15 Most Exciting Shows Releasing In 2026

After a five-year slowdown caused by COVID-19 and the writers’ and actors’ strikes, television is making a strong comeback. We’re already seeing great shows return, with even more new and highly anticipated series scheduled to debut in 2026. There’s plenty to watch now, and even more on the way next year!

Expect to hear a lot about spin-offs and continuations of popular shows like Game of Thrones and Yellowstone. However, 2026 also promises a wave of fresh, original series, including A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Spider Noir, making it a huge year for TV.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms (HBO)

HBO is continuing to expand its world of Westeros with a new series called A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The show is based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg and takes place about 75 years after House of the Dragon and 100 years before Game of Thrones, during the time when the Targaryen family still ruled as kings and queens.

The series centers on Ser Duncan the Tall, a kind but unrefined knight, brought to life by Peter Claffey. He travels with his clever and mysterious squire, Prince Aegon Targaryen—known as Egg—who is played by Dexter Sol Ansell.

Compared to Game of Thrones, the new series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on less serious source material. The trailers suggest it will be funnier, and it’s already been renewed for a second season before even premiering.

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (NBC)

In the comedy series The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, Tracy Morgan plays a former football star trying to rebuild his life and career. To help with this comeback and improve his image with fans and family, Reggie hires a sincere documentary filmmaker named Arthur Tobin, played by Daniel Radcliffe, to film his progress.

NBC seems to be aiming for a heartwarming, sports-themed comedy like Ted Lasso with its new show, Stumble. Plus, it’s great news for fans that Jane Morgan is working again with Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, the creators of 30 Rock.

Daniel Radcliffe’s new show, Reggie Dinkins, looks promising. He often brings a unique and surprisingly touching quality to his television roles, as demonstrated by Miracle Workers. This makes Reggie Dinkins a particularly interesting comedy to watch for in 2026.

Love Story (FX)

Ryan Murphy’s upcoming FX series, previously known as American Love Story, is now simply titled Love Story. The first season will focus on the tragic romance between John F. Kennedy Jr. (played by Paul Kelly) and fashion icon Carolyn Bessette (portrayed by Sarah Pidgeon), a relationship that was heavily covered by the media.

In addition to starring as Jackie Kennedy with Naomi Watts, this project showcases Murphy’s talent for bringing historical events to life, a skill he previously demonstrated in American Crime Story. If he successfully blends personal stories with grand visuals, this could be one of his most powerful and beautiful works yet.

The Testaments (Hulu)

For those who loved The Handmaid’s Tale, rejoice! The Testaments is the highly anticipated sequel by Margaret Atwood, now available on Hulu. It continues the story about 15 years after the first book ended.

The new season brings back Ann Dowd as the powerful Aunt Lydia, but this time she’s at the heart of a story about young women growing up under the oppressive regime. Chase Infiniti, known for their role in One Battle After Another, plays Agnes, who is now the adult version of June and Luke’s daughter Hannah.

Big Mistakes (Netflix)

Not much is known about the plot of Big Mistakes yet, but Netflix describes it as a comedy about two siblings, Nicky and Morgan, who are hilariously bad at everything and get unexpectedly pulled into a criminal scheme. This series is also significant because it’s Dan Levy’s first project as a creator since the hit show Schitt’s Creek.

Levy will star alongside Rachel Sennott, who currently appears in HBO’s I Love LA. This pairing is already generating excitement among comedy fans, suggesting the show will be smart, focused on interesting characters, and will blend both funny and heartfelt moments.

Blade Runner 2099 (Prime Video)

Prime Video

The highly anticipated series Blade Runner 2099 picks up the story of the classic sci-fi world decades after the events of Blade Runner 2049. Starring Michelle Yeoh as Olwen, a replicant facing her mortality, the show is set in a future Los Angeles still grappling with artificial intelligence, powerful corporations, and a sense of uncertainty. Olwen will team up with a fugitive human named Cora, played by Hunter Schafer, known for her role in Euphoria.

Taking cues from Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the show maintains the franchise’s beautiful visuals, thought-provoking themes, and subtle emotional style. It’s a deliberately paced story that delves into questions of identity, death, and what it truly means to be human when so much around us is artificial.

Crystal Lake (Peacock)

Peacock is creating a new horror series called Crystal Lake that explores the origins of the Friday the 13th story. The show will act as a prequel to the original 1980 film, and stars Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees and Callum Vinson as a young Jason Voorhees.

I’m hearing really interesting things about the new Friday the 13th series. Apparently, they’re not just going for cheap scares; the creators are aiming for a vibe more akin to those chilling, psychological thrillers of the 70s – think building dread and focusing on what’s happening inside the characters’ heads. Given that showrunner Brad Caleb Kane recently worked on It: Welcome to Derry, I’m expecting something that respects the franchise’s history but also delivers a genuinely sophisticated horror experience. It sounds like they’re trying to elevate the storytelling, and honestly, that’s exactly what this franchise needs.

DTF St. Louis (HBO)

DTF St. Louis is a new dark comedy series coming to HBO, featuring Jason Bateman, David Harbour, and Linda Cardellini. The show follows three adults caught in a complicated love triangle as they deal with the challenges of midlife, and things take a deadly turn when one of them unexpectedly dies.

The new series, created by Steve Conrad, is based on the true story detailed in James Lasdun’s New Yorker article, “My Dentist’s Murder Trial: Adultery, False Identities, and a Lethal Sedation.” It remains to be seen if this will be one of Jason Bateman’s most memorable performances, but he, along with co-stars David Harbour and Judy Cardellini, consistently deliver strong work in roles that blend humor and unsettling themes.

Dutton Ranch (Paramount+)

Following the end of Yellowstone, Dutton Ranch continues the story of the Dutton family. This new series on Paramount+ centers on beloved characters Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) as they work to protect the family’s ranch, dealing with danger, difficult choices, and the tough life of ranching.

The show is adding Annette Bening, who will play Beulah Jackson, and Ed Harris as Everett McKinney. Although details are available for Y: Marshals (launching March 1st), fans are especially excited about Dutton Ranch, a direct spin-off of the original series.

Elle (Prime Video)

This new series will show us Elle Woods’ life before she ever got to UCLA or Harvard Law. Like The Carrie Diaries did for Sex and the City, it’ll focus on the experiences that shaped her into the person we know. And yes, it’s going to be a fun ride – just like Elle herself would say, ‘What, like it’s hard?’

Lexi Minetree stars in Elle, a new series exploring Elle’s high school life, and is supported by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine production company. The show aims to be both true to the original story and offer a new perspective.

2025-12-22 04:30