If you hated the ending of Rivals Season 2 Episode 6, there’s even worse news on the horizon: Hulu and Disney+ confirm a delayed release window for the next six episodes.

Hulu and Disney+ have confirmed that episodes 7-12 of Rivals season 2 will be released from November 2026
Internet rumors initially suggested episodes would resume in October 2026
The creators claimed that the split in the season was happening for various reasons, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Spoilers for Rivals season 2 episode 6 coming soon.

Annoying news just arrived: Hulu and Disney+ have confirmed that the second series of six episodes of Rivals season 2 will not hit screens until November 2026. It is rumored that the episodes would be released a month earlier, in October.

Alongside the trailer for Season 2, Part 2 (which you can check out below), a press release confirmed: “Following a shocking turn of events in the sixth episode, the people of Rutshire are rocked by tragedy, scandal and betrayal as the battle between Venturer and Corinium reaches its breaking point.

“The Hulu Original series returns with six more dramatic episodes in November on Disney+ in the UK and internationally, and on Hulu in the US.”

Opinion: Rivals Season 2 Part 2 has a lot of work to do after killing Monica for no good reason

Rivals Season 2 | Official Trailer #2 | Hulu – YouTube

Look on it

To tell you the truth, I fully believed that Monica would appear in episode 7 of season 2 after a “misunderstanding”, but the trailer above proves that the worst happened with the opening funeral scene.

I’ve already explained why killing Monica was such a bad decision on the part of the creative team, so I should really be happy to have another month of distance between me and the Rivals the story continues.

But with occasional couples Lizzie (Katherine Parkinson) and Freddie (Danny Dyer) and Taggie (Bella Maclean) and Rupert (Alex Hassell) seemingly finding their way back to each other, I’m afraid I want to have my metaphorical cake and eat it.

As one comment on YouTube perfectly puts it: “Making us wait until November is so despicable and criminal.” But with the TV adaptation deviating so much from the original novel, are we really prepared for the sequel?

“12 episodes is a lot for people to enjoy,” writer Laura Wade told me earlier in the season. “I think partly we wanted to extend that fun a little bit. But also from a practical point of view, it takes a lot of time to deliver 12 very complicated period drama pieces.

Monica pulls on the lapel of Tony's blazer

(Image credit: Hulu/Disney)

“Do we just release the first six and finish the second six, like that’s what we’re doing right now? Or do we wait another six months to release 12? We didn’t want to wait. Plus, we have the FIFA World Cup coming up, so we’re releasing the first half before soccer. Let’s get that out of the way, then release the second half.”

Hulu and Disney+ will be streaming games thanks to ESPN+ securing the rights, so get ready for an assortment of sports content surpassing your accounts throughout the summer months.

“There’s something lovely about the first half of the show having spring stuff, and then the second half having fall vibes,” Wade continues. “On screen it runs through Christmas, which allows us to sort of spread it out so everyone can savor the story.

“We have some really huge story moments coming later in the series and it would be nice if those story bits just had a moment to sink in with the viewers, building some anticipation. There’s a huge twist at the end of episode six. I think that’s where we leave off for four or five months. But I think it will allow people to think and talk and argue about what’s going to happen next… in a really good way manner.”

Now that we know what it is, I’m most certainly heading into the biggest argument possible between me and the writers’ room.

There are clearly some raucous parties ahead, but I don’t even think Christmas can mitigate the damage caused by the first half of Season 2.