With some of the most awaited new seasons for shows returning in 2026, next year's television roster looks absolutely entertaining. From decade-long follow-up seasons to reboots of legacy dramas, 2026 has an impressive lineup of some of the biggest returning shows.
If you're looking to stack up on your 2026 watch list with the shows that will make the most noise, then you're at the right place. Here are five shows returning in 2026 that you absolutely cannot miss.
Five Shows returning in 2026 that you should look out for
The Night Manager Season 2
A decade is a long time to wait for a spy thriller to come back, but some stories age better with distance. The Night Manager is officially returning in 2026, and its one of the biggest shows returning in 2026.. Based on the novel by John le Carré, the series left a lasting impression with its slow burn tension, moral murkiness, and a central performance that ended up being one of Tom Hiddleston's most memorable performances.
In a press release for the show, Hiddleston spoke about the titular character's progression in the new season and said
"He’s still very much a night manager, just managing the night in a slightly different way; he’s a nocturnal animal for sure. In the first series, he was the night manager of a luxury hotel in Egypt and Switzerland before being recruited by the security and intelligence services at MI6 as a field agent. Now he is a night manager in the sense that, under his alias, he runs a surveillance operation, keeping track of various bad actors passing through London’s hotels and casinos, who MI6 might want to keep an eye on.”
Season two finds Tom Hiddleston and Olivia Colman returning as the story wisely leans into the passage of time. This time, the operation pulls Pine into a dangerous new arms network tied to Colombia, with fresh faces and shifting allegiances complicating an already volatile world. Out of all the anticipated shows returning in 2026, fans have waited for The Night Manager the longest and hopefully the waiting pays off.
Will be available to stream on: Prime Video
Euphoria Season 3
With a whole lot of popular shows returning in 2026, HBO's glitzy drama is probably the most talked about. After years of uncertainty, rewrites, and near radio silence, Euphoria is finally finding its way back to screens. Slated to premiere in spring 2026, season three arrives with a bold creative reset that reflects just how much time has passed, both on screen and off. The story jumps ahead five years, allowing its characters to grow into the same messy adulthood its audience has been navigating in real time.
Talking about the third season's premise, Sam Levinson opened up during HBO Max's presentation in December as he said,
"We basically pick up Rue south of the border in Mexico, in debt to Laurie [Martha Kelly], trying to come up with some very innovative ways to pay it off. Cassie [Sydney Sweeney] is living in the suburbs with Nate [Jacob Elordi], they’re engaged...I feel strongly this is our best season yet… I will say that Cassie and Nate do in fact get married. I’m confirming it. And I promise that it will be an unforgettable night."
Despite cast changes and the loss of Angus Cloud, the show is aiming for evolution rather than repetition. Levinson has described the season as noir inspired, with a focus on what it means to hold on to principles in a corrupt environment. Among the many shows returning in 2026, this one has had the most rocky road to release.
Will be available to stream on: HBO Max.
Scrubs
Out of all the shows returning in 2026, one is bringing back intense nostalgia. After more than fifteen years off the ward, Scrubs is officially scrubbing back in. The reboot is bringing back some familiar and fresh faces, including Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, Judy Reyes, John C. McGinley, Neil Flynn, Ken Jenkins, Robert Maschio, Phill Lewis, Vanessa Bayer, Joel Kim Booster, Ava Bunn, Jacob Dudman, David Gridley, Layla Mohammadi and Amanda Morrow. Braff's JD will be at the center of the drama again, older and wiser but still one of our most favorite doctors on screen.
Series creator Bill Lawrence has previously told TV Line,
"My hope would be that we establish where everybody from [the original show] is, whether they're still with us at the hospital or not. "I hope Ken [who is now 84] is able to come play with us a little bit. He's a little older, but we love him so much."
With so many shows returning in 2026, this one brings the most nostalgia as fans are warming up for the reboot. Scrubs will premiere on February 26, 2026.
Will be available to watch on: ABC
The Boys Season 5
After four seasons of gleeful nihilism, The Boys is returning for it's fifth and final run, and is all set to premiere in April. The season picks up after the chaos of it's predecessor, with Homelander even closer to unchecked power while the Boys are fractured by betrayal and exhaustion. Eric Kripke has described the final chapter to have heavy consequences, brutal confrontations and a body count that will only get higher. The long teased collision between Butcher and Homelander is finally unavoidable, and the show appears ready to lean fully into the mess it has been building for years.
The core cast is returning, joined by familiar faces and surprise additions, including major characters from Gen V. Filming wrapped in mid 2025, and the creative team has repeatedly stressed that the ending was planned long in advance.
Among all the shows returning in 2026, The Boys' biggest promise is commitment; to chaos, to consequence, and to actually ending the story.
Will be available to stream on: Prime Video
Outer Banks Season 4
After years of sunburnt adventures and impossible odds, Outer Banks is officially preparing for its final ride. Netflix has confirmed that season five will close out the Pogues’ story in 2026, bringing a carefully planned five season arc to its intended end.
Filming has already wrapped up, with the core cast returning for one last chapter that promises both closure and chaos. And in a crowded slate of shows returning in 2026, Outer Banks stands out with the perfect conclusion to a sun-dipped story we have loved for years.
Will be available to stream on: Netflix