10 Great TV Series Ending in 2026

With the new year here, several popular TV shows are preparing to air their last episodes and seasons in 2026. From long-running reality series to fan-favorite dramas and action-packed superhero shows, a lot of big titles will be ending their run this year.

TV Shows Airing Final Seasons in 2026

This year, fans will say goodbye to The Boys, Amazon’s popular and darkly humorous superhero series. The show, which has won critical acclaim and an Emmy Award, stars Jack Quaid, Erin Moriarty, Karl Urban, Antony Starr, and others. Its final, action-filled season will arrive this spring, bringing the story based on the original comic book to a close.

The popular Showtime thriller Yellowjackets, known for its suspenseful and mysterious storyline, is set to finish its run later this year. Originally planned for five seasons, the show will now conclude after a fourth and final season, bringing the story of the stranded soccer team to a close.

Even though Ridiculousness was canceled last year, MTV will still air its remaining, previously unseen episodes. And soon, Netflix will release the final season of the popular and heartwarming Queer Eye reboot.

This is just a small preview of the streaming series and TV shows that will be concluding in 2026. Keep reading to learn more about their final seasons and discover other shows ending soon.

TV Shows Coming to an End in 2026

1. Good Omens

Following accusations against creator Neil Gaiman, the series Good Omens will conclude with a 90-minute finale episode instead of a traditional third season. Filming wrapped up in 2025, and the episode is expected to arrive on Amazon Prime in 2026. Michael Sheen, who stars in the show about an angel and a demon teaming up to avoid the apocalypse, shared that the finale will have moments fans adore and others they’ll debate. He noted it was originally planned as six episodes but ended up shorter, expressing gratitude for what they were able to create, praising the direction, acting, and visuals, and hinting at a special appearance of nightingales. Good Omens first premiered on the streaming service in 2019.

2. Outer Banks

The teen adventure-drama Outer Banks, which follows a group of friends searching for treasure in North Carolina, will conclude with its fifth and final season in 2026. Filming finished in late 2025. Actor Chase Stokes told People magazine he’s grateful for the show’s success and that the cast is ready to wrap up the series, wanting to end the story well. Outer Banks first debuted on Netflix in April 2020.

3. The Comeback

Lisa Kudrow’s comedy series, The Comeback, is returning for a third and final season on HBO in 2026. The show, which originally aired in 2005 and 2014, playfully satirizes the world of television through Kudrow’s character, Valerie Cherish, a sitcom actress. Kudrow recently told W magazine that while the new season won’t feature any surprising celebrity cameos, it will include appearances by some talented actors. HBO renewed the show for its final season last summer.

4. Yellowjackets

The hit survival thriller Yellowjackets, which debuted in 2021, is scheduled to conclude with its fourth and final season on Showtime around late 2026. The show follows a high school girls’ soccer team who crash in the wilderness and resort to desperate measures, including cannibalism, after their plane goes down. Originally intended to run for five seasons, creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson recently announced they’ve decided to wrap up the story after three seasons, bringing the twisted tale to a conclusion in season four.

5. Hacks

The comedy-drama Hacks will conclude with its fifth and final season on HBO Max in 2026. The show, which debuted in 2021, centers on the relationship between a veteran comedian and her driven young writer. Creator Hannah Einbinder shared last year that while ending the series is emotional, it feels like the right decision. She believes it’s best to finish while the show is still strong and avoid overstaying its welcome. The renewal for this final season was announced in May 2025.

6. Outlander

The popular time-travel romance series Outlander will end its run this year with its eighth and final season. Premiering on Starz on March 6th, the 10-episode season will conclude the story of Claire and Jamie, airing through May 2026. Star Sam Heughan told People that the team aimed to create a satisfying ending for both the characters and the fans, even though the show won’t follow the books exactly. He described finishing the series as a challenge but ultimately rewarding, and they wanted to ensure it concluded in a way that felt right.

