Dark Winds season 4 now has a date on the calendar: Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC and AMC+. The network paired the announcement with a first-look teaser that confirms the new case and key creative moves for the acclaimed thriller.
Release date and where to watch
AMC and AMC+ set the Season 4 premiere for Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The season will contain eight hour‑long episodes. The timing aligns with the series’ recent cadence following Season 3’s eight‑episode run earlier in 2025.
The teaser frames Joe Leaphorn’s next investigation and underlines the show’s stark tone. In the footage, Zahn McClarnon’s lieutenant says, “I had this badge for four years before I saw my first murder,” followed by, “Now it just feels like every day. It’s hard having to hold it all.”
Story and teaser specifics
The official synopsis states that Season 4 “focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl,” which takes Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon), Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) and Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) “from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.”
The teaser also nods to Joe’s personal fallout from Season 3. Emma’s deposition played on a loop as Joe replayed two key lines: she will “walk alone,” yet “I hope one day I can forgive him.” Those moments set the emotional baseline for the new episodes.
Cast and creators
Returning leads include Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, and Deanna Allison. New Season 4 cast members include Franka Potente as Irene Vaggan, Isabel DeRoy‑Olson as Billie Tsosie, Chaske Spencer as Sonny, Luke Barnett as FBI Special Agent Toby Shaw, and Titus Welliver as Dominic McNair. A. Martinez returns as Scarborough Police Department Acting Chief Gordo Sena.
Behind the camera, McClarnon will make his directorial debut this season. The series is executive‑produced by the late Robert Redford, Chris Eyre, Tina Elmo, Jim Chory, Max Hurwitz, Thomas Brady, Vince Gerardis, and Anne Hillerman. John Wirth serves as showrunner. The drama is based on Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee novels.
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Production status and episode count
AMC ordered Season 4 in February 2025 ahead of the Season 3 debut. Like Season 3, the new run will deliver eight hour‑long episodes, a step up from the show’s earlier six‑episode seasons.
Why the February 15 date matters for fans
February 15 lands on a Sunday, which preserves the show’s familiar weekend slot and sets up linear viewing on AMC alongside streaming availability on AMC+. With the new case pushing the action into 1970s Los Angeles and the addition of high‑profile guest stars such as Titus Welliver and Franka Potente, Season 4 is structured to widen the canvas without losing its Navajo‑Nation core.
Complete cast list mentioned in the teaser rollout
- Zahn McClarnon as Joe Leaphorn
- Kiowa Gordon as Jim Chee
- Jessica Matten as Bernadette Manuelito
- Deanna Allison as Emma
- 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
- A. Martinez as Scarborough Police Department Acting Chief Gordo Sena
Dark Winds season 4 takeaway
Dark Winds season 4 arrives on February 15 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC and AMC+. The teaser confirms a manhunt for a missing Navajo girl, a shift to 1970s Los Angeles, new series players, and Zahn McClarnon’s debut behind the camera—clear signals that the show will press forward while honoring its roots.
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