Television in 2026 proves that the medium is still on the move and that it is changing in exciting and bold ways. Whether it is in the form of prestige television and clever genre-bending, or in the form of comedies that are full of heart and surprising franchise revamps, this year has had plenty of television shows that have inspired conversation and kept viewers engaged from week to week. What follows is a ranked look at the most memorable television shows of the year.
15. The Beauty: Season 1
Ryan Murphy goes all-in on sci-fi horror with The Beauty, a show that’s as cluttered, transgressive, and aggressively graphic as you’d suspect. It satirizes contemporary culture with the precision of a scalpel through the medium of repulsive body horror, excess as both style and arsenal.
Though its social commentary isn’t always as incisive as it believes itself to be, the gutsy nature of the series keeps it interesting. The Beauty may not be subtle, but its willingness to be weird, unpleasant, and unrepentant makes it a memorable entry in the year’s offerings.
14. Steal: Season 1
Steal is a breath of fresh air in the heist genre, thanks to its snappy pacing and the compelling performances of Sophie Turner and Archie Madekwe. The series maintains its tight narrative, choosing to focus on tension and pacing over developing unnecessary storylines, making every episode count.
What makes Steal so much more interesting than other heist shows is the emotional resonance it has. The characters are well-developed, their intentions are well-defined, and the stakes are personal, making a slick crime drama so much more interesting than it has any right to be.
13. Bridgerton: Season 4
Bridgerton is in its fourth season, and it knows exactly what it is doing. It embraces its identity with the utmost confidence. The romance is lavish and indulgent, the costumes are stunningly beautiful, and the emotional moments are crafted to sweep the audience off their feet.
Although the surprises in the story are fewer this season, the familiarity of the formula actually works in its favor. Bridgerton remains one of the best escapist shows on television, offering charm, passion, and drama in equal measure.
12. Run Away: Season 1
Based on the Harlan Coben novel, Run Away propels forward with unrelenting momentum and escalating tension. With a solid core performance from James Nesbitt, the series keeps audiences on their toes as revelations come at a dizzying pace.
The greatest asset of the series is its ability to stick to a plan; it never pauses to linger on any given plot twist. By expertly juggling character development with constant plot thrills, Run Away provides a compelling and emotionally resonant thriller experience.
11. Starfleet Academy: Season 1
Starfleet Academy is an entirely new and thrilling prospect for the Star Trek franchise, taking it in a younger and more humorous direction that centers around the cadets discovering their place in the universe. The show is a laugh-filled, hormone-driven, and surprisingly complex exploration of character development.
Starfleet Academy is anything but a shallow spin-off, as the new direction actually brings a breath of fresh air to the franchise. By combining the coming-of-age story with the traditional Trek components, Starfleet Academy is a gateway to a whole new generation of fans.
10. Shrinking: Season 3
The third season of Shrinking is no less complicated in its delicate dance between comedy and reality. The show is as human as ever, providing warmth and laughter in equal measure to pain, sorrow, and healing.
Jason Segel and Harrison Ford are as incredible as ever, and the entire cast is in perfect sync with the emotional rhythm of the show. Shrinking is more than just a comedy series; it makes you feel seen.
9. The Night Manager: Season 2
Tom Hiddleston returns as the weary, tormented spy at the heart of The Night Manager, and the second season of the series shows that there is still life in the story. The world of espionage casts a larger, darker, and more personal shadow this time around.
It’s a trendy series that never feels empty or hollow. The series adds depth to its characters while continuing to be the slick thriller that it is. It’s a sequel that feels necessary, not required.
8. Wonder Man: Season 1
Wonder Man defies the conventions of the usual superhero story in favor of a more subdued, character-centric approach. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is delightful in the lead role, and Ben Kingsley is hilarious.
The series’s focus on more personal, less world-changing storylines allows it to take a breath. Wonder Man shows that a superhero series doesn’t have to be an action-packed thrill ride to be significant.
7. Riot Women: Season 1
Created by Sally Wainwright, Riot Women bursts with raw energy and emotional warmth. The series follows a group of women who reconnect with themselves and each other through music, turning personal reinvention into something loud, joyful, and deeply communal.
What makes the show quietly radical is its focus on older women, a demographic so often pushed to the margins. Funny, heartfelt, and full of soul, Riot Women celebrates creativity, resilience, and the freedom that comes with refusing to fade into the background.
6. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Season 1
This return to Westeros trades massive set-piece battles for sharp dialogue and character-driven storytelling. Lighter in tone than Game of Thrones, the series leans into humor and camaraderie without losing the tension that defines the world.
By narrowing its focus to a smaller group of characters, the show reminds viewers why Westeros was compelling in the first place. It’s a confident and charming reinvention that proves the franchise still has fresh stories to tell.
5. Ponies: Season 1
Powered by the easy, natural chemistry between Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson, Ponies blends espionage thrills with a warm, friendship-first sensibility. The show takes its time introducing its world before settling into a rhythm that feels relaxed yet assured.
Its biggest strength is tone; it never tips too far into parody or self-seriousness. Ponies sneaks up on you, slowly becoming one of those shows you didn’t expect to love as much as you do.
4. Industry: Season 4
With its fourth season, Industry once again reshapes itself, adjusting power dynamics and shifting its focus while retaining its trademark edge. The writing remains sharp, unafraid to interrogate ambition, greed, and moral compromise.
What keeps the industry compelling is its ability to evolve alongside the world it critiques. Few shows manage reinvention with this much confidence, and even fewer make it look so effortless.
3. The Pitt: Season 2
Season two of The Pitt firmly establishes the series as one of television’s strongest medical dramas. Each episode is tightly constructed, balancing clinical realism with deeply emotional storytelling.
The performances are uniformly excellent, and the writing makes the hospital feel both urgent and intimate. Intense yet compassionate, The Pitt is television at its most emotionally precise.
2. The 99 Year Old Man!
At the heart of The 99 Year Old Man! is a storyteller so engaging that it feels like you’re sitting across from him, listening to a lifetime unfold. The series blends humor, reflection, and hard-earned wisdom into something quietly profound.
Its greatest strength is its honesty. Never overly sentimental or dismissively ironic, the show offers a powerful meditation on memory, loss, love, and what it means to live a full life.
1. Andor: Season 2
Andor claims the top spot with a second season that’s as intellectually ambitious as it is emotionally devastating. Expanding its scope while deepening its characters, the series turns rebellion into something painfully personal.
Both critics and fans have embraced the show, recognizing it as proof that genre television can be layered, political, and deeply human. Andor doesn’t just raise the bar for sci-fi—it completely redefines it.
Taken together, these series highlight just how strong 2026 was for television. This was a year when shows didn’t simply entertain, but challenged expectations and explored new creative ground. If anything, 2026 proved that television is still one of the most exciting storytelling spaces there is, and it shows no signs of slowing down.