7. Queer Eye

I’m a little heartbroken, but I’m so grateful for all the joy Queer Eye has brought me! The show, which started as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy back in 2003 and then came back on Netflix in 2018, is ending after ten seasons. It’s tough to say goodbye, but I’m glad we’re getting one last season starting January 21st. Jonathan Van Ness even shared how excited they were to bring it to us and for what comes next, which makes it a little easier! I’ll definitely miss seeing the Fab Five work their magic.

8. All American

The CW’s sports drama All American, which is based on the life of football player Spencer Paysinger, will conclude with its eighth season in 2026. The show, a surprise success since its 2018 debut, is set to deliver a moving finale. According to star Daniel Ezra, who spoke with People in November 2025, the ending is incredibly emotional and beautiful, with many people involved already shedding tears over the script.

9. The Boys

The popular superhero drama The Boys, based on the comic book series, debuted on Amazon Prime in 2019. The show follows a group of vigilantes battling corrupt superheroes controlled by a powerful corporation. The fifth and final season will arrive on April 8, 2026, bringing the story of Hughie, Billy Butcher, Starlight, Homelander, and the others to a close. Showrunner Eric Kripke described the final season as a “gory, epic, and intense” conclusion in a tweet last year.

10. Ridiculousness

So, it’s a bit sad to report, but after 14 amazing years and 46 seasons, MTV is ending Ridiculousness! I was a big fan – it premiered way back in 2011 and always delivered the laughs. They stopped making new episodes in 2025, but thankfully we’ll still get to see the finished ones air throughout 2026, and of course, reruns will probably be on MTV for years to come. Rob Dyrdek, the host, actually said the timing felt right because he’s really focused on managing his time better and prioritizing what’s important to him now.

10 Famously Hated TV Series Finales That Are Better Than You Remember

ALF, “Consider Me Gone”

Nobody likes it when a show ends on a cliffhanger instead of having a proper finale. This happened with ALF, the popular 80s sitcom about a family hiding a funny alien. The last episode of its fourth season felt like a goodbye – ALF was about to join other aliens in a new colony when government agents kidnapped him just before he could leave. A “To Be Continued” message appeared, leading viewers (and the show’s creator) to believe there would be a fifth season. But the show was canceled, leaving ALF stuck in government custody. While it’s a frustrating way to end the series, the episode surprisingly works as a commentary on secretive government agencies that would rather abduct an alien from a loving home than let it go back to its own people. The cliffhanger was eventually resolved six years later in a TV movie called Project ALF.

Dinosaurs, “Changing Nature”

The last episode of Dinosaurs, the popular children’s show featuring realistic dinosaur puppets, was surprisingly dark. It shocked viewers with a strong message about environmental responsibility, depicting a ruthless company that destroys the dinosaurs’ world by poisoning plants and triggering a volcanic winter – ultimately leading to their extinction. The episode was notably lacking in humor and ends with the TV weatherman delivering a final, uncertain forecast. While a somber conclusion to a generally lighthearted show, the creators intended the finale to be both educational and a fitting end to the story, mirroring the real dinosaurs’ fate.

Seinfeld, “The Finale”

The finale of Seinfeld is infamous for leaving viewers underwhelmed, prompting many to ask, “Is that all there is?” The episode featured Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer on trial for a petty offense – failing to help a carjacking victim – based on a little-known law. The courtroom was filled with faces from the show’s past, as numerous characters they’d wronged over the years testified against them. Ultimately, the group ended up in jail. While widely criticized, the ending felt fitting for a show about nothing and a group of generally unpleasant characters: what better fate for them than prison?

The X-Files, “The Truth”

For those familiar with the show’s history, The X-Files actually returned for two more seasons after initially ending with Season 9, but it truly felt like the end at the time. The two-part finale tried to tie up many loose ends from the series, while also hinting at potential new storylines for movies – though those movies never materialized. Ratings had dropped significantly after David Duchovny left after Season 8, and even his return for the finale couldn’t bring back the show’s original audience. Still, the ambiguous ending – with both an impending apocalypse and alien invasion – fittingly captures the feeling that something remains unresolved, allowing the audience to finally understand the constant search for answers that defined Mulder and Scully. The finale reinforces the show’s core message: the truth is still out there.

