NeNe Leakes Returns to Bravo for Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th

NeNe Leakes is back on Bravo, but only for a brief moment in the 20‑year celebration of the Real Housewives franchise. The former Atlanta star makes a surprise cameo in the first episode of the upcoming nine‑episode series, "Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th," which premiered its trailer on June 24, 2026. The show will air on Bravo beginning August 9, with each episode streaming the next day on Peacock.

Leakes left "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" after season 12 in 2020. In 2021 she filed a lawsuit against Bravo, alleging violations of federal employment and anti‑discrimination laws. The suit was withdrawn in 2022, and the former housewife has since returned to the network in a limited capacity. In this new series she is not a main cast member; her appearance is confined to a surprise visit to a burlesque show in Atlanta, where she engages in a brief confrontation with another guest.

The Roaring 20th edition marks two decades of the Real Housewives franchise, which began with "The Real Housewives of Orange County" in 2006. The nine‑episode road trip brings together a mix of long‑time and newer housewives from across the franchise’s history. The main cast includes Vicki Gunvalson (Orange County), Luann de Lesseps (New York City), Porsha Williams (Atlanta), Teresa Giudice (New Jersey), Kyle Richards (Beverly Hills), Gizelle Bryant (Potomac), and Lisa Barlow (Salt Lake City). In total, 82 housewives will appear over the course of the season.

Each episode follows the group as they travel to different locations that have played a role in the franchise’s history. The first episode airs on August 9, and the series will run for nine weeks. Bravo has announced that the show will be available for streaming on Peacock the day after each broadcast.

The Real Housewives franchise has grown to include eleven U.S. series and one international edition in the United Arab Emirates, with 32 international adaptations worldwide. The franchise has also spawned 28 spin‑off series, the most successful of which is "Vanderpump Rules."

Leakes’ return has been welcomed by fans of the franchise. In a post on Instagram announcing her comeback, Andy Cohen, the executive producer of the franchise, commented that "couldn’t celebrate 20 years without you." The cameo is expected to generate interest for the series, as Leakes remains one of the most recognizable figures in the franchise.

The show’s format, described by Bravo as a "road trip" through the franchise’s legacy, will feature the housewives visiting iconic locations, attending events, and engaging in the drama that has become a hallmark of the series. The series is positioned as a special event rather than a regular season, and the cast is not expected to return for future seasons.

The premiere on August 9 will be followed by a week‑long run of episodes, with each new installment airing on Bravo and streaming on Peacock the next day. The series is part of Bravo’s broader strategy to celebrate the franchise’s milestone while providing fresh content for its audience.

At this time, no further details have been released regarding the production schedule or the specific locations that will be featured. Viewers can expect the series to highlight key moments from the franchise’s history and to showcase the personalities that have defined the Real Housewives brand over the past twenty years.

In summary, NeNe Leakes’ brief return to Bravo for "Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th" marks a significant moment for the franchise’s 20‑year celebration. The nine‑episode series will feature a mix of veteran and newer housewives, travel across the United States, and will be available on both Bravo and Peacock. The show is set to premiere on August 9, 2026.