17 Best Returning Shows of 2026: Your Ultimate Premiere Guide

Returning shows in 2026: laughter, tears, and long-awaited comebacks

We get it. You find a show you love so much that you gobble it up in a few days, only to have to wait forever for a new season. You try other shows to pass the time, and some are pretty good. But there’s still The One Show you fester to resume, the one that left you with a cliffhanger or a really long hiatus, complete with scary renewal/cancellation rumors. Good news, couch creature: The wait is finally over—at least it is for the 17 returning shows we’re highlighting in this column.

The 2026 television landscape spans everything from the high-stakes trading floors of London and dusty reservations to eerie, snow-covered wilderness and beyond. The year is stacked with the kind of prestige drama and comfort-watch comedy that (almost) justifies those frequent streaming-service price hikes.

The lineup of returning shows in 2026 balances long-awaited sequels with the steady return of our current favorites. We’re seeing Tom Hiddleston step back into the shadows for a second chapter of The Night Manager—a full decade after the first season redefined the spy thriller. (Note: Lisa Kudrow’s The Comeback took 11 years to live up to its name, and Scrubs kept us in the waiting room for a solid 16 years.) Meanwhile, the tearjerkers return to tug at our heartstrings, with the raw, medical intensity of The Pitt and the vulnerable vibes of Shrinking.

Do you crave chaos? You won’t be disappointed. “The Ton” is buzzing again with Benedict’s turn in the spotlight for Bridgerton, while the kitchen heat in The Bear and the toxic rivalries in Beef promise to collectively pump up our blood pressure. Add in the intensity of thrillers like Dark Winds, Paradise, and the final season of Yellowjackets, and you have a year of TV worth clearing your schedule for.

The Pitt, Season 2 | HBO Max | Jan. 8

Another season, another 15-hour shift. The Pitt returns to HBO Max for Season 2, proving that the “real-time” medical drama is here to stay. Emmy and Golden Globe winner Noah Wyle leads the charge in this body-horror-infused, Pittsburgh-set series that trades the soap opera tropes of other medical procedurals for a raw, honest look at the breaking point of American healthcare. —Mike Strayer, Managing Editor

Industry, Season 4 | HBO Max | Jan. 11

The trading floor looks a bit different this year in HBO’s critically acclaimed financial thriller, Industry. The high-stakes drama series officially returned for its fourth season on Sunday, Jan. 11, introducing a wave of fresh faces to the roster, including Kiernan Shipka, Kal Penn, and Claire Forlani. While fans are thrilled to see Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) return to the fold, the new season carries a bittersweet note: Harry Lawtey has officially exited the series following the events of last season. As the new blood settles in, the stakes for London’s elite have never been higher. —Randy Harward, Senior Staff Writer

The Night Manager, Season 2 | Prime Video | Jan. 11

The Night Manager‘s first series is one of my all-time favorite seasons of television, so when I heard it was getting the sequel treatment—albeit 10 years later—I was excited, but skeptical. Could it capture the lightning in a bottle that made the first season so good? I haven’t watched all the available episodes (yet), but what I’ve seen so far makes me hopeful that Season 2 may give Season 1 a run for its money.

This season, Tom Hiddleston is back as the veteran soldier turned hotelier turned spy, Jonathan Pine. When we reconnect with Pine, he’s swapped the luxury hotel circuit for a quiet life in London, operating under the MI6 alias Alex Goodwin. Unfortunately for him, his retirement is cut short after a bloody run-in with a Colombian “businessman” forces him back into the field. This new mission takes Pine deep into South America, where he must once again go undercover to dismantle a massive arms-dealing syndicate from the inside. —Logan Jones, Staff Writer

Shrinking, Season 3 | Apple TV | Jan. 28

Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, and Harrison Ford are back in one of the most earnest, emotionally involving, and hilarious TV shows about what it’s like to overcome struggle. I binged the first two seasons of this show to get ready for Season 3, and the volume of laughter and tears that came out of my body are too embarrassing to mention. Actually, not embarrassed—it was a lot. If this show has taught me anything, it’s that it’s OK to be vulnerable. I can’t wait for the next 12 episodes of this great show. —Alex Vejar, Jr. Staff Writer

