PASSPORTS, PRADA, AND PERIL: Inside Bradley Bell’s Global Vision for B&B 2026

The palm trees of Beverly Hills and the sleek geometry of the Forrester Creations building have served as the glamorous backdrop for The Bold and the Beautiful for nearly four decades. But as we move into 2026, Executive Producer and Head Writer Bradley Bell is ready to tear up the map. In a series of groundbreaking teasers, Bell has confirmed that the show is heading overseas for a massive, multi-location storyline that isn’t just a “fashion remote”—it’s a total storyline shakeup.

“We’ve conquered Los Angeles,” Bell hinted in a recent interview. “In 2026, the Forrester and Logan legacies are going to collide with old world secrets in a way that will change the show’s DNA forever.”

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PART I: THE EUROPEAN ODYSSEY – A REIGN IN ROME AND RIVIERA

The first leg of the 2026 shakeup takes the cast back to the roots of high fashion: Italy and the French Riviera. But this isn’t the romantic getaway fans might expect for Brooke and Ridge.

The storyline, tentatively titled “The Mediterranean Mandate,” involves a secret asset Eric Forrester hid in a villa near Portofino decades ago. As Steffy and Hope travel to Europe to launch the Forrester International line, they discover that the villa isn’t empty. It’s occupied by a figure from the past who holds the legal deeds to the very ground Forrester Creations stands on in California.

“We’re playing with the idea of ‘Old Money vs. New Money,’” Bell teased. “When our characters step off that plane in Nice, they aren’t just tourists. They are targets.”

PART II: THE ASIAN EXPANSION – TOKYO DRIFTING HEARTS

Perhaps the most shocking shakeup involves a permanent shift for a portion of the cast to Tokyo, Japan. For years, the Spencers and Forresters have talked about “Asian markets,” but 2026 sees Liam Spencer and Wyatt heading East to manage a hostile takeover of a tech-fashion conglomerate.

The Tokyo arc promises a visual feast—the neon-lit streets of Shinjuku and the serene temples of Kyoto serving as the backdrop for a high-stakes corporate spy thriller. Poppy Nozawa’s past is expected to play a major role here, as her mysterious connections to Japanese royalty come to light.

“The Tokyo storyline allows us to bring in a completely new aesthetic,” Bell noted. “It’s faster, darker, and more technologically driven. It’s B&B 2.0.”

PART III: THE “SHAKEUP” – WHO STAYS AND WHO GOES?

A move of this magnitude doesn’t happen without a casualty list. Bradley Bell has hinted that the 2026 overseas move will coincide with a Major Character Exit.

Rumors are swirling that one of the “Core Four” will not return from the international trip. Whether it’s a tragic accident on a yacht in the Mediterranean or a disappearance in the crowded subways of Tokyo, the stakes have never been higher.

“To make room for the new world, some of the old world has to pass away,” Bell said cryptically. This has led to intense fan speculation:

Is Ridge retiring? Could he choose to live out his days in a vineyard, leaving Thomas and Steffy to fight for the throne?

Is Brooke Logan heading for a solo adventure? After decades of “Destiny,” could Brooke find a new life—and a new lover—in a European palace?

PART IV: THE RETURN OF THE EXPATRIATES

Going overseas also provides the perfect excuse to bring back fan-favorite characters who have been “living abroad.” Bell teased the return of Felicia Forrester and Rick Forrester, both of whom have been stationed in international offices for years.

The 2026 shakeup will see these legacy characters return not as guests, but as major players in the global war for the company. Rick, in particular, is rumored to return with a “vengance mindset,” ready to reclaim the CEO chair he feels Ridge and Steffy stole from the Logan side of the family.

PART V: PRODUCTION REVOLUTION

Beyond the plot, Bell is shaking up how the show is filmed. Utilizing state-of-the-art “Volume” technology (the same used in The Mandalorian), B&B will be able to blend on-location footage with studio work to create a seamless, cinematic experience that rivals primetime dramas.

“We want the audience to feel the mist of the Amalfi Coast and the heat of the Tokyo sun,” Bell explained. “The 2026 season is about immersion. We are expanding the world of the Forresters so that L.A. is just one room in a very large house.”

PART VI: THE ULTIMATE CLIFFHANGER

The 2026 season will reportedly culminate in a “Global Summit” where every major character from every international location converges for a single, explosive event. Whether it’s a royal wedding or a corporate funeral, Bell promises a cliffhanger that will dwarf the infamous “Who Shot Bill Spencer?” or “Sheila’s Bear Attack” plots.

“The final shot of 2026 will be something we’ve never done in thirty-nine years,” Bell promised. “It will leave the audience questioning the identity of a lead character they’ve loved for decades.”