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What are the best TV shows of 2026 (so far)?
Heart-wrenching medical drama, gripping thriller, steamy queer stories, biting social satire… Discover the series that have already marked 2026, from The Pitt to Heated Rivalry and Wonder Man.
By Violaine Schütz,
Published on 29 January 2026. Updated on 27 April 2026.
Wonder Man, a Marvel superhero show like no other
With Wonder Man, Marvel takes an unexpected turn. Forget about the spectacular fights and planetary threats, for this series offers a more intimate, psychological approach to the superhero narrative. It follows stuntman Simon Williams, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, already known for his role as Black Manta in the DC Comics film Aquaman. Simon has superpowers but refuses to let them define him.
His biggest dream? To become a renowned actor. Living in Los Angeles for about a decade, the protagonist has faced a string of failures. Everything changes when he gets a chance to audition for a superhero film titled Wonder Man, featuring a character he has admired since childhood. There, he becomes friends with Trevor Slattery, who’s also auditioning, a character played by Ben Kingsley (Iron Man 3).
Through the journey of this actor with powers, the series created by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and Andrew Guest explores male friendship, artistic devotion, and the inner workings of the film industry. In short, Wonder Man is an eight-episode Marvel production full of self-deprecation and emotion that is worth watching.
Wonder Man (2026), created by Andrew Guest and Destin Daniel Cretton, available on Disney+.
Steal, a thriller led by Sophie Turner
Available on Amazon Prime Video since January 2026, Steal marks the much-anticipated return of Hettie Macdonald. The director is behind some episodes of the hit series Normal People. This time, the British filmmaker shifts genres with a taut thriller created and written by Sotiris Nikias and Sam Miller (I May Destroy You, Black Mirror).
At the heart of the story is Zara, played by the luminous Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones), an office worker at Lochmill Capital, a pension fund investment firm. Her day takes a dark turn when violent thieves burst into her life and force her to take part in a plot to embezzle billions of pounds from the pensions of ordinary citizens. The series makes a sharp criticism of our capitalist society and systems of domination.
Alongside Sophie Turner, soon to embody as Lara Croft in another show, Steal also shines a light on lesser-known, yet equally talented actors like Archie Madekwe (Midsommar, Saltburn) and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (The Queen’s Gambit).
Steal (2026), created by Sotiris Nikias, available on Amazon Prime Video.
His & Hers, an intense thriller starring Tessa Thompson
In a small town lost in the countryside near Atlanta, where crimes rarely make headlines, a young woman is found stabbed dead on the hood of her car… That is the introduction to His & Hers (2026), a new Netflix thriller adapted from Alice Feeney’s novel of the same name. The project is directed by British filmmaker William Oldroyd, known for his drama Lady Macbeth (2016), starring Florence Pugh and Cosmo Jarvis.
But this gruesome murder is but a pretext for a war between two former spouses. In this six-episode miniseries, Anna (Tessa Thompson, seen in Creed and Thor), an ambitious journalist grieving the death of a child, arrives at the crime scene, where she meets Jack (Jon Bernthal, star of The Walking Dead), the detective assigned to the case. The latter is none other than her ex-husband. Their forced collaboration turns into a volatile mix of sexual tension and resentment. A gripping show that leans on its charismatic leads and plot twists.
His & Hers (2026), created by William Oldroyd, available on Netflix.
The Pitt, season 2, a dark dive into hospitals
One hour on screen equals one hour in hell. Since its launch in 2025, The Pitt has been acclaimed for its portrayal of Dr. Michael Robinavitch’s relentless exhaustion. The protagonist is played with precision by Noah Wyle. The Emmy-winning actor, famous for his role in ER (1994), confirms his status as a master of medical drama in this intense second season.
So what’s happening in these new episodes? The story takes place during the Fourth of July. Pittsburgh and the rest of the U.S. are celebrating Independence Day. But far from the fireworks and barbecues, the hospital is under siege. Severely understaffed, the team has to take care of a wave of patients, from burn injuries to overdoses and violent fights. On top of that, drug shortages, internal tensions, unbearable ethical dilemmas, and a critical lack of financial resources add to the drama.
The Pitt, season 2 (2025-), created by R. Scott Gemmill and John Wells, is available on HBO Max.
The successful fourth season of Industry
Industry, which premiered in 2020, may be the most ruthless series about capitalism since Succession (2018). The premise? Young graduates set out to conquer the world of global finance. They join Pierpoint, a London investment bank, and are instantly propelled into a high-pressure environment defined by individualism, addiction, and cutthroat competition.
On January 12, 2026, this under-the-radar gem unveiled its fourth season on HBO Max. Viewers follow the rise of Harper Stern, played by American actress Myha’la Herrold. But this new batch of episodes sharpens its focus on Tender, a payment processor specializing in pornography and gambling, rejected by the so-called “virtuous” financial world despite its own dubious morals. At its helm is a tech entrepreneur clearly inspired by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg — the embodiment of the intoxicating power of technology…
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a Game of Thrones spin-off
An epic prequel to Game of Thrones (2011), this series is set seventy years before the rise of the Targaryens. The storyline is based on the Tales of Dunk and Egg trilogy, a set of novellas written by George R.R. Martin. It follows the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall, a naive, endearing knight, and his squire, Egg. The six-episode miniseries premiered on HBO Max on January 18th, 2026, and combines fan service with bold narrative choices. Expect plenty of action and humor, even if the show chronicles the loneliness of a knight with no king.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026), created by Ira Parker and George R.R. Martin, available on HBO Max.
Heated Rivalry, a steamy queer drama set in the world of hockey
Directly adapted from the Game Changers novels (2018) written by Canadian author Rachel Reid, the series Heated Rivalry takes us behind the scenes of the high-stakes world of the North American hockey league (NHL). Montreal-based director Jacob Tierney crafts a love story that is both unexpected and controversial.
Two rival players on the ice, Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), lead double lives. Their tense and fiery gay romance unfolds in deserted locker rooms, hotel rooms booked in haste, and stolen moments between games.
This pop-tinged melodrama, set for release on February 6th, 2026, on HBO Max in France, has already sparked a cultural frenzy in Canada and the United States. Fans are rushing to read the original novels, turning this once-hidden love story into a cultural phenomenon.
Heated Rivalry by Jacob Tierney, coming out on HBO Max on February 6, 2026.