Bridgerton, Season 4 | Netflix | Jan. 29

Violet Bridgerton famously had a lot of children, and that means a lot of television. As per the usual Bridgerton formula, each season focuses on a different sibling, and this January we’ll finally get Benedict’s story. Expect masquerades, lavish costumes, and a Cinderella-inspired fairytale romance. After that? Four more Bridgertons to go (and probably spin-offs for every minor character)! —Olivia Bono, Staff Writer

Dark Winds, Season 4 | AMC, AMC+ | Feb. 15

Navajo Nation’s finest dicks are trading the High Desert for the trashy streets of ’70s Los Angeles, following Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon), Chee (Kiowa Gordon), and Manuelito (Jessica Matten) as they hunt for a missing girl in a race against a deadly LA crime ring. With a well-deserved perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score and Zahn McClarnon making his directorial debut this season, for my money, this’ll be the TV event of the winter. —Mike Strayer, Managing Editor

Paradise, Season 2 | Hulu | Feb. 23

The first season of the hit Hulu sci-fi/political thriller caught fire thanks to how adeptly its winding and pulpy premise was anchored by Sterling K. Brown’s performance as Secret Service agent Xavier Collins, who’s investigating the president’s assassination. (The show comes from This is Us creator Dan Fogelman, who’s no stranger to episodes loaded with twists to keep us hooked.)

We’ll refrain from diving into plot details if you’re still playing catch up (seriously, it’s a doozy). But the new season of Paradise will expand the show’s scope as Collins searches for his family members. —Eric Chiu, Internet Editor

Scrubs, Season 10 | ABC, Hulu | Feb. 25

I was late to the Scrubs party, but with the current sitcom landscape feeling dry, this revival feels like just what the doctor ordered. Premiering February 25, the nine-episode season reunites Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Sarah Chalke. While I doubt it’ll crush broadcast ratings on ABC, it’s destined to be a solid hit on streaming.

After years of watching Braff and Faison’s chemistry in T-Mobile ads, I’m ready to see them back at Sacred Heart. With guest spots from John C. McGinley and Judy Reyes, this mid-season entry will blend fresh laughs with well-earned nostalgia. Plus, creator Bill Lawrence has been on a massive hot streak lately (Shrinking, Ted Lasso, Bad Monkey), so my confidence is high. —Taylor Kujawa, Sports Editor

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Season 2 | Apple TV | Feb. 27

Over two years after Season 1 ended, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is finally back. Sure, the Monsterverse movies feel increasingly repetitive, but this TV series is the franchise’s high point. It balances spectacle with story far better than the recent films, weaving between the events of Godzilla (2014) and Kong: Skull Island (2017) to offer a grounded view of life among Titans.

If you thought the first season was light on kaiju, the Season 2 teaser promises Godzilla, King Kong, and a new threat. But for me, it’s the human cast that drives the show. Anna Sawai is fantastic, and having Kurt and Wyatt Russell play the same character across two different time periods works really well. —Taylor Kujawa, Sports Editor

Ted, Season 2 | Peacock | March 5

Who likes sweary bears? Me, muthahuggaz! Although I enjoyed the two Ted films, I didn’t have high hopes for Seth McFarlane’s Ted ‘90s–set prequel series. Then I gave it a shot one night to thwart a bout of choice paralysis. I’m glad I did, ‘cause sometimes a mix of lowbrow humor and cuteness (such that the crass, McFarlane-voiced Ted can be cute) just hits the spot. Especially when you get into the fantasy of having a talking bear sidekick in high school (and the ‘90s are close enough to my time). P.S. Have you heard about the upcoming animated sequel? —Randy Harward, Senior Staff Writer

