The best TV shows of 2026 so far, ranked
The best TV shows of 2026 so far, ranked
Kelly Lawler, USA TODAYWed, June 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC
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It may feel like 2026 has just begun, or like it's already lasted a decade, but somehow and some way, it's already half done.
And for fans of TV, that means there's already been a slew of great (and not-so-great) shows that have captured our hearts and minds so far this year.
Yes, from cultural phenomena (cough, a certain HBO Max medical drama, cough) and old stalwarts (including the OG reality show back for Season 50), to hidden gems you may not have heard of (like a twist on Jane Austen you wouldn't expect), 2026 has been a bounty of delightful, dramatic, harrowing, giddy and transcendent TV.
We rank the 10 best TV shows of the year so far. Our favorite may not surprise you, but hopefully there are a few wonderful shows for you to discover on the list.
Haley Lu Richardson as Twila and Emilia Clarke as Bea in "Ponies."10. 'Ponies' (Peacock)
Starring "Game of Thrones" alumna Emilia Clarke and "The White Lotus" Season 2 breakout Haley Lu Richardson, "Ponies" is the story of two unassuming CIA widows who turn out to be rather good spies themselves when thrust into the cold, killer world of 1970s Moscow.
It is rich with warmth, good storytelling and magnetic actors. You can't help but love and root for Bea (Clarke) and Twila (Richardson), two misfits who are reminders that everyone is sometimes pretending to be something they're not in order to fit in. The stakes are high, the KGB agents are handsome, the intelligence is deadly and the costumes are groovy. What's not to love?
Roisin Gallagher as Saoirse Shaw, Caoilfhionn Dunne as Dara Friel and Sinead Keenan as Robyn Winters in "How to Get to Heaven from Belfast."9. 'How to Get to Heaven from Belfast' (Netflix)
"Derry Girls" creator Lisa McGee returns with a very different but equally compelling Netflix series about female friendship and womanhood. "Belfast" is a mystery drama follows Saoirse (Roisin Gallagher), Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne) and Robyn (Sinead Keenan), who have been close friends since high school and live semi-charmed lives in their late 30s. But they have a dark secret from their teenage years that has to do with a former fourth bestie in the group, Greta, who mysteriously turns up dead.
When the three women head to the funeral in a remote Northern Irish village, they are determined to find out the truth about what happened to Greta and what really happened on a fire-lit night in their youth all those years ago. The show is captivating and heart-racing, with unpredictable twists and turns. You just may want to put on subtitles while you watch.
Elle Fanning as Margo in "Margo's Got Money Troubles."8. 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' (Apple TV)
Hilarious, quirky and delicious, "Margo's Got Money Trouble" is an irresistible comedy with a magnetic cast that you can't stop watching. Elle Fanning stars in the adaptation of Rufi Thorpe's book as the titular Margo, a young single mother who is, well, having some money troubles. She turns to OnlyFans to make ends meet, with the help of her former wrestler father (Nick Offerman) and much to the chagrin of her flighty mother (Michelle Pfeiffer).
Margo goes through quite the odyssey as she tries to balance her newfound career as a sex worker, her pre-pregnancy relationships, her dead-beat baby daddy and her unpredictable parents. Fanning is excellent in the role, and the series balances its silly and serious elements with aplomb.
Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur Tobin, and Tracy Morgan as Reggie Dinkins in "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins."7. 'The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins' (NBC)
Who would ever think of pairing Daniel Radcliffe and Tracy Morgan in a goofy, self-referential network sitcom? Well, that would be creators Robert Carlock ("30 Rock") and Sam Means ("Girls5Eva") who found surprising comedic chemistry among those two stars, as well as the rest of the magnetic cast.
"Dinkins" is good clean fun, full of the kind of pratfalls, high jinks and silly situations you need to unplug from your hectic life and sit back and laugh. Its charm is in its simplicity of concept − Morgan plays a disgraced football star trying to rehab his image with the help of a struggling documentarian (Radcliffe) − and the whip-smart execution of its jokes. We'll take a Dinkins comeback any day.
