Fans of the AMC/AMC+ thriller Dark Winds can rejoice: the show is officially returning for a fourth season. Here’s a comprehensive look at what’s coming — from release date and cast changes to setting shifts and the central mystery that will drive the narrative.

Renewal & Release Date

• Dark Winds was renewed for Season 4 in February 2025, ahead of the Season 3 premiere. amc.com+2Screen Rant+2

• The new season is scheduled to premiere Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC and AMC+. EW.com+1

• Season 4 will consist of eight episodes, matching the expanded count of Season 3. People.com+1

What Will the Story Be About?

• Dark Winds is based on the Leaphorn & Chee novels by Tony Hillerman. Season 4 is reported to draw from his book The Ghostway. People.com

• According to showrunner John Wirth, the season will tackle the Navajo concept of ghost sickness — a spiritual/medical condition in Navajo culture associated with exposure to death. People.com

• A notable shift in setting: though much of the action stays grounded in the Southwest, three episodes are said to take place in 1970s Los Angeles, marking a departure from the usual reservation‑based backdrop. Screen Rant+1

• The core mystery: The team of Tribal Police — Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernadette Manuelito — will be investigating the disappearance of a teenage Navajo girl who ran away from boarding school. The chase will stretch from the reservation to L.A., and into a web of crime and danger. Screen Rant+1

Cast & Crew Highlights

• Returning: Zahn McClarnon (Joe Leaphorn), Kiowa Gordon (Jim Chee), Jessica Matten (Bernadette Manuelito), Deanna Allison (Emma Leaphorn), and A Martinez (Gordo Sena). People.com+1

• New additions:

  • Titus Welliver as Dominic McNair — a ruthless crime boss involved in drug and luxury‑goods import/export in L.A. Collider

  • Luke Barnett as FBI Agent Toby Shaw — expected to add new tension with the tribal police. Screen Rant

  • Isabel DeRoy‑Olson as Billie Tsosie — a resourceful Navajo teenager at the heart of the missing‑girl story. TV Insider+1

• Zahn McClarnon will make his directorial debut on the show in Season 4. People.com

• As always, the show continues its strong creative team with John Wirth as showrunner and executive‑producers including George R.R. Martin, Chris Eyre, and others. TV Insider

Setting, Tone & Thematic Shifts

• While Seasons 1‑3 stayed firmly in the Southwest during the 1970s, Season 4’s trip to Los Angeles signals a broader scope: from reservation borders to big‑city crime. Screen Rant+1

• The exploration of ghost sickness and more overt spiritual/cultural themes means the show is doubling down on its identity: a crime thriller and a nuanced look at Navajo life and belief systems. Screen Rant

• The inclusion of an FBI agent and organized crime boss suggests the stakes may be higher than ever, and the conflict more expansive (beyond reservation lines). Screen Rant

Where to Watch & Stream

• Seasons 1‑3 of Dark Winds are available on AMC+ and some episodes on Netflix (though Netflix release timing varies). People.com+1

• Season 4 will air on AMC and AMC+, and likely appear on streaming services later.

Why This Matters

• Dark Winds stands out for its representation: a predominantly Native American cast and creative team, telling stories set in Indigenous communities with cultural authenticity. Wikipedia+1

• By blending genre thriller elements with cultural depth (ghost sickness, tribal policing, L.A. underbelly), the fourth season promises to push the envelope.

• The shift in setting and scale indicates the show is not afraid to evolve — moving beyond the desert landscapes into a bigger world of crime and influence.

What to Watch for

• How the show balances the cultural/spiritual aspects (ghost sickness) with the crime thriller narrative.

• The impact of the Los Angeles setting: will it feel integrated or jarring compared to the Southwest backdrop?

• Zahn McClarnon’s directing work: how will the tone shift when the lead actor takes the helm behind the camera?

• The role of the FBI and organized crime elements: will they up the stakes in a meaningful way?

• Character arcs: especially Leaphorn’s internal journey, and how Chee and Manuelito evolve in this new chapter.

If you’ve followed Dark Winds from the beginning, Season 4 promises to deepen the mystery, expand the world, and raise the stakes. From the Navajo Nation to the gritty streets of 1970s Los Angeles, the next chapter is shaping up to be a bold one. Mark your calendar for February 15, 2026 — because the winds of change are about to blow.