The television landscape for 2026 is shaping up to be spectacularly diverse, packed with returning favourites, hotly anticipated follow-ups, and brand-new series from the UK's top creators. From the return of Disney's racy adaptation 'Rivals' to Richard Gadd's next project and a landmark 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' revival, viewers have an incredible year of viewing ahead.
Major Returns and Long-Awaited Sequels
Fans of steamy period drama will rejoice as 'Rivals', the febrile Jilly Cooper adaptation, finally returns for its second series on Disney+. Expect the same potent mix of romance, betrayal, and excess that made the first season a hit. Meanwhile, the phenomenon that was 'Baby Reindeer' gets a follow-up. Writer and star Richard Gadd returns with 'Half Man', a mysterious new BBC series about brothers, co-starring Jamie Bell.
In a major revival, Sarah Michelle Gellar reprises her iconic role in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale' on Disney+. Set 25 years after the original, with Chloé Zhao directing the pilot, it offers a fresh start for the beloved franchise. Other notable comebacks include the seventh season of the much-loved police procedural 'Line of Duty', now following the newly formed Inspectorate of Police Standards, and the brilliant financial thriller 'Industry', which sees a reset with new characters including Max Minghella's cut-throat entrepreneur.
Star-Studded New Dramas and Comedies
2026 will see a wealth of new drama from acclaimed writers. Dennis Kelly ('Utopia') presents 'Waiting for the Out' on BBC One from 3 January, starring Bafta-nominated Josh Finan as a prison teacher grappling with his past. Russell T Davies returns to Manchester's Canal Street with 'Tip Toe' for Channel 4, a timely drama starring David Morrissey and Alan Cumming exploring the modern LGBTQ+ community.
Comedy is equally strong. Dawn French headlines the new sitcom 'Can You Keep a Secret?' on BBC One from 7 January, playing a woman who benefits from being mistakenly declared dead. The acclaimed 'Black Ops' returns for a second series on 8 January, with community support officers Dom and Kay (Gbemisola Ikumelo and Hammed Animashaun) now working for MI5. Later in the year, Mackenzie Crook ('Detectorists') offers the gently magical 'Small Prophets' on the BBC.
Blockbuster Streaming and Genre Highlights
The streaming services are pulling out all the stops. Netflix will debut Lisa McGee's ('Derry Girls') eight-part comedy drama 'How to Get to Heaven from Belfast' in February, and a brand-new series of the masterpiece 'Beef', starring Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan. For fantasy fans, HBO's 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' arrives on Sky Atlantic on 18 January, a 'Game of Thrones' prequel focusing on the hapless Ser Duncan the Tall.
Apple TV+ offers David E. Kelley's 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' on 15 April, starring Elle Fanning as a woman who turns to OnlyFans, while Prime Video has the live-action 'Spider-Noir' with Nicolas Cage and Sophie Turner as Lara Croft in Phoebe Waller-Bridge's 'Tomb Raider'. The MCU continues on Disney+ with 'VisionQuest', billed as the finale to a trilogy that began with 'WandaVision'.
Notable Dates and Cultural Events
The year is punctuated with key broadcasting events. Sir David Attenborough will celebrate his 100th birthday in May 2026 with the premiere of 'Blue Planet III' on BBC One, promising both breathtaking visuals and urgent environmental messaging. The football drama 'Dear England', adapting James Graham's hit play about Gareth Southgate with Joseph Fiennes, will also air on the BBC.
Other major dates include the return of 'Euphoria' on HBO Max in April, catching up with the characters five years later, and Bryan Cranston's revival of 'Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair!' on Disney+ from 10 April. With such a rich and varied slate, 2026 is set to be a landmark year for television audiences across the UK and beyond.
