The best TV series of 2026 run the gamut of interests, genres, and perspectives, which is what makes it such a fun year of television. Due to the excess of releases across ever-multiplying streaming platforms and cable networks, it’s easy to miss some of the more interesting and engaging stories.
This is especially true because, in the same vein, the number of shows being released monthly means there’s a lot of mess to wade through before finding the gems. Surely channel surfing was never as tiresome as the endless scroll through the Netflix algorithm?
From the welcome return of Tatiana Maslany in a leading role to the expansion of not one but two beloved franchises (both of which are adapted from equally popular books), an animated favorite, and a comedy led by a fierce, comedic titan, there’s an abundance of must-watch TV. On top of that, there’s the return of the appointment viewing The Pitt and a debut comedy looking to snag that viral top spot.
The best TV shows of 2026 exemplify the medium’s wide net.
Below are the ten best TV series of 2026 so far. But even then, it barely scratches the surface. We easily could’ve included another animated superhero series with the hyperviolent Invincible or the equally hyperviolent comic book adaptation, the divisive The Boys, for its fifth and final season.
Scrubs returned for a refresh and was surprisingly hilarious and heartfelt while Malcolm in the Middle struggled but charmed. Jury Duty: Company Retreat was another welcome return with an all-star hero at the forefront. Elle Fanning continues to demonstrate her keen versatility in the Apple TV+ dramedy, Margo’s Got Money Problems. Meanwhile, romance is explored with steamy curiosity in the coming-of-age drama, Off Campus.
Then there are the below-the-radar favorites, from the return of popular reality TV series, The Traitors, to the increasingly high-profile The Other Bennett Sister, and the mockumentary sitcom, Stumble. And we’re only just at the halfway point! Check out our best top ten TV series of 2026 below.
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins
While there have been plenty of successful workplace sitcoms and mockumentary-format comedies, one of the towering achievements of the genre that remains to be dethroned is 30 Rock, the million-jokes-per-second satire of a Saturday Night Live sketch comedy show.
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins picks up that show’s torch and more than runs away with it. Fitting, seeing as they share both a star (Tracy Morgan continuing to do what he does best, playing a slightly more outrageous version of himself but with a little more depth and heart than Tracy Jordan ever had) as well as a showrunner/creator.
The plot chronicles the attempted comeback of a canceled football star. Still, while Dinkins provides some of the series’ best jokes (his going outside for the first time in ages and inspirationally declaring “I get why squirrels live out here now!” is one of the best line deliveries of the year), it is the remaining roster of characters that bring the show to life.
Whether it be Bobby Moynihan delivering his best performance to date as Reggie’s live-in best friend, Daniel Radcliffe continuing his weirdo-ascension playing the manic documentarian chronicling Reggie’s comeback, or series MVPs Erika Alexander and Precious Way as his ex-wife/manager and his fiancée, respectively, the full cast shines as one of the brightest in an already great year. [Quinn Parulis]
Hacks Season 5
With its fifth and final season, Hacks cemented its place as one of the defining comedies of its era. Although the season stumbled at times — most notably in its decision to cast Trisha Paytas (as herself) as somebody who goes against everything the series stood for, and in its underuse of Kiki (Poppy Liu), Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins), and Damien (Mark Indelicato) — it still delivered a sharp, wildly funny, and deeply compassionate farewell. After Deborah (Jean Smart) was blacklisted by Bob Lipka (Tony Goldwyn) and faced a cancer diagnosis, the season saw her reclaim control of her own legacy, bowing out on her own terms.
Where previous seasons thrived on the conflict between Ava (Hannah Einbinder) and Deborah, the final season shifted its focus to the bond between the two, a relationship that transcended both friendship and romance to become a soulmate connection. Television history is littered with finales that struggled under the weight of their creators’ vision, but Hacks was not one of them. Instead, it delivered a fitting conclusion in which love, laughter, and everything Deborah stood to lose with Ava gave her a reason to choose treatment, ultimately saving her life. [Emma Fisher]
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
If you’re a fan of HBO’s Game of Thrones and/or the book series that it’s based on, and wish that it were a bit more comedic and less confusing, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is exactly the show you should watch. The series is an adaptation of a beloved series of novellas from author George R. R. Martin and follows the characters of Dunk and Egg.
While this story takes place before the events of Game of Thrones, it’s the first spinoff series that acts almost as a standalone piece that doesn’t require any prior knowledge of families or events. It’s a story that has heart, comedy, tragedy, and some truly exciting sequences, making it a great entry point into the series for new viewers while also satisfying seasoned fans who’ve been looking forward to this adaptation for a very long time. [Tyler Carlsen]
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is aptly named. Creator David J. Rosen has crafted a tight thriller that recognizes it doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel to tell a tremendously entertaining story. One way to accomplish that is to have an amazing lead performance to anchor your show. Tatiana Maslany is magnetic in the role of Paula. Paula is immediately sympathetic, and Maslany does an incredible job of showing how Paula navigates the mounting pressures of motherhood, divorce, and an unfortunate, unforeseen encounter with organized crime.
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed succeeds by not insulting the audience’s intelligence. As it works through familiar beats in the genre, it avoids all the common pitfalls. Characters don’t withhold information for no reason. Plot points that would be dragged out in a lesser show are dealt with quickly and logically. Paula may not always make the smartest decisions, but they’re always consistent with her character. Not every series has to be a revelation, and there’s certainly a ton of pleasure to be found in watching a confident and competent execution of a familiar story. [Jose Cordova]
My Adventures with Superman Season 3
In an era where film and live-action series continue to define and redefine what superheroes look like and who they’re meant to be, there’s something continually refreshing about the deceptive simplicity of My Adventures with Superman. Starring Jack Quaid, Alice Lee, Ishmel Sahid, and Kiana Madeira as Clark/Superman, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Kara/Supergirl, the series is simple because it gets to the heart of the hero. A hero who uses his overwhelming strength to, in turn, deploy overwhelming, self-sacrificing generosity. It’s as easy as that.
