In a groundbreaking move for British television, EastEnders has confirmed it will air its first-ever full flashforward episode this New Year, offering viewers an unprecedented glimpse into Max Branning's dramatic future.
A Soap First: Journey to 2027
The BBC One soap, which has entertained audiences for nearly four decades, will break new ground with a special 30-minute instalment scheduled for New Year's Day 2026. This revolutionary episode will transport viewers exactly one year into the future to early 2027, where they'll find Max Branning, played by Jake Wood, in multiple precarious situations.
While EastEnders previously experimented with future glimpses during The Six storyline in February 2023, this marks the first time an entire episode will be dedicated to events that haven't yet occurred in the show's timeline.
Max Branning's Turbulent Future
According to show executives, Max will find himself in what's described as a 'sticky situation' that will have massive repercussions not just for him, but for his entire family. The episode will reveal multiple simultaneous events unfolding around the character, setting the stage for a dramatic 2026 filled with secrets and speculation.
EastEnders boss Ben Wadey elaborated on the ambitious storyline, stating: 'For the first time in the show's history, we're going to be offering our viewers an entire flashforward episode set on New Year's Day 2027. 2026 is going to be full of drama in Walford, especially for the Brannings.'
Wadey added that the episode will raise numerous questions about how Max and his family ended up in their predicaments, while hinting that 'all is not what it seems.'
Building on Past Success
This isn't the first time EastEnders has ventured into future storytelling. The show previously made headlines with its February 2023 flashforward that showed six iconic female characters standing over a dead body. That scene sparked months of fan speculation and culminated in the Christmas Day revelation that Keanu Taylor had been killed by Linda Carter while she tried to save Sharon Watts.
The successful execution of that storyline contributed significantly to EastEnders winning multiple awards and demonstrated the soap's ability to handle complex, long-running narratives.
Max Branning's return to Albert Square earlier this year after a four-year absence has already generated significant drama, particularly through his interactions with Zoe Slater in nostalgic throwback scenes. Now, with this groundbreaking flashforward episode, 2026 promises to be one of the most dramatic years yet for the beloved character and his family.
Fans have just over a month to wait before discovering what fate has in store for Max Branning and how his actions throughout 2026 will lead to the dramatic situations awaiting him in 2027.
