Television viewers are in for a spectacular treat in 2026, with a packed schedule of returning favourites and exciting new series set to dominate screens across the UK. The year kicks off with major finales and long-awaited comebacks, promising a stellar twelve months of entertainment across platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and more.
Returning Favourites and Epic Conclusions
The year begins with a bang as Netflix's Stranger Things draws to a close with its highly anticipated series finale. But that's just the start. Fans of period drama can rejoice as Bridgerton season 4 arrives in two parts on January 29 and February 26. This season shifts focus to Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson, and his romance with Sophie Baek, portrayed by Yerin Ha, promising the usual mix of scandal, fashion, and orchestral pop.
Meanwhile, after a decade-long journey, the beloved time-travel saga Outlander reaches its conclusion. Season 8 premieres on March 6 via MGM+ on Prime Video, finally resolving the epic love story of Jamie and Claire Fraser, played by Sam Heughan and Caitríona Balfe, and the mystery of Jamie's ghost.
Highly Anticipated Comebacks and New Worlds
Apple TV+'s heartwarming hit Ted Lasso is confirmed for a fourth season, though a precise date is still to be announced. This new chapter is expected to follow AFC Richmond's women's team. On NOW, HBO's gritty teen drama Euphoria returns in April 2026 after a long hiatus. The story leaps forward five years, with Zendaya's Rue Bennett in Mexico and other characters navigating adult life.
The world of Westeros expands with a new prequel. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on George R. R. Martin's 'Dunk and Egg' tales, arrives on January 18 on NOW. Set a century before Game of Thrones, it stars Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell. HBO has already greenlit a second season for 2027.
More Drama, Mystery, and Reboots
Other major returns include the 80s-themed comedy-drama Rivals series 2 on Disney+, starring David Tennant and Alex Hassell. Starz's provocative thriller The Hunting Wives also gets a second season, delving deeper into the dark secrets of Sophie and Margo, played by Brittany Snow and Malin Åkerman.
Netflix's true-crime anthology Monster returns in autumn 2026 with The Lizzie Borden Story, featuring Ella Beatty. In April, Disney+ unveils The Testaments, the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, following the lives of teenage girls in Gilead, with Ann Dowd back as Aunt Lydia.
Finally, a Scrubs reboot is scheduled for February 25 on Hulu, reuniting Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Sarah Chalke to explore how medicine has changed. A UK release platform is yet to be confirmed.
With such a diverse and high-quality lineup, 2026 is shaping up to be an unmissable year for television, offering everything from fantasy epics and historical romance to hard-hitting drama and beloved comedy reboots.
