The television landscape for 2026 is shaping up to be spectacular, packed with returning favourites, hotly anticipated follow-ups, and brand-new series from the UK's top creators. From the return of Disney's steamy adaptation Rivals to Richard Gadd's next project after Baby Reindeer and a revival of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, viewers have an incredible year of viewing ahead.
Major Returning Series and Long-Awaited Sequels
Fans of lavish, lusty drama will be thrilled to hear that Rivals, Disney's febrile adaptation of Jilly Cooper's novel, finally returns for its second series in 2026. Expect the same potent mix of romance, betrayal, and excess centred on regional television franchises.
Meanwhile, the phenomenon that was Baby Reindeer will be followed by creator Richard Gadd's new project, Half Man. While details remain under wraps, it is described as a story about brothers and will star Gadd alongside Jamie Bell. Over on Netflix, the critically adored Beef returns with a brand new cast including Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan, promising another masterclass in escalating conflict.
In a major coup for nostalgia, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale will arrive on Disney+, set 25 years after the original. Sarah Michelle Gellar returns to lead a new cast, with Chloé Zhao directing the pilot. Additionally, Bryan Cranston reprises his role in Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair!, a four-episode revival of the beloved sitcom coming to Disney+ on 10 April.
Star-Studded New Dramas and Comedies
The new year kicks off with a powerful slate of original programming. On 3 January, BBC One debuts Waiting for the Out, a dark prison drama from Utopia writer Dennis Kelly, starring Bafta-nominated Josh Finan. Dawn French headlines the new sitcom Can You Keep a Secret? on 7 January, playing a woman who must cope after being mistakenly pronounced dead.
BBC One's hit comedy Black Ops returns for a second season on 8 January, with community support officers Dom and Kay (Gbemisola Ikumelo and Hammed Animashaun) now working for MI5. Sky brings the incredibly raunchy ice hockey drama Heated Rivalry on 10 January, a show already causing a stir in the US with its provocative content.
Later in the year, look out for Falling on Channel 4, a Jack Thorne-penned love story between a nun (Keeley Hawes) and a priest (Paapa Essiedu). David E. Kelley adapts Margo's Got Money Troubles for Apple TV, starring Elle Fanning as a woman who turns to OnlyFans, with Nick Offerman and Michelle Pfeiffer in support.
Prestige Projects and Literary Adaptations
Several major literary adaptations and high-profile projects are set to dominate 2026. A new Pride and Prejudice adaptation from writer Dolly Alderton arrives on Netflix, while Margaret Atwood's sequel The Testaments comes to Disney+, continuing the story of Gilead with Ann Dowd returning as Aunt Lydia.
Peter Morgan follows The Crown with The Boys from Brazil for Netflix, a Nazi-hunter miniseries starring Jeremy Strong. Russell T Davies returns to Manchester's Canal Street for Tip Toe on Channel 4, a drama starring David Morrissey and Alan Cumming that explores the modern LGBTQ+ community.
Natural history fans can celebrate Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday in May with Blue Planet III on BBC One, promising more breathtaking underwater footage and urgent environmental messaging. The BBC also brings Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate in Dear England, an adaptation of James Graham's hit play.
With such a diverse and high-quality array of programming scheduled across broadcasters and streaming services, 2026 is poised to be a landmark year for television, offering everything from heart-stopping drama and side-splitting comedy to thought-provoking documentaries and epic fantasy.
