“Real Housewives of New York” returns for Season 16 tonight with a reshaped cast and a familiar face back in the fold.
Carole Radziwill, 61, who last appeared on the Bravo franchise in 2018, rejoins the series for its sixteenth installment after a seven-season absence. The former ABC News producer and bestselling author starred on Seasons 5 through 10 before exiting the show.
Radziwill is not the only draw for viewers tuning in at 8 p.m. ET. Three newcomers — Hailey Glassman, Erika Hammond and Daisy Toye — are making their debuts alongside returning cast members Sai de Silva, Erin Lichy and Jessel Taank. Toye, Martha Stewart’s longtime makeup artist, brings an established name in celebrity beauty circles to the ensemble.
The premiere marks the first time Radziwill has filmed with the franchise since the pre-pandemic era of the show. Her return follows a period of significant cast turnover for the New York iteration, which underwent a full reboot after Season 13 in 2021.
Andy Cohen, the franchise’s executive producer and reunion host, has teased that Season 16 carries particular significance for Erin Lichy, though he has not detailed specifics. The network has positioned the season as a return to form for one of its foundational series.
For viewers without cable access, the premiere can be streamed through live TV services offering Bravo in their channel lineups. DIRECTV’s streaming platform includes the network in its Choice tier, which carries more than 125 channels.
Episodes will roll out weekly on Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET, maintaining the time slot that Bravo has used for its flagship housewives programming. The season is expected to run through late 2026, though Bravo has not confirmed the total episode count.
Radziwill’s departure after Season 10 followed growing tensions with then-castmate Bethenny Frankel, whose own return to the franchise was short-lived. The author has since maintained an active presence in media and publishing, including her 2014 memoir “What Remains” and continued work in journalism.
The Season 16 cast represents a blend of the rebooted iteration’s newer voices and the franchise’s earlier era. Jessel Taank, who joined in the 2023 reboot, returns alongside de Silva and Lichy, who have each appeared on one prior season.
Glassman, one of the three newcomers, has previously appeared in tabloid coverage related to her relationship with Jon Gosselin. Hammond and Toye enter with less prior television exposure, though Toye’s client roster includes one of America’s most recognizable lifestyle personalities.
The network has leaned into Radziwill’s return in promotional materials, signaling an effort to bridge the show’s earlier and current incarnations. Whether that chemistry translates onscreen will become apparent beginning with tonight’s premiere.
Bravo’s Tuesday night lineup has historically served as a cornerstone of the NBCUniversal cable portfolio, with the “Housewives” franchise driving significant viewership and social engagement. The New York edition, which premiered in 2008, remains one of the longest-running iterations.
Radziwill, during her original tenure, was known for her skepticism toward the more performative aspects of reality television — a tension that often fueled storylines. Her perspective as both a journalist and a widow of Kennedy-family member Anthony Radziwill distinguished her from typical casting.
The Season 16 premiere airs September 8 at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.