The year 2026 is shaping up to be a blockbuster for television, with a slate of returning favourites, hotly anticipated follow-ups, and brand-new series set to dominate screens. From the return of Disney's racy adaptation 'Rivals' to Richard Gadd's next project after 'Baby Reindeer' and a revival of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', viewers have a wealth of content to look forward to.
Major Drama Returns and Riveting New Stories
The drama lineup is particularly strong. Dennis Kelly, writer of 'Utopia', kicks off the year on 3 January with 'Waiting for the Out' on BBC One. It stars Bafta-nominated Josh Finan as a philosophy teacher in a prison, grappling with his own family demons. Over on Channel 4, Keeley Hawes and Paapa Essiedu star in Jack Thorne's first love story, 'Falling', about a nun and a priest who fall for each other.
BBC One's brilliant finance thriller 'Industry' returns on 11 January with new characters, including Max Minghella's "tornado of cut-throat ambition". Meanwhile, the long-awaited 'Line of Duty' season seven is confirmed, with AC-12 now reformed as the Inspectorate of Police Standards, investigating a predatory detective.
Netflix offers Lisa McGee's follow-up to 'Derry Girls', 'How to Get to Heaven from Belfast' in February, while the award-winning 'Beef' returns with a new cast including Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan. The year also brings Ronan Bennett's near-future war drama 'Army of Shadows' for Channel 4 and Peter Morgan's Nazi-hunting epic 'The Boys from Brazil' for Netflix.
Comedy, Satire and Unmissable Entertainment
Comedy fans are in for a treat. Dawn French headlines the new sitcom 'Can You Keep a Secret?' on BBC One from 7 January, co-starring Mark Heap. The critically acclaimed 'Black Ops' returns for a second series on 8 January, with its leads now working for MI5.
In April, Bryan Cranston reprises his role in the revival of 'Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair!' on Disney+. The sublime 'Last One Laughing UK' returns to Prime Video with Bob Mortimer defending his title against a lineup including Alan Carr and Diane Morgan.
Satire is well-represented with the BBC's self-critical 'Twenty Twenty Six', set around the World Cup, and Russell T Davies's timely Canal Street drama 'Tip Toe' for Channel 4, starring David Morrissey and Alan Cumming.
High-Profile Adaptations and Genre Revivals
Adaptations are a major feature of the 2026 schedule. Disney+ finally delivers the second series of the Jilly Cooper adaptation 'Rivals', promising more romps and intrigue. Dolly Alderton's new take on 'Pride and Prejudice' arrives on Netflix, while Margaret Atwood's sequel 'The Testaments' comes to Disney+.
Genre revivals will capture the imagination. 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale' arrives on Disney+ a quarter-century after the original, with Sarah Michelle Gellar returning. The Game of Thrones prequel 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' lands on Sky Atlantic on 18 January, focusing on Ser Duncan the Tall.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge's 'Tomb Raider' starring Sophie Turner premieres on Prime Video, and Nicolas Cage reprises his role in the live-action 'Spider-Noir' for Disney+. David Attenborough will also mark his 100th birthday in May with the landmark 'Blue Planet III' on BBC One.
Other notable releases include Michaela Coel's new drama 'First Day on Earth' for BBC One, Richard Gadd's mysterious follow-up 'Half Man', and the return of 'Euphoria' in April on HBO Max, with Rosalía joining the cast. With such a diverse and high-quality roster, 2026 is set to be a landmark year for television.
