Real Housewives of Rhode Island update: Season 2, Liz McGraw’s exit and shifting friendships

Updated October 12, 2026.

The Real Housewives of Rhode Island is no longer just a casting rumor or a camera crew spotted around town. Its first season has aired, Bravo has renewed the series, and the conversation has moved to what changes when the Ocean State cast comes back.

The biggest confirmed change is Liz McGraw's departure. The newest twist is a public thaw between two of Season 1's most combative castmates, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli and Jo-Ellen Tiberi.

The 30-second version

• Season 2 is confirmed. Bravo announced the renewal on May 11, 2026.
• Liz McGraw is stepping away. She announced her departure July 1, citing family, work and personal passions.
• The cast is teasing different relationships. At an October awards appearance, Kelsey Swanson described a more peaceful group, while Alicia Carmody sounded less convinced.
• Rulla and Jo-Ellen say they have reconciled. Their October interview offers a different picture from their first-season feud.
• There is no verified Season 2 premiere date in the announcements reviewed for this update. Season 1 is available on Peacock.

What is confirmed for Season 2?

Bravo included The Real Housewives of Rhode Island in its May 11 renewal announcement during NBCUniversal's upfront presentation. That makes the second season official, not an inference from filming sightings or social media posts. 1

Boston.com subsequently reported the renewal on May 14, placing it midway through the first season, which premiered April 2. Rhode Island had become the franchise's first New England-centered entry. 2

The Providence Journal reported summer filming sightings in Rhode Island and Boston. Those reports establish that production was attracting attention locally. They do not establish which scenes will survive editing or which people will receive full-time cast billing. 3

Why Liz McGraw is leaving

McGraw announced July 1 that she would not return for Season 2. In the statement reproduced by Bravo, she said she had decided to step back as filming began and focus on her family, work and passions. She also said she would be watching and supporting the show from the other side of the camera. 4

That is the explanation she has publicly given. It is not evidence of a firing or an undisclosed scandal, and speculation about either should not be treated as fact.

McGraw was part of the original seven-woman main cast, alongside Alicia Carmody, Rosie DiMare, Ashley Iaconetti, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Kelsey Swanson and Jo-Ellen Tiberi. Dolores Catania, known from The Real Housewives of New Jersey, appeared in a friend role. The first-season lineup is not a confirmed lineup for the next season. 5

The October update: a different group dynamic?

At the October 6 Virtual Reali-Tea Awards, Swanson described the group as more at peace and credited Season 2, according to Entertainment Now's October 7 report. Carmody questioned that assessment during the same acceptance speech, suggesting the cast does not entirely agree about how harmonious things have become. 6

A more specific change emerged in Page Six's October 8 interview: Pontarelli and Tiberi said they had repaired their relationship. Pontarelli described having an epiphany and bridging the gap after the conflict viewers saw in Season 1. 7

These are the women's accounts of where they stand now, not an independent assessment of their private relationships or a guarantee that the upcoming episodes will be conflict-free. For viewers catching up, though, the comments signal that last season's alliances may not carry over unchanged.

Rhode Island is more than a backdrop

The first season's official description highlighted Newport's Seaview Terrace and a trip to Block Island, alongside longstanding friendships, family connections and business ties. Those recognizable settings give local viewers something beyond the arguments to watch for. 8

A television appearance does not make a private home or filming location a public attraction. In particular, fans should not assume access to private properties shown on screen.

When can you watch?

Bravo says Season 1 is streaming on Peacock. That is the way to catch up while waiting for the next round. 4

New England Press did not find a confirmed Season 2 premiere date or complete official Season 2 cast announcement in the sources reviewed for this October 12 update. Treat predicted release dates, rumored additions and possible crossover appearances as unconfirmed until Bravo announces them.

Sources and reporting note

This update draws on Bravo's official announcements, Boston.com, The Providence Journal, Entertainment Now and Page Six, linked above. New England Press has not independently interviewed the cast or production team. Cast comments are attributed to the outlets that reported them.

Cover: AI-generated editorial illustration inspired by Providence. It does not depict actual Housewives filming, cast members or a confirmed filming location.