But in line with most DC animated series worth their salt, it’s also so much more than that. It succeeds because it builds on that simplicity, which anchors the over-the-top comedy and the push-and-pull of romantic relationships. Created by Jack Wyatt, Season 3 is the show at its best yet. With polished finesse, the animation has never looked better, featuring clean action pacing and stellar use of color, linework, and character acting.
The story reaches new, triumphant heights while pushing characters to their limits. The voice acting is superb, and the story keeps you on the edge of your seat. Working as both a nostalgic callback that reminds us of the best Adult Swim/Toonami blocks while delivering one homage after another to anime favorites (Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, Gundam, Jujustu Kaisen, Ouran Host Club, Gurren Lagann and Berserk, to name a few), it’s the perfect blend of old and new while staying true to the iconic hero at the heart of it all. [Allyson Johnson]
The Pitt Season 2
Heart-pounding, emotional, and gripping, HBO’s The Pitt Season 2 covered the Fourth of July across personal and professional crises. Its exceptional ensemble, led by Noah Wyle, revealed secrets — Langdon (Patrick Ball) and Mel (Taylor Dearden) are both historical reenactment nerds! Santos (Isa Briones) and Garcia (Alexandra Metz) are hooking up!
It’s tricky to show character development over the course of a season that unfolds in real time. But The Pitt was as expertly written as ever in Season 2. Tackling ICE, AI in medical care, and medical debt, The Pitt holds up a mirror to American realities in and out of the ER. With every cliffhanger, quip, and GIF-able Abbot (Shawn Hatosy) moment, The Pitt Season 2 is one of 2026’s best shows, no doubt. With a second season that matched its first in intensity and heart, The Pitt cements itself as modern appointment television. But can we get more about Javadi’s (Shabana Azeez) Instagram stardom in Season 3? [Claire Di Maio]
Shrinking Season 3
Just when you think that the second season of Apple TV’s Shrinking is one of the best seasons of television, in walks Season 3. With all the characters we’ve grown to love over these last few years (Harrison Ford continues to steal every single frame he’s in), this season gives us some massive character developments and truly emotional moments.
On top of that, the season finale is impossible to get through with dry eyes. There is one arc in particular involving Jessica Williams’s character Gaby that explores an aspect of therapy the show hadn’t really addressed until now, and it is beautifully written. While the season could’ve been the series finale, we have one more season left until we have to say goodbye to this remarkable story. [Tyler Carlsen]
The Vampire Lestat
Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat is an electric reinvigoration of AMC’s breakout vampire series. Interview with the Vampire balances moody tones of lost love and heartbreak, capturing a chilling journey under the vampire curse. The Vampire Lestat, on the other hand, injects rock ‘n’ roll chaos through the eyes of a grunge superstar who couldn’t care less. A vampire who loves what it means to be a vampire.
It’s the perfect sequel season that’s feeding all our cravings. Sam Reid, who plays the titular Lestat de Lioncourt, shines on center stage. His bravado as the complex vampire — and aspiring rockstar — delivers a fiery performance that ignites each scene and concert performance. Plus, The Vampire Lestat dives deeper into his background, as well as the many returning characters from Interview with the Vampire. Season 3’s tone may feel different, but it’s a seamless transition into a post-Interview world. Season 3 has been well worth the two-year wait. [Justin Carreiro]
Widow’s Bay
Halfway through the seventh episode of Widow’s Bay, Matthew Rhys’ harried mayor Tom falls off his seat and has a facial expression so Charlie Chaplin-like, you can’t help but laugh. A viral GIF from that moment catapulted Widow’s Bay from quiet acclaim to international craze. Katie Dippold’s horror comedy feels like if you threw Parks and Recreation’s zany bureaucrats into a Stephen King novel or a Mike Flanagan series. As hilarious as it is scary, the looming secrets of Widow’s Bay are reminiscent of Lost, if Lost were for the streaming generation.
Every episode is somehow its best — Patricia and the sunset cocktails! The episode takes place in the 1700s! Tom falls victim to a haunted hotel! And Tom on an accidental drug trip! It’s rare to say you’ve never seen anything like this, but it rings true with Widow’s Bay, one of the most original series in ages. [Claire Di Maio]
Wonder Man
Wonder Man is the rare “comic-book-adaptation” show that feels refreshing precisely because it never acts like the fate of the universe is on the line. Instead, it turns Simon Williams’ origin story into a Hollywood survival comedy, following a struggling actor whose superpowers make him less employable rather than more heroic. That premise gives the series its sharpest punchline and its cleanest emotional hook. In a world oversaturated with superheroes, even an actual superpowered person has to audition for the part.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II brings Simon a mix of movie-star confidence and professional desperation. At the same time, Ben Kingsley’s returning Trevor Slattery gives the show its funniest and most unexpectedly tender counterweight. Together, they make Wonder Man less about joining the Avengers than about trying to stay human inside an industry that turns identity into IP. How ironic, right? The show’s Hollywood satire could’ve easily curdled into mushy meta-commentary, but its best moments stay grounded in rejection, friendship, vanity, and self-doubt. For Marvel, that smaller scale feels like a massive creative reset. [Jon Negroni]
Something missing on our list? Let us know what your favorite series of the year is so far.
Images courtesy of HBO/Apple TV+/Disney/AMC/NBC
