It's already been a banner year for new TV shows, and there's plenty of must-watch telly still to come in 2026.
House of the Dragon season 3 and X-Men '97 season 2 recently wrapped, and we've already had the likes of Wonder Man and The Boys season 5, along with surprise hits like Widow's Bay. The best could still be to come, however, with new Blade Runner, Avatar: The Last Airbender shows, and the much-anticipated return of The Rings of Power.
To make sure you know what to add to your watchlist on the best streaming services, we've assembled a guide featuring the most exciting shows still to come across the year (and details on how to watch). So, for all killer, no filler, head below.
Upcoming 2026 TV shows
Lanterns
Release date: August 16, 2026
Available on: HBO Max
The next small-screen installment in James Gunn's DCU Chapter One is Lanterns. The new series will follow veteran member of intergalactic peacekeeping organization the Green Lantern Corps Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) as he trains up new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) while they investigate a murder in Nebraska. Gunn has previously compared the show to True Detective and The Leftovers showrunner Damon Lindelof is on board as co-creator, so we're expecting big things.
Carrie
Release date: October 7, 2026
Available on: Prime Video
Preeminent Stephen King adapter Mike Flanagan is behind this serialized re-do of classic high-school horror, Carrie. Flanagan has form with King, having previously brought Doctor Sleep, Gerald's Game and The Life of Chuck to screens, so expect the unexpected with his take on Carrie. Early buzz certainly suggests it's worth getting excited about, with first reactions labelling the show's opening two episodes "powerful" and star Summer H. Howell "heartbreakingly great."
Avatar: Seven Havens
Release date: October 9, 2026
Available on: Paramount Plus
Avatar: Seven Havens is set after The Legend of Korra amid a post-apocalyptic world. One young Earthbender learns she's the new Avatar, though, according to the official synopsis, "in this dangerous era, that title marks her as humanity's destroyer, not its savior. Hunted by both human and spirit enemies, she and her long-lost twin must uncover their mysterious origins and save the Seven Havens before civilization's last strongholds collapse."
VisionQuest
Release date: October 14, 2026
Available on: Disney Plus
It's been a long time coming, considering that VisionQuest was announced to be in development all the way back in 2022, but we finally know that the upcoming Marvel show will be with us in October 2026. Created by Terry Matalas, the upcoming series focuses on the superpowered android and former Avenger known as Vision; however, reports on the potential story of the show indicate that he could technically be "White Vision" now. In classic Marvel fashion, plot details are being kept secret at the moment, so keep your eye on this page for more updates.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3
Release date: November 11, 2026
Available on: Prime Video
Well, it's true, folks, we finally have a release date for The Rings of Power season 3, and as a long-time Lord of the Rings fan, I'm pretty excited to see more Tolkien-related work coming our way (even if I have major personal issues with the series canon-breaking ways). We do know that the events of the next chapter take place during the War of the Elves, and Sauron is still working on getting the One Ring created as well. There is also a Balrog that still needs dealing with, and Numenór is still in upheaval. Exciting times.
Blade Runner 2099
Release date: November 25, 2026
Available on: Prime Video
Return to the world of Blade Runner in the sci-fi series' first TV show, Blade Runner 2099. The show is set 50 years after Blade Runner 2049 (which you might have guessed from the title) and it picks up in a world run by replicants.
"2019 was dark and rainy. 2049 was snowy and cold," showrunner Silka Luisa said at an SDCC panel attended by GamesRadar+. "Our show is a rebirth. It's the rebirth of a city, it's a rebirth of all of our characters, and so to me that felt like it should be hot and sticky and chaotic, and that's where we got the idea for the 'sunshine noir,' and so you're you're seeing Blade Runner, Ridley's Blade Runner, but through the lens of hard sunlight and deep shadow where you still have neons, and hopefully that feels like it's both familiar but completely different."
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Release date: December 25, 2026
Available on: HBO Max
The Harry Potter TV series will be here on Christmas Day, and it's already looking to be a pretty big deal. Season 2 has already been given the green light, so we assume that HBO has a lot of faith in this upcoming debut of the "Boy Who Lived". The upcoming season will show Harry's first experience in the Wizarding World and Hogwarts, oh and of course, we will be meeting the big bad Voldemort as well. We are keen to see how this show stacks up against the best Harry Potter movies for sure.
TBC 2026 TV shows
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2
Release date: Fall 2026
Available on: Netflix
We still don't have a confirmed release date for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2, but cheer up, choom – we do know it's arriving this fall, and there's already a spectacular first trailer ahead of the return trip to Night City. Featuring a whole new crew of Edgerunners, it's a 10-episode standalone story that asks the question: "when the world is blinded by spectacle, what extremes do you have to go to make your story matter?" Showrunner Bartosz has already warned fans to be "prepared for sadness," and we're still not over David...
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man season 2
Release date: TBC 2026
Available on: Disney Plus
If you love animation and superheroes as much as we do, chances are you are excited for the upcoming release of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man season 2 as well. Set in an alternate timeline to the rest of the MCU movies and shows that have Spidey in them, this series is an origin story following a Peter Parker who gets his abilities through a temporal paradox thanks to Doctor Stranger's antics. The style of the first season blew us away, and we can't wait to see what the next outing brings us.
For more on new releases, check out our lists of the most exciting movie release dates to look out for and upcoming DC movies and shows.
