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5 great TV shows you need to watch in January 2026

Start off 2026 with these must-see shows

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Ser Duncan the Tall riding a horse in the fantasy series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
HBO / HBO

With 2026 just around the corner, audiences have several exciting new TV shows to watch to help kick off the New Year. This January, we’ll see big franchises like Marvel and Game of Thrones revealing their newest projects on TV and streaming. We’ll also see established hits like Fallout and The Pitt continuing their beloved stories with another season. As everyone prepares their calendars for 2026, mark the dates for these five new shows airing episodes in January.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026-present)

Set 100 years before Game of Thrones, this prequel series tells the tale of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), a lowly hedge knight who takes the young Prince Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell) under his wing as he travels Westeros in pursuit of honor and justice. Eventually, Duncan takes part in a tournament and clashes with wicked Prince Aerion Targaryen (Bertie Carvel), setting off a journey that will make him a legend.

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This new spinoff should satisfy audiences anxious to see the next season of House of the Dragon. Not only will this series move the spotlight away from the dragons and royals of Westeros, but it will also present a more comedic tone than the franchise’s previous shows. This should be a refreshing break from the franchise’s traditional brand of doom and gloom, all while expanding the world of Westeros and highlighting some of the realm’s greatest heroes.

Watch A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on HBO or HBO Max on January 18. 

Wonder Man (2026)

Wonder Man will do something unique in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: present a show about the making of a remake of a superhero movie that exists in a world already filled with superheroes. The series follows Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), an actor with real superpowers, as he tries to land the lead role in the new Wonder Man movie. We will also see Williams try to appear in the film alongside failed actor and former fake villain, Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley).

Wonder Man is far different from the huge, world-shattering narratives often seen in the MCU, which should help remedy the superhero fatigue audiences have felt with Marvel in recent years. Overall, audiences who like superheroes and meta-shows like The Studio will surely want to check out this Marvel miniseries when it premieres.

Watch Wonder Man on Disney+ on January 27.

Fallout (2024-present)

Fallout became one of Prime Video’s most popular original shows after its debut in 2024. Following the show’s return on December 17, Fallout season 2 will continue its thrilling story with new episodes all the way through January. The second season follows Lucy (Ella Purnell) and the Ghoul (Walter Goggins) as they travel across post-nuclear war America to New Vegas.

As the duo continues to pursue Lucy’s wicked father (Kyle MacLachlan), they encounter more of the dangers of the wasteland, all while Vault-Tec’s dark secrets continue to be unveiled. We’ll also get to see the characters facing off against memorable foes from the Fallout video games, like Caesar’s Legion, as well as the monstrous Deathclaws.

Watch Fallout season 2 on Prime Video.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023-present)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians will also continue its second season throughout January, after the heroes’ latest adventure began this December. Season 2 follows demigod Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell) when he returns to Camp Half-Blood. However, he discovers that his pal Grover (Aryan Simhadri) has been captured by the cyclops Polyphemus and that the evil Kronos (Nick Boraine) is threatening the camp, forcing him to travel to the Sea of Monsters to retrieve the Golden Fleece and save his friends and fellow demigods.

This Emmy-winning series continues to adapt author Rick Riordan’s classic novels into thrilling TV adventures. And with the show now adapting The Sea of Monsters, audiences are one step closer to seeing an epic war between the Olympians, the Half-Bloods, and Kronos. Audiences who love coming-of-age stories like Stranger Things and Harry Potter will want to follow Percy’s mythical journey as it builds up this season.

Watch Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 on Hulu and on Disney+.

The Pitt (2025-present)

Another day, another season. The first season of The Pitt featured 15 episodes following the students and professionals at a Pittsburgh hospital that’s understaffed and underfunded during their first 15-hour shift together. After winning multiple Emmys with season 1, the show will return with its second season on HBO Max this January, presenting another day in the life in The Pitt.

While medical dramas are a dime a dozen on television, The Pitt stands out for its gritty realism, fully immersing viewers into the chaos and pressure that hospital staff can experience on a daily basis. One can only imagine what sort of heart-pounding problems the cast will have to deal with on day two.

Watch The Pitt season 2 on HBO Max on January 8.

Anthony Orlando
Growing up in Oradell, New Jersey, Anthony Orlando always had a passion for creative storytelling, having written his first…
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