Netflix continues to prove why it remains the most influential player in the streaming wars. As viewing habits evolve and audiences become more selective about what earns their time, the platform’s biggest strength lies in its ability to deliver shows that don’t just trend for a weekend but dominate conversations for months. Netflix’s slate this year reflects a careful balance of spectacle and storytelling.The previous year was certainly a high for the streaming juggernaut as it wrapped two of its most successful shows, which reached Global domination in 2025. While the Squid Game finale became the talk of the town in the first half, the closing entry of Stranger Things marked the end of the year celebration as the Hawkins gang collapsed the Upside Down for good.Here's a list of 5 highly anticipated Netflix shows for the coming year.Here are the best shows on Netflix to stream in 2026A still from Bridgerton Season 4 (Image via Instagram/@bridgertonnetflix)Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 (January 29)The fourth entry in the platform's alternative history regency romance show, based on Julia Quinn's book series, will arrive on January 29. Bridgerton is one of the best shows on Netflix in 2026. The highly anticipated fourth chapter will adapt Quinn's 2001 novel, titled An Offer from a Gentleman, which follows Benedict Bridgerton's (Luke Thompson) love story.While the playful Bridgerton had expressed his aversion to marriage across the previous three seasons of the show, he will meet the mysterious woman (Yerin Ha) at his mother’s masquerade ball, setting an epic Cindrella-style romance for the upcoming season.Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials (January 15)Mystery lovers are in for a treat in the new year as Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials is another highly anticipated show coming to Netflix in 2026. Based on the queen of mystery's (Agatha Christie) The Seven Dials Mystery novel, the upcoming series is set in a country house in 1925. After a party prank turns deadly, Lady Eileen "Bundle" Brent (Mia McKenna-Bruce) will investigate the chilling, murderous plot to unveil the shocking identity of the killer.Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials also stars Helena Bonham Carter and Martin Freeman in the main roles and is slated to debut on January 15.Stranger Things: Tales from '85 (release date unannounced) View this post on Instagram Instagram PostWhile Stranger Things wrapped its epic five-season run in 2025, the Upside Down fever will continue on Netflix with Stranger Things: Tales from '85, an upcoming animated sci-fi show and a spin-off of the Duffer Brothers' OG hit.Set between Stranger Things Seasons 2 and 3, the upcoming series will follow the Hawkins gang as they 'fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery' brewing up in their town of Hawkins. While none of the original cast members will return to voice their respective characters, the animated series is still expected to be one of the best shows on Netflix in 2026. It will expand the Stranger Things lore and tap new audiences through more family-friendly and lively narratives.While the platform is yet to announce an official release date, it is confirmed to debut in 2026.One Piece Season 2 (March 10)A still from One Piece Season 2 Image via (Instagram/@ onepiecenetflix)Eiichiro Oda's critically acclaimed manga series broke the platform's curse of unsuccessful manga adaptations as One Piece Season 1 became the most-watched Netflix show in the second half of 2023. Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) and his Straw Hat crew will return for another globe-trotting adventure in the second season, scheduled to arrive on March 10.The official synopsis for the upcoming series reads as follows:"Luffy and the Straw Hats set sail for the extraordinary Grand Line — a legendary stretch of sea where danger and wonder await at every turn. As they journey through this unpredictable realm in search of the world's greatest treasure, they'll encounter bizarre islands and a host of formidable new enemies."His & Hers (January 8)Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal, two talented actors known for their respective MCU roles, have joined forces for Netflix's His & Hers, the psychological thriller series scheduled to arrive on January 8. The show is based on Alice Feeney's eponymous novel and stars Thompson and Bernthal as estranged spouses.When a violent murder shakes up their small town, the reclusive reporter Anna (Thompson) and the small-town detective Jack (Bernthal) plunge into this mystery head-on, discovering secrets about each other and their relationship on the way. Hardcore mystery fans are sure to be hooked by the series as it unfolds through the dual perspectives of Anna and Jake.As the platform gears up for another packed year of unmissable stories, now’s the moment to stock up on your subscription, clear your schedule and settle in on your couch.For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow SoapCentral.