The White Lotus is reported to be heading to Saint-Tropez for its fourth season, marking a new chapter for HBO’s acclaimed anthology series. According to Variety, filming is expected to take place between late April and October 2026, positioning the French Riviera as the next backdrop following previous seasons set in Hawaii, Sicily and Thailand.
While HBO has not yet made an official announcement, the report suggests that production will be centred around Château de La Messardière, one of Saint-Tropez’s most prominent luxury hotels. The move would signal a shift away from the series’ previous Four Seasons partnerships, introducing a different hospitality group and a distinctly European setting.
A new setting for the series
Overlooking the Bay of Pampelonne from a hilltop just outside Saint-Tropez, Château de La Messardière is a 19th-century palace hotel with a long-standing place in the region’s social and architectural history. Originally built as a private residence, the property later became a grand hotel favoured by an international clientele seeking privacy and discretion on the Côte d’Azur.
Today, the hotel forms part of the Airelles Collection, a luxury hospitality group known for restoring historic properties across Europe. Following an extensive renovation, Château de La Messardière reopened with a renewed focus on scale, landscape and contemporary comfort, while retaining its original character. Set within expansive gardens, the property offers panoramic sea views, multiple pools and a sense of seclusion above the town.
Why Saint-Tropez fits the narrative
The move to Saint-Tropez introduces a different cultural and social context for The White Lotus. Unlike the island settings of earlier seasons, the French Riviera carries its own legacy shaped by aristocratic retreats, jet-set culture and decades of seasonal transformation. From understated heritage villas to peak-summer excess, the region offers a layered environment well suited to the show’s exploration of privilege and social dynamics.
The extended filming window is also notable. A production schedule stretching from spring through to autumn would allow the series to capture Saint-Tropez across changing rhythms, from quieter shoulder months to the intensity of high summer. While storyline and cast details remain under wraps, the setting itself is likely to play a defining role, as it has in previous seasons.
The wider impact on travel and hospitality
Past seasons of The White Lotus have had a measurable influence on global travel interest, bringing renewed attention to their filming locations long after episodes aired. Sicily’s San Domenico Palace and Thailand’s featured resorts both saw heightened visibility following their appearances on screen.
If confirmed, Saint-Tropez’s inclusion would reinforce its status as a destination that continues to evolve beyond its familiar imagery. By anchoring production at a historic hilltop palace rather than a beachfront resort, the series may offer a more nuanced portrayal of Riviera luxury, one rooted in legacy, landscape and contrast rather than spectacle alone.
As anticipation builds, Château de La Messardière is set to become one of the most closely watched hotels on the Côte d’Azur. Whether it remains a backdrop or becomes an active presence within the narrative, the setting is already shaping expectations for what season four may bring.
Quick summary
- 🎬 The White Lotus is reported to film its fourth season in Saint-Tropez
- 🏰 Production is expected to be based at Château de La Messardière
- 📅 Filming is reported to run from late April to October 2026
- 🇫🇷 The move marks the series’ first mainland European setting
