.
Dark Winds Season 4 Trailer
A teaser trailer for Dark Winds Season 4 was released alongside the premiere announcement. The short video shows Lt. Joe Leaphorn saying, “I had this badge for four years before I saw my first murder. Now it just feels like every day.”The trailer teases the darker tone of the upcoming season, revealing glimpses of Los Angeles settings, new characters, and a more intense investigation. It will debut during the premiere of Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order.
Connection to previous seasons
The third season concluded with several personal and professional challenges for the characters. Leaphorn faced emotional turmoil after his wife, Emma, left him. Manuelito returned to the Navajo police after working with the U.S. Border Patrol. Chee continued to rebuild his life and career.Season 4 builds on these storylines, combining personal struggles with a new case that tests the team’s limits.
FAQs
Q1: When is the Dark Winds Season 4 release date?
Dark Winds Season 4 release date is February 15, 2026. It will premiere at 9 pm ET/PT on AMC and AMC+ with eight hour-long episodes.
Q2: Who stars in Dark Winds Season 4?
Zahn McClarnon returns as Lt. Joe Leaphorn, joined by Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Deanna Allison, and new cast members Franka Potente, Titus Welliver, and Isabel DeRoy-Olson.
