2026 watch guide

The best drama TV shows to watch in 2026

The drama series worth your time this year — ranked by real viewer rating, what's airing now first, with where to stream each in your country.

Pick me a drama showUnderrated drama picksUpcoming premieres

Genre

On the air now

Currently-airing drama series you can start this year.

Shōgun8.5
Shōgun
The Pitt8.5
The Pitt
Peaky Blinders8.5
Peaky Blinders
Line of Duty8.5
Line of Duty
Dexter: Resurrection8.5
Dexter: Resurrection
Black Mirror8.4
Black Mirror
Luther8.4
Luther
Taboo8.3
Taboo
Blue Eye Samurai8.3
Blue Eye Samurai
Reacher8.2
Reacher
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms8.2
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Scrubs8.2
Scrubs

The 2026 ranking

  1. Breaking Bad posterBreaking Bad (2008–2019)netflix · Drama · Crime9.2
  2. 1883 poster1883 (2021–2022)fubotv · paramount plus · Drama8.8
  3. Shōgun posterShōgun (2024–present)hulu · Drama · Adventure8.5Airing now
  4. The Pitt posterThe Pitt (2025–present)hbo max · youtube tv · Drama8.5Airing now
  5. Dexter: Resurrection posterDexter: Resurrection (2025–present)fubotv · paramount plus · Drama8.5Airing now
  6. Band of Brothers posterBand of Brothers (2001–2001)hbo max · youtube tv · Drama9.0
  7. Dirty Business posterDirty Business (2026–2026)Drama8.4
  8. Game of Thrones posterGame of Thrones (2011–2019)hbo max · youtube tv · Drama8.9
  9. Firefly posterFirefly (2002–2002)hulu · Drama · Adventure8.9
  10. Sherlock posterSherlock (2010–2017)hulu · amc plus · Drama8.9
  11. The Sopranos posterThe Sopranos (1999–2007)hbo max · youtube tv · Drama8.9
  12. The Wire posterThe Wire (2002–2008)hbo max · youtube tv · Drama8.9
  13. Chernobyl posterChernobyl (2019–2019)hbo max · youtube tv · Drama8.9
  14. Holocaust posterHolocaust (1978–1978)Drama · War8.8
  15. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms posterA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026–present)hbo max · youtube tv · Drama8.2Airing now
  16. Scrubs posterScrubs (2026–present)disney plus · hulu · Drama8.2Airing now
  17. Landman posterLandman (2024–present)paramount plus · Drama8.1Airing now
  18. Justified posterJustified (2010–2015)hulu · Drama · Crime8.7
  19. House posterHouse (2004–2012)amazon prime video · hulu · Drama8.7
  20. Battlestar Galactica posterBattlestar Galactica (2003–2009)paramount plus · Drama · Science-Fiction8.7
  21. Oz posterOz (1997–2003)hbo max · youtube tv · Drama8.7
  22. Dept. Q posterDept. Q (2025–present)netflix · Drama · Crime8.1Airing now
  23. Downton Abbey posterDownton Abbey (2010–2015)amazon prime video · peacock · Drama8.7
  24. Deadwood posterDeadwood (2004–2019)hbo max · youtube tv · Drama8.7
  25. Heated Rivalry posterHeated Rivalry (2025–present)hbo max · youtube tv · Drama8.1Airing now
  26. Revenged Love posterRevenged Love (2025–2025)rakuten viki · Drama · Romance8.1
  27. Blue Eye Samurai posterBlue Eye Samurai (2023–present)netflix · Drama · Action8.3Airing now
  28. Fargo posterFargo (2014)hulu · Drama · Comedy8.6
  29. Fringe posterFringe (2008–2013)hulu · Drama · Action8.6
  30. The X-Files posterThe X-Files (1993–2018)hulu · Drama · Crime8.6
  31. Vikings posterVikings (2013–2021)netflix · Drama · Action8.6
  32. Banshee posterBanshee (2013–2016)youtube tv · spectrum on demand · Drama8.6
  33. The West Wing posterThe West Wing (1999–2006)netflix · hbo max · Drama8.6
  34. Better Call Saul posterBetter Call Saul (2015–2022)netflix · Drama · Crime8.6
  35. The Penguin posterThe Penguin (2024–2024)hbo max · youtube tv · Drama8.0
  36. The Madison posterThe Madison (2026–present)paramount plus · Drama · Family8.0Airing now
  37. MobLand posterMobLand (2025–present)fubotv · paramount plus · Drama8.0Airing now
  38. Orphan Black posterOrphan Black (2013–2017)netflix · amazon prime video · Drama8.6
  39. The Shield posterThe Shield (2002–2008)amazon prime video · hulu · Drama8.6
  40. Empathie posterEmpathie (2025–present)Drama8.0Airing now

Best TV shows by genre, for 2026

All genresActionAdultAdventureAnimeChildrenComedyCrimeDIYEspionageFamilyFantasyFoodHistoryHorrorLegalMedicalMusicMysteryNatureRomanceScience-FictionSportsSupernaturalThrillerTravelWarWestern

Good to know

What are the best drama TV shows to watch in 2026?

Our top drama picks for 2026 are Breaking Bad, 1883, Shōgun — ranked by viewer rating, with where to stream each.

How is this 2026 list ranked?

By real viewer rating, weighted toward series that are airing now or premiered recently, so the freshest great drama shows rise to the top.

Where can I watch these drama shows?

Every series links to its page with live streaming availability for your country, so you can jump straight to where it's playing.

Keep exploring

Hidden gemsUnderrated drama shows

High ratings, low profile — the great series most people have missed.

The chartTop drama shows, ranked

The all-time ranking by viewer rating, with where to stream.

TonightWhat's actually on

Tonight's schedule, in air-time order.