THS Top 5 Most Anticipated TV Series of 2026

Television in 2026 has already become the conversation. It’s highly debated in group chats, dissected in Slack threads, and passionately argued over by friends, journalists, and colleagues at watercoolers alike. So, in the spirit of settling the debate (or at least documenting it), we decided to find out what THS is truly most excited to watch. To do that, I polled our entire team of writers and correspondents, asking each of them to submit ranked lists of the TV series they can’t stop thinking about heading into the new year.

From there, I crunched the numbers using a weighted scoring system that factored in not just how often a show appeared, but how high it landed on each list. This helped balance individual ride-or-die favorites with broader, across-the-board excitement, because a show everyone ranks highly hits different from one lone superfan can’t shut up about.

The result? A final ranking that feels less like an algorithm and more like a snapshot of collective anticipation: the shows the THS staff is genuinely buzzing about as we look ahead to what’s shaping up to be a very stacked TV year.

Lanterns

Sitting firmly at the top, Lanterns represents DC’s most ambitious TV swing in years. With a grounded, investigative tone inspired by prestige crime dramas, the series promises to redefine how Green Lantern stories are told on screen. The series consistently ranked #1 and #2 across our teams’ lists, reflecting both curiosity and confidence. THS believes audiences want to see DC finally get serialized television right. Lanterns feels like the project that could do it.

You can watch Lanterns’ eight-episode series on HBO and stream it on HBO Max in mid-2026.

2. The Pitt (Season 2)

Few series arrive with momentum quite like The Pitt. What began as a buzzy, conversation-starting medical drama quickly turned into a full-blown awards juggernaut. The series dominated the 2025 awards circuit, taking home Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmys, along with acting wins for Noah Wyle and multiple additional trophies. Its streak continued with a clean sweep at the Television Critics Association Awards and capped off with Best Drama Series at the Golden Globe Awards. With that level of critical validation behind it, anticipation for the next season isn’t just high, it’s inevitable.

Stream Season 2 of The Pitt NOW on HBO/HBO MAX with new episodes dropping weekly.

3. The Studio (Season 2)

Industry satire with teeth is hard to pull off, but The Studio did exactly that. The series also wasted no time becoming an awards-season heavyweight. The satire-comedy series made history at the Emmys with a record-breaking sweep that included Outstanding Comedy Series. Then it carried that momentum to the Golden Globes with a win for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy and an acting victory for Seth Rogen. With its sharp Hollywood satire and rare combination of critical and industry acclaim, the bar for season two is sky-high.

While an official release date for The Studio season two hasn’t been announced yet, the series is currently in production. Season one is now streaming on Apple TV+.

4. Interview with the Vampire (Season 3): The Vampire Lestat

With its lush gothic atmosphere and deeply committed performances, Interview with the Vampire has steadily built momentum across its first two seasons. Anchored by standout work from its central cast, the series has earned praise for its emotional intensity and literary confidence. Season three marks a highly anticipated turning point, shifting the spotlight to Lestat’s story. This move that promises to deepen the show’s mythology while giving its most iconic character the space to fully take center stage.

Interview with the Vampire: Vampire Lestat was originally scheduled to premiere on AMC+ in April 2026. However, an update via Instagram indicated a change to the release plans to Summer 2026.

5. Spider-Noir

Stylish, moody, and wildly different from standard superhero fare, Spider-Noir stands out for its bold aesthetic alone. The series offers a darker, more stylized take on the Spider-Man mythos, reimagining the hero within a 1930s-inspired noir world of crime, corruption, and moral gray areas. Drawing from the Marvel Comics character, the series leans into shadowy visuals and a more hard-boiled tone, setting it apart from traditional Spider-Man stories while expanding the franchise in a bold, genre-driven direction. It’s the rare comic adaptation that feels genuinely fresh.

Spider-Noir is set to debut in 2026 on MGM+ in the United States, before rolling out globally. The series will consist of eight episodes and will be available in both black-and-white and full-color versions, giving viewers two distinct ways to experience its stylish noir world.

Honorable Mentions

• Wonder Man – A risky, meta Marvel project that intrigues more than it explains.
• X-Men ’97 (Season 2) – Nostalgia-backed but buoyed by genuine storytelling ambition.