From 'Vanderpump Rules' to Reboots: Bravo's Transformation from 2016 to 2026

Reality TV has always moved in cycles, but over the past few years, Bravo fans have found themselves looking backward as much as they’re looking ahead. With a wave of new show announcements and franchise expansions on the horizon, it’s impossible not to reminisce about what Bravo looked like a decade ago — specifically 2016, a year the internet has been romantically clinging to lately.

Back then, the drama felt louder, messier and somehow more real. Who could forget the shock heard ’round the Upper East Side when The Real Housewives of New York City viewers learned that Luann de Lesseps’ fiancé, Tom D’Agostino Jr., wasn’t just cheating — he was cheating with Housewives-adjacent women? And when Bethenny Frankel delivered the bombshell news to an Luann with receipts, cementing the moment as one of RHONY’s most unforgettable scenes.

From Housewives cheating scandals to Southern Charm dinner parties that spiraled into all-out warfare, 2016 was packed with juicy, appointment-viewing television. But Bravo also knew how to balance the chaos with moments of genuine emotion, ensuring fans reached for tissues just as often as popcorn.

So, what shows ruled Bravo in 2016?

That year marked a period of major growth for the network. Southern Charm hit a series high in its third season, Vanderpump Rules continued its reign as a breakout hit even before Scandoval shocked the world,and The Real Housewives of New York City, Beverly Hills and Orange County remained untouchable staples. New additions like Real Housewives of Dallas and Below Deck Mediterranean expanded Bravo’s universe, while cult favorites like Ladies of London and Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen anchored the network’s cultural relevance.

Fast forward to 2026, and Bravo looks very different — but also strangely familiar. The network is leaning into spinoffs, reboots and franchise extensions, with projects like The Valley: Persian Style, Next Gen: NYC additions like The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, and revivals including Ladies of London and Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition. Meanwhile, heavy hitters like Summer House, Vanderpump Rules, Below Deck, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Salt Lake City and Potomac continue to carry the torch.

Looking back, 2016 also feels like the calm before the Bravo internet storm. The year sat right on the cusp of scandals that would eventually dominate online culture in a way reality TV never had before. Moments like Vanderpump Rules’ Scandoval would later prove how deeply Bravo drama could penetrate the mainstream, while The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City delivered one of the most meme-able confrontations of all time — “receipts, proof, timeline, screenshots, f****** everything.” In hindsight, 2016 was the last era where Bravo drama lived mostly on TV. Everything that followed would be litigated in real time on social media.

Ten years later, the drama is still there — it’s just evolved. And if the internet’s obsession with 2016 tells us anything, it’s that Bravo’s golden era never really left our collective consciousness.