Euphoria, Season 3 | HBO, HBO Max | April 2026

Here’s a data point that piqued my interest: Nearly 100 million people saw the Euphoria Season 3 trailer in just two days, which broke a record, per HBO. So it’s safe to say that people are stoked for this show. I loved the first two seasons, and I’m waiting with bated breath to see how the massive time jump will affect the story. It’s also pretty crazy how famous Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, and others are nowadays compared to when the show first premiered in 2019. Will their fame take away from the raw nature of the show, or add to it? Is this really the final season? How much more intense can this show get? I’m anxious for the answers. —Alex Vejar, Jr. Staff Writer

The Bear, Season 5 | Hulu | TBD 2026

The kitchen of The Bear—and Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) himself—has always been a pressure cooker. But with Carmy stepping aside from cooking to deal with his emotional issues (finally) at the end of Season 4, we may be seeing a different side of him, and the show, in Season 5.

While the rest of the core ensemble is returning to the restaurant, the central question will be whether Carmy can find a version of peace outside the kitchen that doesn’t involve alienating everyone and everything he loves. I’m keeping my expectations low, but we’ll see. —Logan Jones, Staff Writer

Beef, Season 2 | Netflix | TBD 2026

The first season of Beef was so intense that I’m pretty sure I’ll have slightly elevated blood pressure for the rest of my life. It was worth it, though, and I hope the second season of this anthology series is just as unrelenting. The all-new cast for Season 2 is stacked—Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny, and others. The story is centered around a couple who witness an unnerving fight between their boss and his wife, and the aftermath of that. I’m curious to see which actors play what parts. I’m also curious to see how this second season embodies the toxic anger that the idea of “beef” conveys. —Alex Vejar, Jr. Staff Writer

The Comeback, Season 3 | HBO, HBO Max | TBD 2026

You had me at Lisa Kudrow and AI chatbot. The ultimate meta-comedy has returned after 11 years, once again proving that the “cringe-comedy” from Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King is a perfect vehicle for pretty much any cultural moment. Picking up two decades after Valerie’s Emmy-winning comeback, the new season satirizes the industry’s current obsession with AI mediocrity. Hey, Netflix, you sure you wanna hear what comedy writers have to say ’bout that? —Mike Strayer, Managing Editor

The Hunting Wives, Season 2 | Netflix | TBD 2026

I didn’t think I’d be into this show about a Chicago career woman (Brittany Snow) who moves to Texas and joins a clique of socialites with a shady side—but it got me. I’m halfway through Season 1, and extra happy not to have to wait too long for Season 2. I just wish I didn’t already know about the (SPOILER, kinda) massive cliffhanger. At least I won’t have to sit with that suspense for a whole year.

All I know about Season 2 is purposely vague, and sourced from a colleague (let’s call him “Dave Google”). The stakes have shifted from “fitting in” to “staying alive” as the fallout from the investigation turns besties into bitter rivals, navigating legal and social wreckage. Intriguing!

Er . . . it just occurred to me that “TBA 2026” could mean late July (which is when Season 1 premiered). It could be a long six months if I don’t slow my Season 1 roll. —Randy Harward, Senior Staff Writer

Ted Lasso, Season 4 | Apple TV | TBD 2026

What can I say ’bout your mustachioed boi Ted that hasn’t already been said? Not much, but for what it’s worth, I’m not mad that Jason Sudeikis and crew surprised fans with a fourth season. Will Coach Nate continue his return toward good? Will Coach Beard and Jane’s horny romance last in marriage? There are a lot of ways Season 4 could go (not even mentioning Ted’s fugue to Kansas), but I’m here for it. —Mike Strayer, Managing Editor

Yellowjackets, Season 4 | SHOWTIME, Paramount+ | TBD 2026

Is it weird that, for me, Yellowjackets is a comfort show? Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson’s psychological horror-drama is anything but comforting, and the characters aren’t exactly BFF material (except crazy-but-oddly-reliable Misty . . . Is that weird?). And, season after season, things seem to only get more complicated for the marooned girls soccer team—both their past and present versions. Maybe it just feels like we’ve trauma-bonded over their Donner Party-style ordeal. I dunno. As for plot details in the series’ fourth and final season, the creators tease, “We can’t wait to share the final chapter with you, and hope you find it…delicious.” Om nom? —Randy Harward, Senior Staff Writer