AMC Networks has officially renewed the crime drama series Dark Winds for a fifth season, confirming the continuation of the indicate ahead of the release of the final episode of season four.
The renewal was announced prior to the season four finale airing on April 5, 2026, with showrunner John Wirth expressing gratitude for the network’s sustained support of the series set on the Navajo Nation in 1972.
As of the latest announcement, AMC has not disclosed an exact release date for season five, indicating only that the new season is expected to premiere by 2027. Production is currently underway in Santa Fe, New Mexico, under Wirth’s direction and will consist of eight episodes, maintaining the episode count from seasons three and four.
The season four finale, titled ‘Ni’ Hodisxǫs or The Glittering World,’ concluded with Irene Vaggan’s kidnapping of Joe Leaphorn and her subsequent defeat and arrest by Leaphorn. The episode also featured Jim Chee attending his cleansing ceremony, Emma’s announcement of her plans to return to Los Angeles, and Joe’s contemplation of retirement from the Tribal Police.
The finale’s climax involved the murder of Gordo Sena, a development that Wirth described as difficult to move beyond, acknowledging the character’s significance to the series and setting up the central mystery for season five.
Season five will focus on the investigation into Gordo Sena’s murder, with Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernadette Manuelito collaborating to solve the case. Wirth confirmed that the character of Gordo, portrayed by A Martinez, will have a significant role in the upcoming season, though the nature of his involvement remains unspecified.
The returning cast for season five includes Zahn McClarnon as Joe Leaphorn, Martin Sensmeier as Jim Chee, and Noel Fisher and Devin Sampson-Craig in recurring roles. Additional cast members from previous seasons, such as Paola Núñez, Franka Potente, Jacqueline Byers, Derek Hinkey, Titus Welliver, Chaske Spencer, Isabel DeRoy-Olson, and others, are expected to reprise their roles.
Dark Winds season five will be available for streaming on AMC and AMC+ upon its release, with previous seasons accessible on platforms including Hulu+ and YouTube TV.
The series has received critical acclaim, holding a 100% average Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.7 rating out of 10 on IMDb based on over 32,000 user reviews.
