Everything Bravo Announced at Upfronts

When I first started covering television professionally, the annual upfront presentations were a major event. (Let’s just say it was a while ago – it is my birthday!) Networks used to unveil their fall lineups to attract advertisers looking to place commercials for products like cleaning supplies, cars, and movie trailers. While traditional television isn’t as popular as it once was, Bravo has managed to bring some of that excitement back. Andy Cohen recently hosted a big upfront event at Radio City Music Hall, announcing Bravo’s new and returning shows, details about BravoCon, and other news. Here’s a rundown of the highlights for those of us who don’t work in advertising and weren’t on the guest list.

New Shows

Okay, so the Vegas version of Vanderpump Rules is finally happening! It’s called Vanderpump Rules: Lisa Las Vegas, and it basically follows Lisa and Ken as they get the Vanderpump Hotel up and running in Vegas – naturally, Ken’s got a dog in tow, and I’m guessing designer Nick Alain will be around too. The show culminates with the hotel’s big opening party, and get this – they invited everyone. Like, all the Bravo stars, plus a ton of media people – the whole Vulture team got invites, so you know there will be journalists, bloggers, TikTokers, and every Bravo meme-maker out there. It’s being called a ‘limited series’ for now, but honestly, if people tune in and Lisa’s new staff brings the drama, I’m betting on a season two just in time for BravoCon!

Bravo is also launching a new show, currently titled Secrets, Lies, Texas Wives – thankfully, that title is just temporary because it’s quite a mouthful! The show is set in Boerne, Texas, and follows a group of affluent farmers and ranchers who lead seemingly traditional lives – attending church and owning guns – while also engaging in scandalous affairs. It feels like a real-life version of Netflix’s Hunting Wives. Bravo has borrowed concepts from popular scripted shows before, like The Real Housewives of Orange County, which combined elements of Desperate Housewives and The O.C., but success isn’t guaranteed. NYC Prep, a reality take on Gossip Girl, only lasted one season, and their recent attempt, 2022’s Real Girlfriends in Paris (inspired by Emily in Paris), flopped. However, this new show is produced by Spoke Studios, the company behind Mauricio Umansky’s Buying Beverly Hills, so there’s hope it will be a hit.

Renewals

It’s no surprise Bravo is bringing back The Real Housewives of Rhode Island for another season – Andy Cohen announced it’s currently their second most popular show, right after The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. (Even though many found the first season dull, they still tuned in!) What is a bit surprising is that it’s getting renewed so quickly, considering the fan-favorite Ladies of London: The New Reign hasn’t even been picked up for a fifth season yet. I heard at a recent event that Bravo is still considering bringing it back, so everyone should stream it on Peacock now! We need Martha Lady Sitwell and her magpie, Hecate, back on TV!

Let’s be honest, some renewals were completely expected. We’re talking about shows like Below Deck Down Under, Married to Medicine, Southern Charm, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, and Top Chef – which, by the way, is having a fantastic season, its best since 2021. And, predictably, Summer House is coming back too, also enjoying record ratings. Honestly, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why these shows are getting another go-round.

Returning Shows

The biggest news was about Next Gen NYC, which returns on June 24th, and the release of its season two trailer. The cast is expanding with the addition of Rowan Henchy, daughter of Brooke Shields, and actor-director Liam Obergfoll. (Though sadly, Dylan Geick won’t be returning, which is a disappointment!) We can also expect to see cameos from Brooke Shields herself, Rachel Roy (Ava Dash’s mother, who wasn’t in season one), and the hosts of Watch What Crappens, Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam.

Okay, so everyone’s been buzzing about McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys coming back – it’s basically a real-life version of Yellowstone, and I think it’ll pair nicely with that other show about Texas women that desperately needs a better name. But here’s the thing: the timing is…interesting. Just as the show is about to relaunch, some pretty damaging texts have surfaced. Apparently, star Steven McBee Jr. was sending some seriously awful messages to his ex, Allie Eklund – calling her some incredibly offensive names. It’s definitely going to add another layer to the drama, and I suspect it’ll bring a lot of unwanted attention to the show.

Here’s a schedule for when everything will be back for the summer:

June 8: Below Deck Mediterranean
June 15: McBee Dynasty
June 24: Next Gen NYC
July 9: The Real Housewives of Orange County
Aug 9: Ultimate Girls’ Trip: Roaring 20th

Bravocon

The event will return to Las Vegas in November 2027, confirming it will happen every two years – which is good news, because going to Vegas annually is a lot! For fans who want a real-life Bravo experience sooner, Bravo Fan Fest is heading to Charleston, South Carolina, this year. They’ll be filming four episodes of Watch What Happens Live on October 22nd and 23rd, followed by a one-day convention on October 24th. Tickets for the Fan Fest go on sale June 11th, costing $475 plus fees for general admission and $755 for VIP access. Considering the price, it should definitely include a special experience with one of the stars from Southern Charm or Hospitality! Tickets for Watch What Happens Live will be available starting June 12th, with prices beginning at $150 plus fees. I’m hoping to go to everything, so someone needs to fund my trip!

Ciara Miller–related News

Peacock announced some big news alongside its upfronts: Ciara Miller, recently at the center of a cheating scandal on Bravo, is joining Love Island. She’ll be co-hosting Love Island USA: Aftersun, the show’s Saturday aftershow where they discuss the week’s events and talk to contestants who’ve been eliminated. She’ll be working alongside Tefi Pessoa, taking over for Maura Higgins, who also appeared on The Traitors and will be competing on the next season of Dancing With the Stars. Fans are wondering if this new job, which films in Fiji, will conflict with her summer plans filming Summer House in the Hamptons. While it’s possible – Love Island usually wraps up in mid-July and Summer House typically starts filming around July 4th – there was some initial confusion. TMZ originally reported she’d do both shows, but after Ciara publicly disputed the report, they changed their wording. One thing is certain: with Love Island USA, Summer House, and Dancing With the Stars all coming up, Ciara is in for a busy few months!

Non–Ciara Miller–related News

Bravo is jumping into the world of short-form video, similar to what you see on TikTok, with a new investment in what they’re calling ‘vertical microdramas.’ They’re launching two series on the Peacock app. The first, Salon Confessionals With Madison LeCroy, features the Southern Charm star styling hair while hearing wild stories from her clients – and it’s already captivating! The second, currently titled Campus Confessional: Miami, is essentially a traditional Bravo-style show about college life, but broken into bite-sized pieces. Interestingly, it stars Heather Gay’s daughter, Georgia Gay, who attends the University of Miami.

Okay, so Amazon Prime is jumping into the reality TV game with a new show called Reality Retreat (seriously, can we get a real title?). I’ve seen whispers about this one – it’s basically a bunch of reality stars hanging out at a tropical resort, supposedly working on themselves with a focus on ‘healing, accountability, and transformation.’ The cast is… interesting. We’ve got Margaret Josephs, Kenya Moore, and Kim Zolciak-Biermann, all of whom are no longer on Bravo, which makes sense. But then there’s Brittany Cartwright from The Valley who’s still with Bravo – gotta pay the bills, I guess! Rounding things out are Christine Quinn from Selling Sunset, Tamar Braxton (a reality TV pro), former Bachelorettes Kaitlyn Bristowe and Jenn Tran, Hilaria Baldwin with her whole…thing, and Julie and Savannah Chrisley, who are pretty well-known for their conservative views. It’s a wild mix, honestly.

2026-05-15 21:56