The new year brings a fresh wave of sci-fi and technology-driven television, with several highly anticipated series set to premiere in 2026. From gritty post-apocalyptic dramas to ambitious space operas, here’s a breakdown of the most promising shows on the horizon.
Post-Apocalyptic Futures: Bunkers and Wastelands
A key trend for 2026 is the exploration of humanity’s survival in extreme environments. The second season of Fallout (Amazon Prime Video), despite airing late in 2025, is a standout. The show follows Lucy (Ella Purnell) and The Ghoul (Walton Goggins) as they navigate a retrofuturistic US ravaged by radiation, where Vault-Tec’s bunkers have become both salvation and prisons.
Similarly, Season 2 of Paradise (Hulu/Disney+) will continue the story of Secret Service agent Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) in a subterranean city built for the elite. His search for his wife after a cataclysmic event places him in a tense battle for survival. Apple TV+’s Silo will return for its third season, deepening the mystery surrounding the toxic surface world and the dark secrets within the underground haven.
Dystopian Realities: Climate Change and Control
Several series will explore near-future dystopias shaped by climate change and societal inequalities. BBC iPlayer’s The Dream Lands is set in a 2039 Britain ravaged by environmental disaster, where a woman named Chance turns to crime to support her family. The show promises a sinister undercurrent as her community is drawn into a government “rejuvenation” scheme.
Hulu/Disney+’s The Testaments , the sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, will focus on a new generation of women in Gilead, forced to fight for freedom in a totalitarian regime. These shows reflect a growing interest in narratives that examine the potential consequences of unchecked power and environmental collapse.
Franchise Revivals and New Visions
Major franchises are also gearing up for new installments. Paramount+’s Star Trek: Starfleet Academy offers a Gen Z take on the classic space opera, featuring a young cast alongside established stars like Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti. The fourth season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will also return in 2026.
Disney+’s Star Wars: Ahsoka season 2 is expected, though unconfirmed, while animated series like Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord and Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi will expand the universe. Marvel fans can look forward to VisionQuest, following the resurrected android superhero Vision as he attempts to regain his memories.
Original Concepts: AI, Cyberpunk, and Tech Scandals
Beyond franchises, several original series stand out. Apple TV+’s Neuromancer adapts William Gibson’s cyberpunk masterpiece, following hacker Case (Callum Turner) as he navigates a virtual-reality underworld. Amazon Prime Video’s Blade Runner 2099 , starring Michelle Yeoh, remains shrouded in mystery but promises a continuation of the iconic neo-noir world.
Netflix’s The Altruists will dramatize the collapse of FTX and the tumultuous relationship between Sam Bankman-Fried and Caroline Ellison, while AMC’s The Audacity satirizes Silicon Valley with a fictional CEO facing scandals and power struggles. These series highlight the increasing fascination with the dark side of technological innovation.
Space Exploration and Alien Threats
Space continues to be a major theme, with Apple TV+’s Star City , a spin-off of For All Mankind, offering a Soviet perspective on the space race. The show promises a paranoid thriller as cosmonauts race to put the first human on the moon. Netflix’s 3 Body Problem might return for a second season, exploring the epic scale of an impending alien invasion.
Dark Humor and Shock Value
For those seeking something more unconventional, FX/Disney+’s The Beauty blends horror and satire with a gruesome premise: supermodels dying in bizarre ways as a sexually transmitted infection creates deadly perfection. This series exemplifies a growing trend toward pushing boundaries in genre television.
In conclusion: The sci-fi and tech TV landscape of 2026 is poised to deliver a diverse range of stories, from gritty survival dramas to high-concept cyberpunk thrillers. The year’s lineup reflects a broader cultural anxiety about the future, the consequences of unchecked power, and the evolving relationship between humanity and technology.
