The final return of the The Empress is nearing – but fans will have to wait a while longer yet before they learn the fates of Sisi and Franz.
Season 3 of Netflix‘s German-language period drama was today confirmed for a “late 2026,” which means it will drop at least 19 months after it was announced – with a Q4 launch date now almost certain. The third season will be the show’s last.
The Empress stars Devrim Lingnau as Elisabeth “Sisi” von Wittelsbach, the Duchess in Bavaria who became Empress of Austria in the 19th Century. The young adult series follows her love story with Emperor Franz Joseph I (Philip Froissant), and the political and personal troubles that come with her life.
Netflix’s synopsis for Season 3 reads as such: “Following the devastating Sardinian War, Emperor Franz returns a traumatized man, burdened by the guilt of losing thousands of young men on the battlefield. Elisabeth strives to help him, fighting passionately for her marriage while also championing what she believes is right for the empire—but to no avail. Resistance at court and her own declining health compel her to leave Vienna and embark on an unexpected adventure. In the six-part finale of this thrilling series, Elisabeth will make a fateful acquaintance that will forever alter her life and the future of Europe.”
Lingnau and Froissant star alongside Melika Foroutan, Johannes Nussbaum, Josephine Thiesen, Runa Greiner, Dejan Bućin, Marlene Burow, Christophe Favre and Alexander Finkenwirth.
Katharina Eyssen remains the showrunner, and executive produces alongside Jochen Laube, Fabian Maubach, Robert Eyssen, Katharina Eyssen and Scarlett Lacey. Lars Gmehling is co-executive producer and Eyssen is head writer, with Elena von Saucken also writing. The directors are Florian Cossen and Julia Langhof, with Katharina Bühler and Rik Zang the DoPs. Gabriela Reumer is costume designer and Jens Bartram leads on hair and make-up. Theresia Anna Ficus is set designer and Michal Pokorny the associate producer.
Sommerhaus Serien makes the show, which is one of Netflix’s biggest European series, with MIA Film providing production services.
The first two seasons of The Empress have amassed more than 65 million streams since Netflix first started publishing views in What We Watched reports from July 2023. The International Emmy-winning Season 1 stayed in the global Netflix Top 10 of non-English shows for five straight weeks in 2022, while Season 2 made its way into the Netflix Top 10 in 84 countries in 2024, according to the streamer.
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