- The biggest TV shows of 2026
If 2025 was the year of endings, 2026 appears to be the year of anticipation. With blockbuster series such as ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ concluding their stories last year, television fans entered 2026 looking for their next obsession. Fortunately, streaming platforms seem more than willing to oblige.
This year has already delivered long-awaited returns, controversial finales, ambitious new seasons, and enough fandom discourse to keep social media busy for months. From dragons and vampires to football coaches and dysfunctional chefs, television audiences have plenty to discuss.
The Sunday Morning Brunch asked several readers which shows have stood out for them so far this year, what they thought of recent seasons, and what they’re most excited to watch next.
Standouts and disappointments
For Vithursha Sivakumaran, the standout series of the year so far has been ‘Interview with the Vampire’ and its newly launched third season, now titled ‘The Vampire Lestat’.
“I have been waiting for this season for ages,” she said, adding that unlike previous seasons, the latest instalment took a dramatically different creative direction, shifting focus towards Lestat as a rock star and embracing a more experimental style.
“It feels completely different from the previous seasons in the best possible way,” Vithursha explained. “The actors really get to flex their acting muscles, and the show feels so confident in what it wants to be.”
She said that she was especially excited to see the characters explored in greater depth. “I genuinely hope this is the year these actors start getting more recognition and accolades because they absolutely deserve it.”
While some fandoms are celebrating, others are simply relieved.
Vindula Lakshan points to ‘Euphoria’ Season 3 as perhaps the biggest disappointment of the year. “I think most of the fandom would agree that they lost the plot a long time ago,” he said, noting that the long-delayed third season had finally arrived this year after years of production delays, cast changes, and speculation.
“There was a point where people were still excited,” Vindula said. “By the time it actually arrived, I think many viewers were just curious to see how it would end.”
His verdict on the finale was blunt: “Honestly, I’m just happy it’s over.”
That sentiment appears to be surprisingly common among long-time fans who felt the series struggled to recapture the cultural impact of its earlier seasons. Not every returning series has had such a divisive reception.
Trauma and comfort viewing
For Suren Annadurai, one of the year’s biggest highlights remains ‘House of the Dragon,’ which returns for its third season this month. “I’ve been waiting for this one since Season 2 ended,” he said. The latest chapter of the Targaryen civil war promises bigger battles, higher stakes, and the long-awaited Battle of the Gullet.
“The scale of this show is incredible,” Suren said, adding: “Even when people criticise parts of it, there really isn’t anything else on television that looks like ‘House of the Dragon’.” He expects it to dominate online conversations throughout the year.
Similarly optimistic is Waruna Prageeth, who said his most anticipated return remained ‘Ted Lasso’. “When they announced Season 4, I think half the internet collectively cheered,” he said, adding that after what many assumed was a definitive ending, the beloved football comedy was making an unexpected return.
“It’s one of those rare shows that actually makes people feel good after watching it,” Waruna said. “We need more television like that.”
For audiences seeking comfort viewing rather than constant trauma, dragons, and existential despair, the return of ‘Ted Lasso’ remains one of the most anticipated events of the year.
Meanwhile, Shavindri Perera is eagerly awaiting the next season of ‘Shrinking’ after having just finished Season 3 which came out in April this year. “I don’t think enough people talk about how good ‘Shrinking’ actually is,” she said. The series, starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, has quietly built one of television’s most loyal fan bases.
“It manages to be funny and emotional without feeling manipulative,” Shavindri explained, adding: “I finished the last season wanting more immediately.”
She said the show’s balance between comedy and grief made it stand out in an increasingly crowded television landscape.
Vinod Yapa, meanwhile, is looking forward to returning to high-society drama with ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘The Gilded Age’. “Sometimes you don’t want dragons or murder mysteries,” he said. “Sometimes you just want beautiful costumes, gossip, and people making terrible romantic decisions.”
He believes period dramas continue to thrive because they offer escapism without requiring viewers to keep track of complicated fantasy lore.
A big year for TV
Of course, 2026 is not just about returning favourites. There are new series that are also generating significant attention.
Among the most anticipated debuts is ‘The Boroughs,’ produced by the creators of ‘Stranger Things’. Early descriptions have compared it to a blend of science fiction, mystery, and the classic film ‘Cocoon’.
Meanwhile, Netflix’s live-action ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ continues with its second season, introducing fan-favourite character Toph Beifong and adapting one of the most beloved sections of the original animated series.
For many viewers, however, television in 2026 feels defined by anticipation rather than completion. Several of this year’s biggest shows are still unfolding week by week, with fandoms dissecting every trailer, teaser, and episode release online.
Streaming culture has transformed television into something closer to a continuous global conversation. Fans no longer simply watch shows. They analyse them, debate them, create memes about them, and occasionally spend months arguing with strangers online about them.
Sometimes that passion leads to celebration, sometimes it leads to collective disappointment, and occasionally, as ‘Euphoria’ fans can attest, it leads to both simultaneously.
Whether audiences are eagerly awaiting dragons, vampires, football coaches, therapists, or debutantes, one thing seems clear; 2026 is shaping up to be one of television’s biggest years in recent memory.