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Mary Bennet (Ella Bruccoleri) and Mr Hayward (Donal Finn) in "The Other Bennet Sister."6. 'The Other Bennet Sister' (Britbox)
In 2026, amidst the political and cultural chaos of modern life and a few hundred competing TV shows each year, most series tend to go big for fear of going home without anyone noticing. But sometimes the best way to stand out is to go small, quiet and calm.
"The Other Bennet Sister" is a perfect blend of sweet and simple without being boring or slow. Based on the novel by Janice Hadlow, "Bennet" tells the story of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" from the point of view of Mary Bennet, Lizzie Bennet's awkward and plain younger sister.
Lisa Kudrow as Valerie Cherish in "The Comeback" Season 3.5. 'The Comeback' (HBO)
No one is better at a comeback than Lisa Kudrow, except, perhaps, Valerie Cherish. Yes, the irresistibly cringey protagonist of HBO's comedic darling "The Comeback" came back, once again. The story of an actress looking for her comeback graced our screens in Season 1 (2005) and in Season 2 (2014), and 2026's Season 3 found a story that is so very apt (and hilarious) for the times we're currently living in.
This time, Valerie, a faded TV star always looking to bring her career back into the spotlight, is starring in a revolutionary new TV series: One written by AI. Kudrow hits every mark, the jokes penned by creator Michael Patrick King ("Sex and the City") are acerbic and hilarious, and every moment is must-see TV.
Oscar Isaac as Josh Martin and Carey Mulligan as Lindsay Crane-Martin in "Beef" Season 2.4. 'Beef' (Netflix)
In 2023, Netflix's "Beef," the story of a road-rage incident that turns into a blood feud between two strangers, was a surprise hit, a word-of-mouth sensation that rode its acclaim and fantastic performances all the way to multiple Emmy awards. Its long-awaited second season, with a new cast and a new beef at the center, did not disappoint.
Season 2 follows two couples on a path of mutual destruction, one older and jaded and one young and naive. Starring Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, Cailee Spaeny and Charles Melton, the story retains the shock and awe, exciting performances and mind-boggling twists of Season 1 while remaining fresh and exciting.
Aubry Bracco on "Survivor" Season 50 Episode 12.3. 'Survivor 50' (CBS)
Twenty-six years and 50 seasons into its run on CBS, the reality competition series that took the world by storm in 2000 is still kicking − and kicking up a storm of great TV. When "Survivor" premiered on CBS, there was nothing on TV like it: 16 people left on an island without any food, shelter or creature comforts, voting each other out one by one until only a "Sole Survivor" remained, winning $1 million.
The show has evolved over its long tenure, but its bombastic 50th season managed to both capture the spirit of the show's origins and honor its long legacy. Fan-favorite players returned, twists were introduced (some more successful than others), Mr. Beast and Zac Brown showed up and the winner walked away with a whopping $2 million. It was a reminder that TV doesn't have to be brand new to be effective. Sometimes the old formulas work, and new generations can be lucky enough to discover them.
Winston Sawyers as Ralph in "Lord of the Flies."2. 'Lord of the Flies' (Netflix)
The best new show to hit TV screens so far this year will give you flashbacks to high school English class. This new adaptation of the classic William Golding novel, a British production, is a moody, harrowing and deeply upsetting experience. And yet, you can't look away from the story of a group of young boys stranded on a deserted island, losing all measure of civilization and decorum as the days pass.
Perhaps the most affecting aspect of the series is how truly tiny the young actors are − it's one thing to read about children in peril and quite another to see it in such vivid color. The story is an absolute classic for a reason.
Noah Wyle as Dr. Robby in "The Pitt" Season 2.1. 'The Pitt' (HBO Max)
It's almost a cliché to call HBO Max's medical drama sensation "The Pitt" the best show on TV. It has collected a wheelbarrow full of shiny awards, including 15 Emmys for 2025's first season.
But in Season 2, which premiered back in January, "The Pitt" didn't miss a (heart)beat. The new episodes somehow grew on the creative success of Season 1, with new characters, new emergencies and new commentary on our very chaotic world. The show seems to be an unstoppable cultural phenomenon. If it continues like this, "The Pitt" will be the best show on television for as long as it airs.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Best TV shows of 2026, from 'The Pitt' to 'Survivor'
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
