It's that time of the year again. We're hitting the half way mark, which means we can take a look at the biggest and best TV releases of 2026 so far, to highlight those that really need to be on your watch list (if they haven't been already, that is).
We've said before that it's been a strong year for telly, so there's a lot we'd want to champion. There's been Jack Thorne's celebrated TV adaptation of Lord of the Flies, the BBC's acclaimed prison drama Waiting for the Out, the best Marvel series in years with Wonder Man, the highly-praised return of Amandaland, and The Handmaid's Tale spinoff The Testaments, reminiscent of the quality of the main show's earlier seasons. Keep reading for other standouts of 2026 so far...
Half Man
Digital Spy's five-star review already pointed to this BBC and HBO drama as being the best new show of the year, and we stand by that assertion.
Centring on the tousling, often toxic, relationship between its core characters of Ruben (Richard Gadd/Stuart Campbell) and Niall (Jamie Bell/Mitchell Robertson) across two timeframes, Half Man expertly weaves in a number of different themes. To simplify its storytelling into a neat little show description would be to do both the exceptional writing and the viewer experience a disservice.
What builds across its six episodes is a brutal, bold, devastating and sometimes deeply uncomfortable exploration of male violence, trauma, repression and vulnerability – culminating in one of the best finale scenes we have watched in years.
Half Man is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
What to Read Next
Tip Toe
Another five-star watch, Russell T Davies' latest Channel 4 drama is a defiant, urgent, and absolutely necessary piece of television.
Set against the backdrop of Manchester's historic Canal Street, it's both a brilliant thriller about the tension between two neighbours, and a commentary of what society is facing at this very specific moment in time – through an important and authentic queer lens.
Good television invites conversation and reflection, and Tip Toe has the power to do just that.
Tip Toe is streaming on Channel 4.
Hacks
This year we waved goodbye to Jean Smart's legendary comic Deborah Vance and Hannah Einbinder's Ava Daniels, Vance's long-suffering collaborator turned best friend, turned soulmate.
Since its premiere in 2021, the multi-award-winning comedy series has built an entire fandom of real-life Little Debbies, who would ride or die for these imperfect but iconic characters – and whose hearts no doubt broke as the credits rolled, one last time, on season five.
When a show is so beloved, and has been on our screens for five seasons, it's hard to do justice to a series finale, but Hacks managed to secure its legacy as one of the very best scripted comedy series to ever grace our screens.
Hacks is streaming on Sky and NOW.
Widow's Bay
A true genre mash-up, Widow's Bay – which has wowed the critics and gained mass attention since it first debuted on Apple TV in April – will have you hiding behind your cushion and sleeping with the light on, only to then hit you with something so hilarious you'll have to immediately hit up the group chat.
Perhaps an unexpected hit, the horror-comedy is exceptional, water-cooler television, which proves that word of mouth and a weekly drop can really breathe life into original and innovative storytelling.
With stellar performances, smart writing, genre nods, and a central mystery that throws out some great twists along the way, Widow's Bay is a triumph – no wonder it's already been renewed for a second season.
Widow's Bay is streaming on Apple TV.
The Bear
The fifth and final season of The Bear is now finally out in the world, premiering as a full boxset on Friday. Many may have felt skeptical as to whether or not the show needed another season, and it became quite popular to be critical of The Bear during seasons three and four (it has to be said, the first two seasons did set the bar ridiculously high). But, as it turned out, we needn't have worried.
The beloved and award-winning show more than justified one last outing, with a sterling return to form. The Bear's fast-paced and chaotic energy was back, in the best possible way, and it was worth it to spend one more kitchen service with these characters.
The Bear is streaming on Disney+ in the UK.
Something Very Bad is Going to Happen
Whether we're talking about The Drama, viral horror sensation (and surprise box office smash) Obsession, or Netflix series Something Very Bad is Going to Happen, there's been a clear thematic trend this year around the re-framing of romantic relationships, and the idea of how well we really know the person we profess to love (or who says that they love us).
Starring Camila Morrone as doomed bride-to-be Rachel, Something Very Bad poses the decision to tie the knot as a matter of literal life and death – working the question of whether or not you've found The One into an effective horror allegory. It's twisty, layered and fresh – and deserving of its spot on this list.
Something Very Bad is Going to Happen is streaming on Netflix.
Bait
Written by and starring the Oscar and Emmy-winning Riz Ahmed, this bold comedy series centres on the character of Shah Latif, a struggling actor who is embarking on an audition that could just be his last shot at making it big in the entertainment industry.
Poking fun at the near-endless rumours surrounding who might be the next James Bond, it's this iconic role that Latif could be taking on. Not only is the satirical six-part series winning praise for being very funny, it also weaves in a whole lot more than just laughs.
Bait is streaming on Prime Video in the UK.
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast
From Derry Girls boss Lisa McGee, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is a more grown-up comedy-thriller that follows three women on a mission to get to the bottom of the mysterious death of one of their school friends.
As the pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place, and secrets from the past are dug up, the show's underlying themes start to take a sharper focus, making for a richer viewing experience.
How to Get to Heaven also hits lots of nostalgic beats and kept us guessing right through until the end, but it was its messy, flawed, and yet relatable central female characters that really gave the show its heart.
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is streaming on Netflix.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