The Sopranos, “Made in America”

The finale of The Sopranos initially received a lot of criticism, but over time, it’s become surprisingly popular with many viewers. The episode focuses on Tony Soprano trying to end a dangerous rivalry and secure his family’s future, but his past actions continue to create problems. Throughout the episode, there’s a growing sense of unease and impending doom, mirroring Tony’s own feelings. The scene culminates with Tony, his wife, and son in a diner, where Tony anxiously watches the other customers. When the door opens, he looks up, and the screen abruptly cuts to black, leaving his fate unknown. Is he safe, or is he about to face the consequences of his life? Like many stories about gangsters, the ending isn’t meant to be neatly resolved.

Battlestar Galactica, “Daybreak”

The ending of Battlestar Galactica really split fans – some loved it, others were deeply disappointed. The three-part finale, “Daybreak,” was bound to be controversial, and many viewers were left puzzled by how the story concluded. The reveals – Starbuck being an angel, the fleet jumping to our Earth using seemingly random coordinates, and the events happening tens of thousands of years in the past – were a lot to take in. The idea that humans are somehow descended from Cylons added to the surprise. While it might have felt like an easy way out for a show built on mystery, it was actually the perfect ending, cleverly tying up all loose ends in an unexpected way. The phrase “All of this has happened before” was a major clue, though most fans didn’t realize where to look for the answer.

Lost, “The End”

When it first aired, the ending of Lost was widely disliked, and it frequently appeared on lists of the worst series finales ever. However, as people began rewatching the show, opinions started to change. The frustration with the ending wasn’t necessarily because it was poorly done, but because it didn’t provide the clear answers to the mysteries viewers had spent years trying to unravel. Despite a rushed final season, the finale – revealing a purgatory-like dimension for all the characters – actually felt like a natural conclusion, consistent with themes present from the very beginning. While the flash-sideways and the magical element at the end were unusual, they fit the show’s overall style: a story about faith cleverly disguised as a classic adventure mystery. Lost was bold enough to be both, and that’s what made it special.

House, “Everybody Dies”

The series finale of House was certainly dramatic, with House seemingly sacrificing himself in a fire. Reactions were mixed – some viewers loved the over-the-top ending, while others found it cheesy and disappointing. Essentially, House appears to die trying to save someone struggling with addiction, and his best friend, Wilson, who is dying of cancer, delivers a surprisingly critical eulogy. It’s then revealed that House faked his death by swapping identities, and he plans to spend Wilson’s remaining time however they both choose. While the ending was a bit silly, it fit the show’s overall quirky tone. Ultimately, House wasn’t just a medical drama; it was a story about a deep friendship.

Mad Men, “Person to Person”

The final episode of Mad Men is often hailed as one of the greatest series finales, though it still sparks debate. The last season had several episodes that felt like endings, making the actual finale somewhat disruptive. Many viewers were puzzled by Don Draper’s presence in the meditation circle – was he truly at peace, or simply adopting a new persona? This deliberate ambiguity is a hallmark of the show’s brilliance, balancing genuine emotion with a cynical worldview. The episode’s final touch – the iconic “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” commercial – perfectly encapsulates Mad Men’s central theme: the complex interplay of affection and materialism. Ultimately, the show reminds us that everyone is always trying to sell something.

Game of Thrones, “The Iron Throne”

Let’s be honest: the final episode of Game of Thrones, “The Iron Throne,” wasn’t good. It was actually quite disappointing. However, looking back, it’s hard to imagine the show ending any other way. After defeating the White Walkers mid-season, something truly terrible was bound to happen, and our worries came true when Daenerys fell into madness. Jon Snow ultimately had to kill her to save everyone from her power. While the ending wasn’t satisfying for most characters, it felt fitting for a show like Game of Thrones, which was known for shocking viewers and delivering unhappy endings. Arya’s quick escape was a rare bright spot in an otherwise bleak conclusion.

2026-01-08 23:59